Hazardous waste refers to materials that are harmful to human health or the environment and are regulated by government agencies due to their dangerous properties. These wastes can be solid, liquid or gas and typically include chemicals, heavy metals and certain pharmaceuticals.
Knowing the difference between hazardous and non-hazardous waste is crucial for businesses since proper identification impacts safe storage, disposal procedures and compliance, while also influencing overall hazardous waste management costs.
What Is Hazardous Waste And Who Generates It?
Hazardous waste is any material that poses a significant risk to human health, safety or the environment due to its
chemical, physical or biological properties. It can come in various forms, from liquids, solids and gases to sludge and substances like industrial chemicals, solvents, heavy metals and certain types of pharmaceuticals.
These materials require special handling, storage and disposal procedures to prevent contamination or accidents, and they are strictly regulated by government agencies like the EPA in the United States.
A wide range of industries and sectors generate hazardous waste, including manufacturing, healthcare, construction and agriculture. For example, factories that produce chemicals or electronics often have byproducts that qualify as hazardous, as do hospitals and pharmacies that dispose of expired or unused medications.
Laboratories, automotive repair shops and even small businesses that use certain cleaning or maintenance products can also be sources of hazardous waste. Proper management and disposal of these materials are crucial for ensuring public safety and environmental protection.
Characteristics Of Hazardous Waste
The EPA provides clear designations to help businesses identify hazardous waste. These categories also help businesses determine which substances require special procedures for transport to disposal facilities and final disposal.
Especially in California, where hazardous waste materials are severely regulated, knowing what hazardous waste materials you are generating will prevent your business from potential fines and liability related to improper storage and or disposal.
To determine what is hazardous waste, the EPA lists four major characteristics that are used to identify hazardous waste:
- Ignitibility
- Reactivity
- Corrosiveness
- Toxicity
Ignitibility
Any substance with a flash point below 140 degrees Fahrenheit is deemed volatile enough to carry a hazardous ignitable rating. These substances are likely to start fires under a broad spectrum of work conditions.
Reactivity
This designation typically refers to gases that react violently to heat or high pressure. Inherently explosive materials make up another large subsection of the reactive hazardous materials. Likewise, substances that react with water to produce noxious fumes fall under this category.
Corrosiveness
Powerful acids and bases can easily eat through metal containers, clothes and skin. The difficulty in storing corrosive substances through normal means reinforces the need for disposal and transportation by a team of HazMat professionals. Substances with a pH value less than 2 or above 12.5 falls under the hazardous corrosivity category.
Toxicity
The final category indicates a waste product that poses inherently fatal threats to human beings. Substances like lead and mercury fall into this category. Toxic substances also pose large contaminant risks to the environment. Exposure of toxic substances to natural water sources, for example, can have detrimental impacts on native species and local populations.
Listed Wastes
F List (Non-Specific Source Wastes)
Hazardous wastes are commonly referred to as “manufacturing process wastes,” and can be divided into seven
categories:
- Spent solvent wastes
- Wastes from Electroplating and Other Metal-Finishing Operations
- Dioxin-Bearing Wastes
- Wastes from the Production of Certain Chlorinated Aliphatic Hydrocarbons
- Wood Preserving Wastes
- Petroleum Refinery Wastewater Treatment Sludges
- Multisource Leachate
K List (Source-Specific Wastes)
K listings come from specific manufactured and industrial generators, and the waste contains chemicals that have been used for their intended purpose. To determine if your waste stream qualifies as a K listed waste, you must answer two key questions:
- Is the facility that created the waste identified as one of the manufacturing or industrial entities contained in the K listing?
- Does the waste generated by the company match one of the specific K list waste descriptions?
As a waste generator, you must determine if your waste meets the EPA's regulation’s definition of a waste and the category that applies.
P List And U List (Discarded Commercial Products)
P and U listings contain pure or commercial grade formulations of certain unused chemicals, which have proven to be dangerous or toxic. Chemical waste streams assigned to a P or U hazardous waste listing must meet the following criteria:
- The waste contains one of the chemicals listed on the P or U listings
- The chemical in the waste must be unused
- The chemical in the waste must be in the form of a commercial chemical product” (CCP) as defined by the EPA.
The P and U listed hazardous wastes do not involve waste generated from manufacturing processes. To determine if a particular waste stream applies to the descriptions under the generic P and U listings, the generator must consider two factors:
- The generator discards one of the listed materials as unused. For instance, many generators discard chemicals because it is “off-specification” and do not serve its intended purpose or they may accidently spill chemicals. Under the EPA guidelines, any chemical that a generator uses for its intended purpose does not qualify as a P or U listing.
- To qualify as a P or U hazardous waste listed chemical, the generator discards the chemical in the form of a CCP – its pure form or 100 percent of that particular chemical, or it is the only active ingredient in a chemical composition (almost 100 percent pure), but contains minor impurities.
Understanding what is and what is not hazardous waste can minimize your company's liability and reduce the risk of being assessed fines and penalties. However, knowing how to identify the waste is only half the battle, knowing how to dispose of it is the other.
Hazardous Waste Disposal
Hazardous waste disposal is a critical process that ensures harmful materials are safely managed and removed from the environment. Because of the risks posed by hazardous waste, strict regulations govern its disposal, which typically involves special treatment, recycling or secure landfilling.
Depending on the nature of the waste, it may need to undergo specific processes such as neutralization, incineration or stabilization before it can be safely discarded. These methods aim to reduce the waste's harmful effects, either by rendering it non-toxic or by securely isolating it from the environment to prevent contamination.
For businesses, proper hazardous waste disposal involves selecting a certified hazardous waste disposal company that is licensed to handle and transport hazardous materials. These companies must adhere to stringent guidelines and maintain detailed records of the waste’s disposal, known as manifests, which track the waste from generation to final disposal.
Failure to comply with hazardous waste regulations can result in substantial fines, legal consequences and long-term environmental damage. Understanding the disposal requirements and establishing a reliable waste management plan is essential for any organization generating hazardous waste.
Our FREE eBook, "HANDLING HAZARDOUS WASTE," breaks down the nuts and bolts of hazardous waste and outlines everything you need to know about identifying, labeling, storing and disposing of hazardous waste.
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