Environmental Science 3(3+0)

Hazardous Waste

• Hazardous Waste is a "solid waste" which because of its quantity, concentration, or physical, chemical, or infectious characteristics may:
• Pose a substantial present or potential hazard to human health or the environment when improperly treated, stored or disposed of, or otherwise mismanaged; or
• Cause or contribute to an increase in mortality, or an increase in irreversible or incapacitating illness.


• A "solid waste" is defined as any discarded material that is abandoned by being disposed of, burned or incinerated, recycled or considered "waste-like." A solid waste can physically be a solid, liquid, semi-solid, or container of gaseous material. A waste is classified as a hazardous waste if it has a hazardous characteristic listed below or is listed as a hazardous waste in EPA's page with the list of identifies hazardous wastes. Hazardous Characteristics:

Ignitable Hazardous Waste

• A liquid waste which has a flash point of less than or equal to 140 degrees F (60 degrees C) as determined by an approved test method.
• A non-liquid waste which, under standard conditions, is capable of causing a fire through friction, absorption of moisture or a spontaneous chemical change and when ignited, the waste burns so vigorously and persistently that it creates a hazard.
• An ignitable compressed gas or oxidizer.



Corrosive Hazardous Waste

• An aqueous waste with a pH of less than or equal to 2 or greater than or equal to 12.5 is considered to be a corrosive hazardous waste.
• A liquid waste that corrodes steel at a minimum rate of .25 inch per year as determined by an approved test method.
• Reactive Hazardous Waste
• A solid waste that is normally unstable, reacts violently with water, or generates toxic gases when exposed to water or other materials.

Toxic Hazardous Waste

• A waste that contains certain substances determined to be harmful at or in excess of the maximum concentration. Some of those substances include lead, arsenic, and mercury.
• Many things that are thrown out in the rubbish, like some household batteries, car oil, or old paint, can contain harmful chemicals that damage the environment. Find out how to dispose safely of domestic hazardous waste.


What is hazardous waste?
Waste is hazardous when it has properties that might make it harmful to human health or the environment. The term 'hazardous' does not always mean that such waste is immediately harmful, though some can be.

What types of waste are hazardous?
Domestic wastes that may be hazardous include:

• Asbestos
• Pesticides
• Fluorescent tubes
• Oils
• Some paints
• Some household and car batteries
• Discarded electrical equipment such as TVs and computer monitors, fridges and freezers