&EPA
The mission of the U.S.
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) is to protect
human health and safe-
guard the environment.
One way EPA helps fulfill
its mission is by regulat-
ing the management and
disposal of hazardous
wastes under the
Resource Conservation
and Recovery Act (RCRA).
RCRA has the following
three general goals: To
protect human health and
the environment • Jo
reduce waste while con-
serving energy and natur-
al resources • To reduce
or eliminate the genera-
tion of hazardous waste.
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Solid Waste
and Emergency Response
(5306W)
EPA530-E-00-001e
October 2000
www.epa.gov/osw
What Makes a Waste
Hazardous?
As a first step in fulfilling the goals of RCRA, EPA developed objective
criteria to define and identify hazardous waste for regulation. According to
EPA, a waste is hazardous if it can be harmful to human health and the envi-
ronment when handled improperly. Hazardous wastes come in many forms
and can be generated in a variety of industrial and nonindustrial settings. Specifically, a
waste is considered hazardous under RCRA if it meets either of the following criteria:
(1) it is specifically listed (identified) as a hazardous waste or (2) it exhibits one or
more characteristics of a hazardous waste.
Determining whether or not a waste qualifies as hazardous is important because only
hazardous wastes that meet the criteria above are subject to RCRA regulations. EPA
requires wastes identified as hazardous to be handled—stored, treated, and disposed
of—according to the stipulations of the RCRA hazardous waste program.
What Are the Different
Kinds of Hazardous Waste?
Listed Wastes
EPA has specifically identified and listed
certain wastes that are known to be haz-
ardous. To determine a waste to be listed,
EPA observes different industrial practices
at numerous facilities, noting the common
chemicals used, and assessing which
wastes pose the greatest risk to human
health and the environment. Listed wastes
are always hazardous regardless of their
chemical composition—no testing is
required to identify them. Listed wastes
are divided into four categories, according
to their origin:
• F list—Wastes from generic industrial
processes. For example, certain used
solvents used for cleaning or
degreasing.
• K list—Wastes from specific industry
sectors. For example, certain petrole-
um refining wastes.
i Printed on paper that contains at least 30 percent postconsumer fiber.
-------
• P list—Unused, acutely hazardous commercial chemi-
cal products. For example aldrin, a chemical used as
an agricultural insecticide.
• U list— Unused, commercial chemical products. For
example, DDT and formaldehyde.
Characteristic Wastes
Not all hazardous wastes are listed. EPA has identified
certain properties or characteristics that also can
Hazar
Source
Educational Activities
(Schools, Vocational Programs)
Dry Cleaning
Construction
Vehicle Maintenance
identify a waste as hazardous to human health and the
environment. A waste is considered hazardous and is
regulated under RCRA if it exhibits one of the following
characteristics:
• Ignitability—Waste that is determined to be flamma-
ble under certain conditions.
• Corrosivity—Waste that corrodes metals or has a
very high or low pH.
• Reactivity—Waste that readily explodes or undergoes
violent reactions.
• Toxicity—Waste that is known to be harmful or fatal
when ingested and is known to leach into ground
water at certain levels. For example, waste with high
levels of arsenic, lead, or mercury.
What Are the Different Forms of
Hazardous Waste?
In developing the hazardous waste regulations, EPA rec-
ognized that waste management practices often cause
wastes to deviate from their original form. For example,
hazardous wastes can be mixed with other wastes; can
be produced from other wastes; or can contaminate soil,
ground water, and other materials.
y Various Activities
Generation Activity
Laboratories, art classes
Types of Waste
Solvent waste, paint waste, toxic
waste, used/unused chemicals
Commercial drycleaning process Solvent waste
Lawn Maintenance Services
Paint preparation, contracting
activities, vehicle and
equipment maintenance
Rust removal, paint removal,
spray booth/spray gun waste,
paint preparation
Pesticide application, cleanup
Ignitable wastes, toxic wastes,
solvent wastes, used oil
Solvents, paint wastes, toxic
wastes, ignitable wastes
Used/unused pesticides, solvent
wastes, contaminated soils
-------
Mixtures
In some situations, hazardous wastes
are mixed with other hazardous wastes
or nonhazardous wastes before proper
treatment or disposal. To prevent gen-
erators of hazardous wastes from dilut-
ing wastes intentionally in order to
bypass regulation, EPA developed
requirements for hazardous waste mix-
tures. A mixture of a listed waste and
any other waste will remain regulated
as a listed waste regardless of the per-
centage of the listed waste in the mix-
ture. A mixture of a characteristic
hazardous waste and any other waste
will only be considered hazardous if the
resultant mixture exhibits a hazardous
waste characteristic. Even if resultant
mixtures do not exhibit a characteristic
of hazardous waste, they may still
require further treatment before proper
disposal.
