{
  "name": "Hazardous waste generator categories \u2014 federal vs California vs Washington thresholds and obligations",
  "description": "The quantity thresholds that put a hazardous waste generator into a category, and what each category obliges, stated side by side for the three authorities where the answer diverges: federal EPA (40 CFR 262.13 generator category table), California DTSC (22 CCR 66262 \u2014 California never adopted the federal VSQG exemption, so a generator below 100 kg/month is still regulated at SQG level, with 180-day accumulation and manifesting), and Washington Ecology (WAC 173-303 \u2014 'dangerous waste', where the state's word 'SQG' means what federal law calls a VSQG and the federal 'SQG' maps to the state's 'MQG'). The same kilograms put the same lab in three different compliance positions under three different names. Answers 'am I exempt as a very small quantity generator in California' (no \u2014 and the unaided answer's own framing is the trap), 'how much hazardous waste can I accumulate and for how long', and 'what does Washington call a small quantity generator'. Same fact from multiple authorities with disagreements stated \u2014 the juxtaposition class the strategy says is the strongest citation shape and the portfolio has almost none of.",
  "url": "https://referencesource.org/hazwaste-generator-category-thresholds/",
  "licence": "US federal and state regulation and agency guidance; facts not copyrightable, quoted with citation.",
  "last_verified": "2026-08-11",
  "stale_after": "2027-08-11",
  "sources": [
    "https://dtsc.ca.gov/hazardous-waste-generator-requirements-fact-sheet/",
    "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-40/chapter-I/subchapter-I/part-262/subpart-A/section-262.13",
    "https://www.epa.gov/hwgenerators/categories-hazardous-waste-generators",
    "https://ecology.wa.gov/Asset-Collections/Doc-Assets/Hazardous-waste/Dangerous-Waste-Guidance/Dangerous-Waste-Basics/Monthly-generation-limits-plain-text",
    "https://ecology.wa.gov/regulations-permits/guidance-technical-assistance/dangerous-waste-guidance/dangerous-waste-basics/generator-category"
  ],
  "records": [
    {
      "authority": "California DTSC (22 CCR 66262)",
      "category": "Large Quantity Generator (LQG)",
      "quantity_threshold": "1,000 kg or more of hazardous waste per calendar month (excluding universal wastes)",
      "acute_threshold": "more than 1 kg of acutely or extremely hazardous per calendar month",
      "id": "california-dtsc-22-ccr-66262-large-quantity-generator-lqg",
      "url": "https://referencesource.org/hazwaste-generator-category-thresholds/california-dtsc-22-ccr-66262-large-quantity-generator-lqg/",
      "source": "https://dtsc.ca.gov/hazardous-waste-generator-requirements-fact-sheet/",
      "source_quote": "Large Quantity Generator (LQG) \u2013 Generators of 1,000 kg or more of hazardous waste per calendar month (excluding universal wastes), and/or more than 1 kg of acutely or extremely hazardous per calendar month.",
      "verified_fields": [
        "acute_threshold",
        "category",
        "quantity_threshold"
      ],
      "derived_fields": [
        "authority"
      ]
    },
    {
      "authority": "California DTSC (22 CCR 66262)",
      "category": "LQGs",
      "key_obligations": "LQGs may accumulate waste for up to 90 days from the first date which any hazardous waste is accumulated",
      "id": "california-dtsc-22-ccr-66262-lqgs",
      "url": "https://referencesource.org/hazwaste-generator-category-thresholds/california-dtsc-22-ccr-66262-lqgs/",
      "source": "https://dtsc.ca.gov/hazardous-waste-generator-requirements-fact-sheet/",
      "source_quote": "SQGs may accumulate hazardous waste onsite for up to 180 days, or for up to 270 days if the waste will be transported 200 miles or more for treatment, storage, or disposal. LQGs may accumulate waste for up to 90 days from the first date which any hazardous waste is accumulated.",
      "verified_fields": [
        "category",
