In November 1980 a federal law came into effect requiring any plant that generates more than 908 kg (2200 pounds) per month of hazardous waste to follow a strict procedure for disposal of that waste. The law covering disposal of hazardous waste is called the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). The law--which may be the largest experiment in self-regulation ever attempted--requires use of a manifest system for documenting who transports waste, who disposes of it, and the location of the final resting place. The most significant aspect of this new legislation is that the generator of the hazardous waste is responsible for the waste from "cradle to grave."