Solid Waste Permitting

Pre-application requirements:

For all NEW facilities, before submitting the initial application, please ensure that the following have been completed. See LAC 33:VII.513.B, for specifics related to each of these requirements.

• A capacity evaluation shall be submitted for all newly proposed landfills, at least 90 days prior to submitting the application.
• Written confirmation from the appropriate municipal or parish governing authority that the facility is in compliance with all existing local zoning and land use restrictions.
• An emergency response plan shall be filed with the Louisiana State Fire Marshal. Approval shall be obtained before submission of the permit application.
• Public notice of the intent to submit an application for a permit shall be published within 45 days prior of the permit application submission.

Permit Applications:

Permit applications and instructions are downloadable from the Solid Waste Resources page on this site.

• Industrial, Residental, and/or Commerical (Type I/II) Landfill, Surface Impoundment, Landfarm, and/or Processing Facilities (Type I-A/II-A).
• Construction and Demolistion Debris and woodwaste landfills, composting facilities, and/or separation and other minor processing Facilities (Type III).

NOTE: If the permit has more than one facility type, please include any sections for each facility type that are not included in the permit application you submit. 

Application Checklist:

The checklists below may be used to ensure the application being submitted is administratively complete. 

Initial or Renewal Application Checklist

State Fire Marshal/DEQ Joint Guidance Document for Emergency Response Plans:

• Summary Table-new Emergency Response requirements
• Template-Certification Letter for Hospital
• Template-Certification Letter for EMS
• Template-Certification Letter for Fire Department

Modification requests to solid waste permits are regulated under LAC 33:VII.517 and should include only sections that are proposed to be modified. 

Any facility that wants to make changes after November 20, 2011 must submit an application. They only need to fill out Sections 1–9 and the parts that relate to the specific change. They should not include blank sections or attachments that do not apply. If the application does not clearly show where to describe the change, the facility can add an attachment explaining it in the space provided at the end of the checklist. Major modification requests should be submitted in a 3‑ring binder or as loose pages so updated pages can be added later if needed.

Modification Checklist:

The checklists below may be used to ensure the application being submitted is administratively complete.

Solid Waste Permit Modification Checklist

Certification of Compliance

All permitted solid waste facilities are required to submit a Certification of Compliance (annual report) by October 1 of each year covering the previous state calendar year (July 1st through June 30th).

Certification of Compliance

General Instructions for the Certification of Comlpiance

Landfill Information:

• Solid Waste Landfill Report (List of permitted Type I, II, and III facilities)
• Recognized Asbestos Landfills

Capacity Reports:

• Guidance Document for Determining Landfill Capacity
• 2011 Solid Waste Capacity Report
• 2013 Solid Waste Capacity Report
• 2015 Solid Waste Capacity Report
• 2017 Solid Waste Capacity Report
• 2019 Solid Waste Capacity Report
• 2021 Solid Waste Capacity Report
• 2023 Solid Waste Capacity Report

Permitted solid waste facilities must set aside money to cover the cost of closing the facility and taking care of it after it closes. This money is called financial assurance. The amount is based on how much it would cost a third‑party company to do the work if the facility could not do it itself. Each year, the facility has to review and update its financial assurance. They must adjust the amount for inflation and increase it if the expected costs become higher than what they have set aside. This helps ensure the site can be safely closed and maintained.

Industrial solid waste generators are businesses or facilities that create solid waste from manufacturing, processing, or industrial activities. They must follow state rules to handle their waste safely. This includes identifying the type of waste they produce, storing it properly, keeping good records, and sending it to approved facilities. Their main job is to make sure the waste does not harm workers, nearby communities, or the environment. Industrial Waste Generators requirements can be found in LAC 33:VII.501.

Notification Form for Generators of Industrial Solid Waste

Industrial Solid Waste Codes List

List of Solid Waste Transporters and Industrial Generators

Industrial Solid Waste Generator Annual Report

Note: The Industrial Solid Waste Generator Annual Report is due August 1 for the previous reporting year (July 1st through June 30th).

Solid waste transporters are companies or individuals who move solid waste from the generator to a permitted landfill, transfer station, or treatment facility. Transporters must be registered with the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ). They must use safe, leak‑free vehicles, secure their loads, and prevent spills or litter during transport. They also need to follow proper routes and deliver the waste only to approved locations. Solid Waste Transporter requirements can be found in LAC 33:VII.505.