        "key_obligations"
      ],
      "derived_fields": [
        "authority"
      ]
    },
    {
      "authority": "California DTSC (22 CCR 66262)",
      "category": "Small Quantity Generator (SQG)",
      "quantity_threshold": "less than 1,000 kg of hazardous waste per calendar month (excluding universal wastes)",
      "acute_threshold": "1kg or less of acutely or extremely hazardous waste per calendar month",
      "id": "california-dtsc-22-ccr-66262-small-quantity-generator-sqg",
      "url": "https://referencesource.org/hazwaste-generator-category-thresholds/california-dtsc-22-ccr-66262-small-quantity-generator-sqg/",
      "source": "https://dtsc.ca.gov/hazardous-waste-generator-requirements-fact-sheet/",
      "source_quote": "Small Quantity Generator (SQG) \u2013 Generators of less than 1,000 kg of hazardous waste per calendar month (excluding universal wastes), and/or 1kg or less of acutely or extremely hazardous waste per calendar month.",
      "verified_fields": [
        "acute_threshold",
        "category",
        "quantity_threshold"
      ],
      "derived_fields": [
        "authority"
      ]
    },
    {
      "authority": "California DTSC (22 CCR 66262)",
      "category": "SQGs",
      "key_obligations": "SQGs may accumulate hazardous waste onsite for up to 180 days, or for up to 270 days if the waste will be transported 200 miles or more for treatment, storage, or disposal",
      "id": "california-dtsc-22-ccr-66262-sqgs",
      "url": "https://referencesource.org/hazwaste-generator-category-thresholds/california-dtsc-22-ccr-66262-sqgs/",
      "source": "https://dtsc.ca.gov/hazardous-waste-generator-requirements-fact-sheet/",
      "source_quote": "SQGs may accumulate hazardous waste onsite for up to 180 days, or for up to 270 days if the waste will be transported 200 miles or more for treatment, storage, or disposal. LQGs may accumulate waste for up to 90 days from the first date which any hazardous waste is accumulated.",
      "verified_fields": [
        "category",
        "key_obligations"
      ],
      "derived_fields": [
        "authority"
      ]
    },
    {
      "authority": "California DTSC (22 CCR 66262)",
      "category": "Very Small Quantity Generator (VSQG)",
      "quantity_threshold": "less than 100 kg of non-acute hazardous waste",
      "acute_threshold": "less than 1 kg of acutely hazardous waste in a calendar month",
      "key_obligations": "DTSC has not adopted the federal VSQG exemption",
      "id": "california-dtsc-22-ccr-66262-very-small-quantity-generator-vsqg",
      "url": "https://referencesource.org/hazwaste-generator-category-thresholds/california-dtsc-22-ccr-66262-very-small-quantity-generator-vsqg/",
      "source": "https://dtsc.ca.gov/hazardous-waste-generator-requirements-fact-sheet/",
      "source_quote": "Very Small Quantity Generator (VSQG) \u2013 Generators of less than 100 kg of non-acute hazardous waste and less than 1 kg of acutely hazardous waste in a calendar month. Because DTSC has not adopted the federal VSQG exemption, VSQGs are required to comply with the requirements",
      "verified_fields": [
        "acute_threshold",
        "category",
        "key_obligations",
        "quantity_threshold"
      ],
      "derived_fields": [
        "authority"
      ]
    },
    {
      "authority": "EPA (federal, 40 CFR 262.13)",
      "category": "Large quantity generator",
      "quantity_threshold": "\u2265 1,000 kg",
      "acute_threshold": "> 1 kg",
      "id": "epa-federal-40-cfr-262-13-large-quantity-generator",
      "url": "https://referencesource.org/hazwaste-generator-category-thresholds/epa-federal-40-cfr-262-13-large-quantity-generator/",
      "source": "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-40/chapter-I/subchapter-I/part-262/subpart-A/section-262.13",
      "source_quote": "> 1 kg | Any amount | Any amount | Large quantity generator. | Any amount | \u2265 1,000 kg | Any amount | Large quantity generator.",
      "verified_fields": [
        "acute_threshold",
