Which Act gives the EPA authority over hazardous waste from cradle to grave?

The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) is the legislation that bestows the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with the authority to manage hazardous waste from its creation (the "cradle") to its final disposal (the "grave"). This act establishes a comprehensive framework for the proper treatment, storage, and disposal of hazardous waste, ensuring that these materials are handled in a way that protects human health and the environment throughout their entire lifecycle.

Under RCRA, the EPA is tasked with regulating both the waste's generation and its management processes, which include collection, transportation, treatment, storage, and disposal. This cradle-to-grave approach is crucial for mitigating risks associated with hazardous waste, as it provides a structured method to track and control these materials at every stage, effectively preventing potential environmental contamination and public health issues.

In contrast, other acts like the Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act primarily focus on regulating pollutants in water bodies and the atmosphere, respectively, while the Toxic Substances Control Act addresses the regulation of chemical substances but does not specifically cover the management of hazardous waste in the same comprehensive manner as the RCRA.