Notification Form for Transporters of Solid Waste

List of Solid Waste Transporters and Industrial Generators

Solid waste collection facilities are a places where homes, businesses, and industries collected and stored prior to being transported for disposal. These facilities must follow rules to prevent litter, control odors, stop pests, and keep the area clean. These facilities are required to notify prior to operating and comply with local zoning and land use ordinances. Collection facility requirements can be found in LAC 33:VII.507.

Solid Waste Notification Form

Non-processing transfer facilities directly or indirectly transfer waste from transport vehicles to other (typically larger) transport vehicles and may also set up a collection facility. Waste is unloaded from smaller trucks and then reloaded onto larger trucks or trailers for longer distance transport. This helps reduce the number of trips to landfills and makes waste collection more efficient. They do not process the waste except for compaction and may also conduct separation of recyclables from non-putrescible commercial solid waste. These facilities must also follow safety rules, including keeping waste covered, preventing spills, and making sure waste does not stay on site too long. These facilities are required to notify prior to operating and comply with local zoning and land use ordinances. Non-processing transfer facility requirements can be found in LAC 33:VII.508.

Solid Waste Notification Form

Non-Processing Transfer Station Annual Report Form

Beneficial Use Plans allow facilities to use normally waste material for some profitable purpose. For example, some industrial by products can be used in construction, landscaping, or soil improvement if they meet safety standards. Facilities must apply for and be approved prior to operating under a Beneficial Use Plan. Beneficial Use Plan are regulated under LAC 33:VII.1105 and are required to submit annual reports by August 1 for the previous calendar year (July 1st through June 30th).

 Solid Waste Notification Form

Beneficial Use of Discarded Barite and Cement Powder Mixtures

Best Management Plans (BMPs) allow facilities to process and/or dispose agricultural waste or wood waste without requiring a permit from the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality.  These plans are reviewed and approved by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry..  Once approved by and operated in accordance with the BMP, agricultural waste is exempted from the solid waste rules and regulations (LAC 33:VII.301.A.1.a).  BMPs that manage wood waste must also notify LDEQ to meet the LAC 33:VII.303.A.10 exclusion. 

Failure by any facility to manage agricultural waste or wood waste in accordance with their BMP, is subject to all solid waste rules and regulations.

Solid Waste Notification Form

Memorandum of Understanding between LDEQ and LDAF

Medical and infectious wastes are generally managed by the Louisiana Department of Health under LAC 51:XXVII.

Infectious waste that is not processed or disposed of at a permitted solid waste facility is considered exempt under Louisiana’s rules (LAC 33:VII.301.A.1.h). Hospitals and other health care facilities do not need a solid waste permit if they store or treat infectious waste that they create on‑site, or if the waste comes from a facility they fully or partly own (LAC 33:VII.305.A.12). These facilities still must handle the waste safely, but they are not required to follow the normal solid waste permitting rules.

Any medical waste facility that processes infectious waste from outside, third‑party sources must apply for and receive a Type II‑A solid waste processing permit.

• Medical Waste Processing Facilities
• Medical Waste Transporters -- All transporters of medical waste within the state of Louisiana must register as a solid waste transporter using the Notification Form for Transporters of Solid Waste.
• Medical Waste Considerations for Waste Handlers

Exploration and Production (E&P) wastes are regulated by the Louisiana Department of Conservation and Energy and are not typically disposed of in solid waste landfills. LDEQ has published a policy that allows for the disposal of certain E&P waste in solid wastes (RCRA Subtitle D) landfills.

The Louisiana Debris Management Plan explains how the state handles large amounts of debris after disasters like hurricanes, floods, or storms. Its goal is to remove debris quickly while protecting public health and the environment. The plan outlines how debris is collected, sorted, stored, and taken to approved disposal or recycling sites. It also explains the roles of state agencies, local governments, and contractors during cleanup. Different types of debris—such as vegetation, construction materials, household waste, and hazardous items—must be managed safely and separately. Overall, the plan helps Louisiana respond faster and more efficiently after major emergencies.

More information can be found on the Disater Debris Management Page.