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What Is a Hazardous Waste Audit — and Why It Matters

A hazardous waste audit is a systematic review of how hazardous and regulated wastes are generated, classified, handled, stored, documented, and ultimately shipped or disposed of at a facility.

In Ontario, this process is governed primarily by Ontario Regulation 347 (General – Waste Management) and, where transportation is involved, the Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) Regulations.

A properly conducted waste audit helps organizations:

  • Identify regulatory gaps before they become enforcement issues

  • Confirm that waste streams are correctly classified

  • Ensure packaging, labelling, and storage meet legal requirements

  • Verify that shipping documentation is accurate and defensible

  • Reduce the risk of fines, shipment refusals, environmental harm, and worker injury

Most importantly, a hazardous waste audit connects regulatory compliance to real-world safety — protecting employees, the public, and the environment.

What is a Hazardous Waste

What a Hazardous Waste Audit Reviews

A comprehensive hazardous waste audit typically examines:

1. Waste Identification and Classification

  • Are all waste streams properly identified as subject or non-subject waste?

  • Have hazardous waste numbers been correctly assigned under Regulation 347?

  • Are waste classifications consistent with both provincial and federal requirements?

2. Packaging, Marking, and Labelling

  • Are containers suitable for the waste being generated?

  • Are markings and labels compliant with Ontario Regulation 347 and TDG, where applicable?

  • Are incompatible wastes properly segregated?

3. Storage Practices

  • Are storage areas designed and managed to prevent leaks, reactions, or exposure?

  • Are time limits, signage, and secondary containment requirements being met?

  • Do storage practices align with both regulatory and safety expectations?

4. Shipping and Disposal Documentation

  • Are shipping documents completed accurately and consistently?

  • Are TDG shipping papers aligned with the actual waste being transported?

  • Are manifests, bills of lading, and disposal records properly maintained?

5. Training and Operational Alignment

  • Do workers understand why procedures exist — not just what to do?

  • Are internal procedures aligned with current regulations and actual site practices?

Why Experience Matters in a Waste Audit

Hazardous waste audits are not checklist exercises. Regulations are complex, interconnected, and highly dependent on how waste is generated and managed in the real world.

That is where experience becomes critical.

Over 40 Years of Practical Regulatory Expertise

Mark Roehler Training Services brings over 40 years of hands-on experience working with:

  • Ontario Regulation 347

  • Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations

  • Industrial, commercial, and institutional waste streams

Mark Roehler’s background includes decades of working directly with facilities that generate, store, ship, and dispose of hazardous waste — not just teaching the regulations, but applying them in operational environments.

This experience allows Mark to:

  • Identify compliance issues others often miss

  • Understand how inspectors interpret requirements

  • Bridge the gap between written regulations and day-to-day operations

  • Focus on risk reduction and safety, not just paperwork

More Than Compliance: From Paper Rules to Practical Safety

Many organizations technically “follow the rules” but still carry hidden risk because:

  • Waste streams were classified years ago and never reviewed

  • Packaging practices evolved without regulatory reassessment

  • Documentation no longer reflects actual materials being shipped

A hazardous waste audit conducted by Mark Roehler Training Services goes beyond surface-level compliance. It asks:

  • Does this make sense operationally?

  • Does this protect workers and the public?

  • Would this hold up during an inspection or incident investigation?

The result is not just regulatory confidence — it is operational clarity and improved safety culture.

When Should You Consider a Hazardous Waste Audit?

A waste audit is especially valuable if:

  • You are unsure whether all waste streams are correctly classified

  • Your facility has changed processes, products, or suppliers

  • You have never completed a formal waste audit

  • You want to reduce regulatory risk before an inspection

  • You want assurance that your documentation and practices are defensible

Working With Mark Roehler Training Services

Organizations contact Mark Roehler Training Services because they want:

  • Clear, practical guidance grounded in experience

  • Regulatory interpretations that reflect real enforcement expectations

  • Customized reviews based on their specific waste streams and operations

  • Confidence that compliance decisions are technically sound and safety-focused

A hazardous waste audit is not about finding fault — it is about building confidence, clarity, and control over your waste management obligations.

Ready to Learn More?

Need help? Book a call at a time that suits you.

If you would like to understand how a hazardous waste audit could support your facility’s compliance and safety objectives, contact Mark Roehler Training Services for a practical, experience-driven discussion.

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