What does the Hazardous Waste program under RCRA manage from cradle to grave?

The Hazardous Waste program under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) is specifically designed to manage hazardous wastes throughout their entire lifecycle, referred to as "cradle to grave." This includes the generation, transportation, treatment, storage, and disposal of hazardous waste. The program establishes a framework to ensure that hazardous waste is handled in a manner that protects human health and the environment.

Hazardous wastes are defined as waste materials that exhibit hazardous characteristics such as ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity, and toxicity. The systematic approach taken by the RCRA ensures that these materials are tracked and managed appropriately to minimize potential risks associated with improper handling and disposal.

This focus on hazardous waste is critical in maintaining safety and compliance with environmental regulations, making it the correct answer in this context. Other types of waste, such as medical waste, household waste, and resource recovery programs, may be addressed by different regulations or management strategies but are not encompassed within the specific scope of the RCRA's hazardous waste management framework.