Hazardous Waste
Hazardous Waste
Hazardous Waste (/ˈhæzərdəs weɪst/) is a type of waste that poses substantial or potential threats to public health or the environment.
Etymology
The term "Hazardous Waste" is derived from the English words "hazardous" meaning risky or dangerous, and "waste" meaning material that is discarded because it has served its purpose or is no longer useful.
Definition
Hazardous waste is defined as any solid, liquid, or contained gaseous material that is discarded by being disposed of, burned or incinerated, or recycled. It can also be a by-product of manufacturing processes or discarded commercial products like cleaning fluids or pesticides.
Types of Hazardous Waste
There are four main types of hazardous waste: listed, characteristic, universal, and mixed radiological waste.
- Listed Waste: Specific wastes from common manufacturing and industrial processes, specific industries, and discarded commercial products.
- Characteristic Waste: Wastes that exhibit any of the four characteristics defined in the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA): ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity, or toxicity.
- Universal Waste: Widely generated wastes, including various types of batteries, pesticides, mercury-containing equipment, 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).
Related Terms
- Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA): The principal federal law in the United States governing the disposal of solid waste and hazardous waste.
- Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA): A federal law designed to clean up sites contaminated with hazardous substances and pollutants.
- Superfund: The common name for CERCLA, which was established to address abandoned hazardous waste sites.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Hazardous Waste
- Wikipedia's article - Hazardous Waste
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