1.13 In the United States, generators are responsible for hazardous waste they create
from "cradle to grave." Explain what is meant by this phrase.
The phrase "cradle to grave" means that a generator of hazardous waste is responsible for the waste from
the time it is created until it is destroyed. In addition, even if the waste is treated and legally disposed, the
generator is still responsible for the consequences should a release occur. This liability cannot be
contracted to a third party (e.g. a disposal facility or transportation company). Since the company
generating the waste remains responsible for it forever, industrial managers are very careful about who
they select to transport and dispose of their hazardous waste. This is a significant change from the
standard industrial practice prior to RCRA, where the selection of a waste management contractor would
be made by a purchasing agent on the basis of lowest cost.
[See also Chap. 2, pp. 48, 57 and 59)