Climate Adaptation and Waste Management & Emergency Response

EPA programs work with communities to ensure the proper management of hazardous and non-hazardous wastes. EPA also provides emergency response for hazardous and non-hazardous waste, when requested, or when state and local first responder capabilities have been exceeded. 

Contaminated site management

Waste management sites are vulnerable to flooding from an increase in extreme precipitation events. These include Superfund, corrective action sites, Brownfields sites, landfills and underground storage tanks. Contaminated site management will become more difficult due to the increased incidence of flooding and other hazards and impacts from changing environmental conditions that threaten the effectiveness of cleanup efforts. 

Disaster debris management

Environmental emergency response efforts are an essential component of an emergency response or disaster incident. This includes the safe and timely management of disaster debris. However, the importance of efficient disaster debris management efforts is often overlooked.

During an emergency response or disaster event, disaster debris management is one of many competing priorities communities face. Nonetheless, it is important that debris be properly managed to:

• Protect human health
• Comply with regulations.
• Conserve disposal capacity.
• Reduce injuries.
• Prevent or minimize environmental impacts.