Are There Any Exclusions for Hazardous Waste?
Not all wastes defined as
hazardous are subject to
EPA's hazardous waste man-
agement standards.
Congress and EPA identified
certain wastes that may be
impractical or otherwise
undesirable to regulate. For
example, household haz-
ardous wastes (e.g., cleaning
chemicals, paint and paint
thinner, medicinal drugs, and
ointments used in the home)
are common materials dis-
posed of by millions of
households nationwide. To
subject these wastes to the
stringent hazardous waste
Other Wastes Excluded
from Hazardous Waste
Regulations:
Domestic sewage.
Certain industrial waste-
water discharges regulated
under the Clean Water Act.
Radioactive wastes regulat-
ed solely under the Atomic
Energy Act.
Recycled used oil and
certain used oil filters.
Certain agricultural wastes.
Processed scrap metal.
Derived-From Wastes
regulations would be counterproductive, resulting in the overburden-
ing of the general public. Instead, household hazardous waste is
managed safely on a local level by its inclusion in municipal solid
waste or special household hazardous waste collection programs.
As a result of treatment, storage, or
even proper disposal, residues of haz-
ardous waste can be generated from
the original hazardous waste. These
are called derived-from wastes. EPA recognized
that these residues might not be rendered nonhaz-
ardous by management activities. The hazardous status
of a residue, such as a sludge, ash, or filter, depends
on the type of hazardous waste from which it is derived.
ardous waste characteristics. Remember, even if these
residues do not exhibit a hazardous waste characteris-
tic, they may still require further treatment before
proper disposal.
Just as with mixtures of hazardous waste, if a residue
is derived from a listed hazardous waste, or exhibits a
characteristic of hazardous waste, then it is regulated
under RCRA as a hazardous waste.
For example, if a residue is derived from a listed haz-
ardous waste, it retains the listed waste classification
regardless of its concentration. In other words, if some-
one burns a K-listed waste, the resultant ash would
remain a K-listed waste regardless of the concentration
of that waste ash. If, however, a residue is derived from
a characteristic hazardous waste, it will only be consid-
ered hazardous if it still exhibits one of the four haz-
Contaminated Media and Debris
Sometimes listed and characteristic hazardous wastes
are spilled into the environment (e.g., soil or ground
water) or contaminate equipment, buildings, other struc-
tures, or debris. Environmental media and debris conta-
minated by a listed hazardous waste must be managed
as that listed waste regardless of the concentration of
waste they contain. Media and debris contaminated
with a characteristic hazardous waste must be man-
aged as a characteristic hazardous waste only if they
exhibit a hazardous waste characteristic.
-------
Would You Like More Information?
RCRA, Superfund, and EPCRA Hotline
Call 800 424-9346 or 703 412-9810 in the
Washington, DC area. For the hearing impaired,
the number is TDD 800 553-7672.
You also can access information via the hotline's
Internet site at .
Additional Documents
These additional documents can help you learn
more about the requirements for hazardous waste
handlers. These documents are free and can be
ordered from the RCRA Hotline. Reference the EPA
document number (ER4530...) when ordering.
Does Your Business Produce Hazardous Waste?
Many Small Businesses Do, (EPA530-SW-90-027).
Identifying Your Waste: The Starting Point,
(EPA530-F-97-029).
Understanding the Hazardous Waste Rules: A
Handbook for Small Businesses—1996 Update,
(EPA530-K-95-001).
Contact Your State
Although EPA's federal regulations set the national
standard for compliance, individual states often
have regulations that are more stringent than the
federal regulations. You should contact your state
about its specific regulations. State environmental
contacts are available from the RCRA, Superfund,
and EPCRA Hotline.
SERVICE
STATION
------- |