Compliance
Land disposal restrictions and LDR notifications
The treatment standards that must be met before waste goes to land, and the paperwork that proves it.
Land disposal restrictions prohibit land disposal of hazardous waste until it meets treatment standards at 40 CFR Part 268. A generator must send an LDR notification with the initial shipment of each waste stream to each receiving facility.
Source: 40 CFR Part 268What the notification contains
The LDR notification travels with the shipment:
- EPA waste codes for the stream
- The manifest number for the shipment
- Whether the waste meets the treatment standard as generated, or requires treatment
- Applicable constituent concentrations where numerical standards apply
- The treatment subcategory where one applies
- The underlying hazardous constituents for characteristic wastes
A new notification is required when the waste, the receiving facility or the applicable standard changes. Many generators send one with every shipment, which is simpler than tracking when one is due.
Two kinds of treatment standard
Some standards are numerical: treat until the constituent concentration falls below a stated level. Others are technology specific: use a named treatment method such as incineration or retorting regardless of the resulting concentration.
Mercury above 260 mg/kg is the clearest example of the second kind. It must be retorted. Stabilizing it to below the numerical level does not satisfy the standard, because the standard specifies the technology rather than the outcome.
Common questions
Do I need an LDR notification for every shipment?
Technically, with the initial shipment of each waste stream to each facility, and again when something changes. In practice most generators send one every time, which removes the tracking burden and the risk of missing one.
What if my waste already meets the standard?
The notification says so, with the supporting data. Waste meeting the standard as generated can go to land disposal without further treatment, which is why the determination is worth making rather than assuming treatment is needed.
Can I dilute to meet a standard?
No. Dilution as a substitute for adequate treatment is prohibited under 40 CFR 268.3. It is one of the clearer prohibitions in the regulation and it is straightforward for an inspector to identify.
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This page summarizes federal requirements and is not legal advice. State programs can be more stringent than the federal baseline. Verify against current federal and state regulations before acting. Last reviewed September 2026.