PART I.Ā PREAMBLE

 

[Ā§342J-1]Ā  Legislative policy; programpriorities.Ā  The legislature finds that hazardous waste must be managed ina manner that protects the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of theState and protects and conserves the Stateā€™s natural resources andenvironment.Ā  Accordingly, the hazardous waste management program of this Stateshall be a preventive as well as a regulatory program that gives priority to:

(1)Ā  The provision of technical assistance togenerators to ensure the safe and proper handling of hazardous waste;

(2)Ā  The establishment of a public education programto promote awareness of what constitutes hazardous waste and the dangers ofimproper disposal of hazardous waste;

(3)Ā  The promotion of hazardous waste minimization,reduction, recycling, exchange, and treatment as the preferred methods ofmanaging hazardous waste, with disposal to be used only as a last resort whenall other hazardous waste management methods are ineffective or unavailable;and

(4)Ā  The coordination of hazardous waste managementefforts among the counties of this State, taking into consideration the uniquedifferences and needs of each county. [L 1989, c 212, pt of Ā§5]