The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to sunset paper hazardous-waste manifests, a move that would push covered shipments further into the federal e-Manifest system and change how hazardous-waste handlers manage registration, data corrections and recordkeeping. EPA published the proposed rule this past week and is accepting comments through May 4. The issue is less about headlines than day-to-day compliance: how waste shipments are documented, how errors are corrected and how records are maintained.

“Environmental compliance works best when it is clear, efficient and grounded in how facilities actually operate,” said James Lee, managing director of public policy services for the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association. “Any shift away from paper manifests needs to reduce friction, protect accountability and give manufacturers confidence that digital systems will work the way regulators say they will.” 3/11/2026