        "category",
        "quantity_threshold"
      ],
      "derived_fields": [
        "authority"
      ]
    },
    {
      "authority": "EPA (federal, 40 CFR 262.13)",
      "category": "Large Quantity Generators (LQGs)",
      "quantity_threshold": "1,000 kilograms per month or more of hazardous waste",
      "acute_threshold": "more than one kilogram per month of acutely hazardous waste",
      "key_obligations": "LQGs may only accumulate waste on-site for 90 days. Certain exceptions apply. LQGs do not have a limit on the amount of hazardous waste accumulated on-site.",
      "id": "epa-federal-40-cfr-262-13-large-quantity-generators-lqgs",
      "url": "https://referencesource.org/hazwaste-generator-category-thresholds/epa-federal-40-cfr-262-13-large-quantity-generators-lqgs/",
      "source": "https://www.epa.gov/hwgenerators/categories-hazardous-waste-generators",
      "source_quote": "Large Quantity Generators (LQGs) generate 1,000 kilograms per month or more of hazardous waste or more than one kilogram per month of acutely hazardous waste. Major requirements for LQGs include: LQGs may only accumulate waste on-site for 90 days. Certain exceptions apply. LQGs do not have a limit on the amount of hazardous waste accumulated on-site.",
      "verified_fields": [
        "acute_threshold",
        "category",
        "key_obligations",
        "quantity_threshold"
      ],
      "derived_fields": [
        "authority"
      ]
    },
    {
      "authority": "EPA (federal, 40 CFR 262.13)",
      "category": "Small quantity generator",
      "quantity_threshold": "> 100 kg and < 1,000 kg",
      "acute_threshold": "\u2264 1 kg",
      "id": "epa-federal-40-cfr-262-13-small-quantity-generator",
      "url": "https://referencesource.org/hazwaste-generator-category-thresholds/epa-federal-40-cfr-262-13-small-quantity-generator/",
      "source": "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-40/chapter-I/subchapter-I/part-262/subpart-A/section-262.13",
      "source_quote": "\u2264 1 kg | > 100 kg and < 1,000 kg | \u2264 100 kg | Small quantity generator.",
      "verified_fields": [
        "acute_threshold",
        "category",
        "quantity_threshold"
      ],
      "derived_fields": [
        "authority"
      ]
    },
    {
      "authority": "EPA (federal, 40 CFR 262.13)",
      "category": "Small Quantity Generators (SQGs)",
      "quantity_threshold": "more than 100 kilograms, but less than 1,000 kilograms of hazardous waste per month",
      "key_obligations": "SQGs may accumulate hazardous waste on-site for 180 days without a permit (or 270 days if shipping a distance greater than 200 miles). The quantity of hazardous on-site waste must never exceed 6,000 kilograms.",
      "id": "epa-federal-40-cfr-262-13-small-quantity-generators-sqgs",
      "url": "https://referencesource.org/hazwaste-generator-category-thresholds/epa-federal-40-cfr-262-13-small-quantity-generators-sqgs/",
      "source": "https://www.epa.gov/hwgenerators/categories-hazardous-waste-generators",
      "source_quote": "Small Quantity Generators (SQGs) generate more than 100 kilograms, but less than 1,000 kilograms of hazardous waste per month. Major requirements for SQGs include: SQGs may accumulate hazardous waste on-site for 180 days without a permit (or 270 days if shipping a distance greater than 200 miles). The quantity of hazardous on-site waste must never exceed 6,000 kilograms.",
      "verified_fields": [
        "category",
        "key_obligations",
        "quantity_threshold"
      ],
      "derived_fields": [
        "authority"
      ]
    },
    {
      "authority": "EPA (federal, 40 CFR 262.13)",
      "category": "Very small quantity generator",
      "quantity_threshold": "\u2264 100 kg",
      "acute_threshold": "\u2264 1 kg",
      "id": "epa-federal-40-cfr-262-13-very-small-quantity-generator",
      "url": "https://referencesource.org/hazwaste-generator-category-thresholds/epa-federal-40-cfr-262-13-very-small-quantity-generator/",
