The department’s Waste Management Program protects public health and the environment by working with Missouri individuals, businesses, industry, governments and schools to make sure they know how to safely collect, handle and dispose of their waste. The main goal of waste management is to reduce the amount of waste produced and properly manage the rest. If waste is released to the environment, the program performs and oversees the environmental investigation and cleanup activities. The program works with stakeholders, the general public and regulated facilities to comply with state and federal hazardous and solid waste laws and regulations.
The program's Engineering Section reviews permit applications and issues waste-related permits and permit modifications. The Solid Waste Permits Unit oversees solid waste-related permits for solid waste disposal and processing facilities. The Hazardous Waste Operating Facilities Unit oversees hazardous waste-related permits and permit modifications for hazardous waste treatment, storage and disposal facilities and hazardous waste sites requiring corrective action. The Scrap Tires and Illegal Dumping Unit investigates oversees the cleanup of illegal scrap tire dumpsites, conducts scrap tire inspections and investigations.
The program's Compliance and Enforcement Section investigates reports of illegal dumping and other solid waste and hazardous waste-related concerns across Missouri. Staff also assist the department’s regional offices with inspections of hazardous waste generators; hazardous waste treatment, storage and disposal facilities; permitted solid waste facilities; and hazardous waste haulers. Section staff also conduct enforcement activities when necessary to ensure proper management of solid waste and hazardous waste to protect human health, safety and Missouri’s water, land and air resources.
The program's Operations Section focuses on planning, financial and technical assistance, and educational activities that inform the public proper solid waste and hazardous waste management. Staff provide funding to nonprofit groups to clean up dumpsites with less than 500 scrap tires and awards scrap tire material grants that promote the use of scrap tire materials in new product.
The Waste Management Program works closely with the department's Environmental Remediation Program to carry out the policies of the Missouri Hazardous Waste Management Commission and to coordinate on sites requiring remediation or cleanup.
Meet the Director - Erin Lepper
Erin Lepper became director of the Waste Management Program, effective Aug. 3, 2026.
Erin brings both private and public sector experience to this role, with over 15 years of service with the State of Missouri, most of that with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Her previous work includes environmental remediation and solid waste industry operations consulting. Erin has worked with the department’s Water Protection and Water Resources programs as well as with our regional offices. She also has project management, continuous improvement and change management experience with the state.
Erin holds bachelor's and master’s degrees in geological engineering from the Missouri University of Science and Technology.