Hazardous waste

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Drums with toxic waste

Hazardous waste is a type of waste that poses substantial or potential threats to public health or the environment. It is often byproduct of industrial processes, but can also come from residential use.

Definition

According to the EPA, a hazardous waste is a waste with properties that make it dangerous or potentially harmful to human health or the environment. The universe of hazardous wastes is large and diverse. Hazardous wastes can be liquids, solids, contained gases, or sludges. They can be the by-products of manufacturing processes or simply discarded commercial products, like cleaning fluids or pesticides.

Types of Hazardous Waste

Hazardous waste is classified into four categories: listed, characteristic, universal, and mixed radiological waste.

• Listed Waste - The EPA has determined that these wastes are hazardous. The lists include the F-list (wastes from common manufacturing and industrial processes), K-list (wastes from specific industries), and P-list and the U-list (discarded commercial chemical products).
• Characteristic Waste - Wastes that do not meet any of the listings above but that exhibit ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity, or toxicity.
• Universal Waste - Batteries, pesticides, mercury-containing equipment (e.g., thermostats), and lamps.
• Mixed Radiological Waste - Waste that contains both hazardous waste and source, special nuclear, or byproduct material subject to the Atomic Energy Act (AEA).

Regulation

In the United States, the treatment, storage and disposal of hazardous waste is regulated under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). Hazardous wastes are also subject to regulations on transport, import and export, among others, under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and other laws.

See Also

• Waste management
• Environmental impact of the chemical industry
• Environmental law
• Toxic waste
• Radioactive waste