      "source": "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-40/chapter-I/subchapter-I/part-262/subpart-A/section-262.13",
      "source_quote": "\u2264 1 kg | \u2264 100 kg | \u2264 100 kg | Very small quantity generator.",
      "verified_fields": [
        "acute_threshold",
        "category",
        "quantity_threshold"
      ],
      "derived_fields": [
        "authority"
      ]
    },
    {
      "authority": "EPA (federal, 40 CFR 262.13)",
      "category": "Very Small Quantity Generators (VSQGs)",
      "quantity_threshold": "100 kilograms or less per month of hazardous waste",
      "acute_threshold": "one kilogram or less per month of acutely hazardous waste",
      "key_obligations": "VSQGs may not accumulate more than 1,000 kilograms of hazardous waste at any time",
      "id": "epa-federal-40-cfr-262-13-very-small-quantity-generators-vsqgs",
      "url": "https://referencesource.org/hazwaste-generator-category-thresholds/epa-federal-40-cfr-262-13-very-small-quantity-generators-vsqgs/",
      "source": "https://www.epa.gov/hwgenerators/categories-hazardous-waste-generators",
      "source_quote": "Very Small Quantity Generators (VSQGs) generate 100 kilograms or less per month of hazardous waste or one kilogram or less per month of acutely hazardous waste. Requirements for VSQGs include: VSQGs must identify all the hazardous waste generated. VSQGs may not accumulate more than 1,000 kilograms of hazardous waste at any time. VSQGs must ensure that hazardous waste is delivered to a person or facility who is authorized to manage it.",
      "verified_fields": [
        "acute_threshold",
        "category",
        "key_obligations",
        "quantity_threshold"
      ],
      "derived_fields": [
        "authority"
      ]
    },
    {
      "authority": "Washington Ecology (WAC 173-303)",
      "category": "large quantity generator (LQG)",
      "quantity_threshold": "2,200 pounds or more of dangerous waste",
      "acute_threshold": "More than 2.2 pounds of toxic extremely hazardous waste and/or acute hazardous waste",
      "id": "washington-ecology-wac-173-303-large-quantity-generator-lqg",
      "url": "https://referencesource.org/hazwaste-generator-category-thresholds/washington-ecology-wac-173-303-large-quantity-generator-lqg/",
      "source": "https://ecology.wa.gov/Asset-Collections/Doc-Assets/Hazardous-waste/Dangerous-Waste-Guidance/Dangerous-Waste-Basics/Monthly-generation-limits-plain-text",
      "source_quote": "You are considered a large quantity generator (LQG) if you generate: \u2022 2,200 pounds or more of dangerous waste, OR \u2022 More than 2.2 pounds of toxic extremely hazardous waste and/or acute hazardous waste, OR \u2022 More than 220 pounds of spills of toxic extremely hazardous waste and/or acute hazardous waste.",
      "verified_fields": [
        "acute_threshold",
        "category",
        "quantity_threshold"
      ],
      "derived_fields": [
        "authority"
      ]
    },
    {
      "authority": "Washington Ecology (WAC 173-303)",
      "category": "LQG",
      "federal_equivalent": "LQG",
      "id": "washington-ecology-wac-173-303-lqg",
      "url": "https://referencesource.org/hazwaste-generator-category-thresholds/washington-ecology-wac-173-303-lqg/",
      "source": "https://ecology.wa.gov/regulations-permits/guidance-technical-assistance/dangerous-waste-guidance/dangerous-waste-basics/generator-category",
      "source_quote": "The federal and state regulations use different terms to identify generator categories. Keep this in mind when reading through the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) guidance and rules. State | Federal | SQG | VSQG | MQG | SQG | LQG | LQG |",
      "verified_fields": [
        "category",
        "federal_equivalent"
      ],
      "derived_fields": [
        "authority"
      ]
    },
    {
      "authority": "Washington Ecology (WAC 173-303)",
      "category": "medium quantity generator (MQG)",
      "quantity_threshold": "More than 220 pounds but less than 2,200 pounds of dangerous waste",
      "acute_threshold": "2.2 pounds or less of toxic extremely hazardous waste and/or acute hazardous waste",
      "id": "washington-ecology-wac-173-303-medium-quantity-generator-mqg",
      "url": "https://referencesource.org/hazwaste-generator-category-thresholds/washington-ecology-wac-173-303-medium-quantity-generator-mqg/",
      "source": "https://ecology.wa.gov/Asset-Collections/Doc-Assets/Hazardous-waste/Dangerous-Waste-Guidance/Dangerous-Waste-Basics/Monthly-generation-limits-plain-text",
      "source_quote": "You are considered a medium quantity generator (MQG) if you generate: \u2022 More than 220 pounds but less than 2,200 pounds of dangerous waste, AND \u2022 2.2 pounds or less of toxic extremely hazardous waste and/or acute hazardous waste, AND \u2022 220 pounds or less of spills of toxic extremely hazardous waste and/or acute hazardous waste.",
      "verified_fields": [
        "acute_threshold",
        "category",
        "quantity_threshold"
      ],
      "derived_fields": [
        "authority"
      ]
    },
    {
      "authority": "Washington Ecology (WAC 173-303)",
      "category": "MQG",
      "federal_equivalent": "SQG",
      "id": "washington-ecology-wac-173-303-mqg",
      "url": "https://referencesource.org/hazwaste-generator-category-thresholds/washington-ecology-wac-173-303-mqg/",
      "source": "https://ecology.wa.gov/regulations-permits/guidance-technical-assistance/dangerous-waste-guidance/dangerous-waste-basics/generator-category",
      "source_quote": "The federal and state regulations use different terms to identify generator categories. Keep this in mind when reading through the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) guidance and rules. State | Federal | SQG | VSQG | MQG | SQG | LQG | LQG |",
      "verified_fields": [
        "category",
        "federal_equivalent"
      ],
      "derived_fields": [
        "authority"
      ]
    },
    {
      "authority": "Washington Ecology (WAC 173-303)",
      "category": "small quantity generator (SQG)",
      "quantity_threshold": "220 pounds or less of dangerous waste",
      "acute_threshold": "2.2 pounds or less of toxic extremely hazardous waste and/or acute hazardous waste",
      "id": "washington-ecology-wac-173-303-small-quantity-generator-sqg",
      "url": "https://referencesource.org/hazwaste-generator-category-thresholds/washington-ecology-wac-173-303-small-quantity-generator-sqg/",
      "source": "https://ecology.wa.gov/Asset-Collections/Doc-Assets/Hazardous-waste/Dangerous-Waste-Guidance/Dangerous-Waste-Basics/Monthly-generation-limits-plain-text",
      "source_quote": "You are considered a small quantity generator (SQG) if you generate: \u2022 220 pounds or less of dangerous waste, AND \u2022 2.2 pounds or less of toxic extremely hazardous waste and/or acute hazardous waste, AND \u2022 220 pounds or less of spills of toxic extremely hazardous waste and/or acute hazardous waste.",
      "verified_fields": [
        "acute_threshold",
        "category",
        "quantity_threshold"
      ],
      "derived_fields": [
        "authority"
      ]
    },
    {
      "authority": "Washington Ecology (WAC 173-303)",
      "category": "SQG",
      "federal_equivalent": "VSQG",
      "id": "washington-ecology-wac-173-303-sqg",
      "url": "https://referencesource.org/hazwaste-generator-category-thresholds/washington-ecology-wac-173-303-sqg/",
      "source": "https://ecology.wa.gov/regulations-permits/guidance-technical-assistance/dangerous-waste-guidance/dangerous-waste-basics/generator-category",
      "source_quote": "The federal and state regulations use different terms to identify generator categories. Keep this in mind when reading through the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) guidance and rules. State | Federal | SQG | VSQG | MQG | SQG | LQG | LQG |",
      "verified_fields": [
        "category",
        "federal_equivalent"
      ],
      "derived_fields": [
        "authority"
      ]
    }
  ]
}