Jeane Ann B.

Jordan BEEd II-A

HAZARDOUS WASTE
Hazardous wastes are poisonous byproducts of manufacturing, farming, city septic systems, construction,
automotive garages, laboratories, hospitals, and other industries. The waste may be liquid, solid, or sludge and
contain chemicals, heavy metals,h radiation, dangerous pathogens, or other toxins.
Hazardous Waste Characteristics
Ignitability
 A waste is ignitable if it can readily catch fire and sustain combustion. A liquid is ignitable if it has a
flash point (the temperature at which combustion occurs) of less than 140° Fahrenheit (F).
 Examples of ignitable wastes include oil-based paint wastes, nonhalogenated degreasers, thinners and
solvents (petroleum distillates), stripping agents, epoxy resins, adhesives, rubber cements and glues,
and some waste inks.
 An ignitable waste is given the EPA Hazardous Waste Number D001.
Corrosivity
 A waste is corrosive if it is a liquid and dissolves metals and other materials, or burns the skin or eyes
on contact. Liquids with a pH of 2 or less, or 12.5 or more, are corrosive.
 Examples of corrosive wastes include alkaline degreasers, corrosive cleaning solutions, rust removers,
waste acids, and bleach compounds (peroxide and chlorine compounds).
 A corrosive waste is assigned the EPA Hazardous Waste Number D002.
Reactivity
 A waste is reactive if it is normally unstable and undergoes rapid or violent chemical reactions, such as
catching fire, exploding, or giving off fumes when exposed to water or air.
 Examples of reactive wastes are bleaches and hypochlorites from water treatment processes or
swimming pool sanitizing operations and discarded munitions or explosives.
 A reactive waste has the EPA Hazardous Waste Number D003.
Toxicity
 A waste exhibits the toxicity characteristic if it has concentrations of poisonous heavy metals or certain
organic compounds above specified levels (Appendix 7-2) that may cause illness or death if inhaled,
swallowed, or absorbed through the skin. Long-term effects of a toxic waste on human health may
include cancer, birth defects, reproductive anomalies, brain and kidney damage, and diseases of the
skin, lungs, and heart.
 Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) - the analytical procedure used to determine if a
waste is toxic.
 Examples of toxic wastes are inks and sludges containing certain heavy metals, batteries containing
lead, certain pesticides, and paint wastes containing heavy metals, such as chromium or lead.
 A toxicity characteristic waste has the EPA Hazardous Waste Number that corresponds to the toxic
contaminant causing it to be hazardous (D004 through D043)
Hazardous materials are defined and regulated in the United States primarily by laws and regulations
administered by the (OSHA), (EPA), (DOT), and the (NRC). Each has its own definition of a “hazardous
material.”
1. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
OSHA’s definition includes any substance or chemical which is a “health hazard” or “physical hazard,”
including: chemicals which are carcinogens, toxic agents, irritants, corrosives, sensitizers; agents which act on
the hematopoietic system; agents which damage the lungs, skin, eyes, or mucous membranes; chemicals
which are combustible, explosive, flammable, oxidizers, pyrophorics, unstable-reactive or water-reactive; and
chemicals which in the course of normal handling, use, or storage may produce or release dusts, gases, fumes,
vapors, mists or smoke which may have any of the previously mentioned characteristics. (Full definitions can
be found at 29 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 1910.1200.)
2. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
EPA incorporates the OSHA definition, and adds any item or chemical which can cause harm to people,
plants, or animals when released by spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging,
injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping or disposing into the environment. (40 CFR 355 contains a list of over
350 hazardous and extremely hazardous substances.)
3. Department of Transportation (DOT)
DOT defines a hazardous material as any item or chemical which, when being transported or moved in
commerce, is a risk to public safety or the environment, and is regulated as such under its Pipeline and
Hazardous Materials Safety Administration regulations (49 CFR 100-199), which includes the Hazardous
Materials Regulations (49 CFR 171-180). In addition, hazardous materials in transport are regulated by the
International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code; Dangerous Goods Regulations of the International Air
Transport Association; Technical Instructions of the International Civil Aviation Organization; and U.S. Air Force
Joint Manual, Preparing Hazardous Materials for Military Air Shipments.
4. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
The NRC regulates materials that are considered hazardous because they produce ionizing radiation,
which means those materials that produce alpha particles, beta particles, gamma rays, x-rays, neutrons, high-
speed electrons, high-speed protons, and other particles capable of producing ions. This includes “special
nuclear material,” by-product material, and radioactive substances. (See 10 CFR 20).
CONTRIBUTORS OF HAZARDOUS WASTE
Nuclear waste
Waste generated from power plants and nuclear weapon technology. It is arguably the most
dangerous created by society. The dangers associated with nuclear waste are compounded by the extremely
long half-life of radioactive materials, during which they maintain their hazardous properties. Dangers from
nuclear waste include both immediate health risks and long-term risks related to increases in cancer and birth
defects. There are also safety issues around nuclear waste as certain types can be used as weapons and need
to be stringently controlled.
Electronic Waste
Many electronic products contain trace amounts of hazardous materials that can pose problems if
incinerated or disposed of in a landfill. Computers contain many components that fall into this category,
including CPUs, CRT mónitors and printed circuit boards. Their widespread use and unregulated disposal make
them a real contributor to the overall hazardous waste problem.
Industrial Waste
Many cleaners and solvents used in industrial and commercial processes become hazardous wastes
after their use. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has specific technical groupings based on whether
they come from specific or non-specific industries or processes as well as the degree of danger they pose.
These include wood preservation chemicals, compounds that contain dioxin and refinery wastewater.
Pharmaceutical manufacturing and organic chemical production also lead to the creation of hazardous wastes.
Universal Waste
Another category of hazardous waste is designated as universal waste. This waste is generated from a
large variety of sources and consists of products that serve both commercial and personal use. Two of the
prime examples of universal waste are batteries and light bulbs. Used throughout society in great quantities,
disposal of batteries and other forms of universal waste cannot be as closely monitored or controlled as
industrial waste. Commonly just thrown out with the trash, these wastes make their way into landfills and
incinerators where their toxic components are released into the environment.
Medical Waste
Medical waste of certain types can be a biohazard and pose safety risks. Though the U.S. EPA does not
strictly designate medical waste as hazardous, it definitely can cause health problems ifit is not properly
managed. Discarded needles and blood products have the potential to spread diseases and cause injury. Most
medical waste streams are regulated at the stateand local level.
Construction Waste
Waste from construction sites can be hazardous. Asbestos tiles and insulation, lead pipes and certain
chemicals used in maintenance all fall into this category. The construction industry needs to be aware of these
hazards and vigilant in their safe disposal. EPA guidelines again regulate and educate the industry on the
disposal of their waste
HAZARDOUS WASTE DISPOSAL SITES
Land Disposal
The most common form of disposingof hazardous waste occurs at land disposal sites such as landfills,
wastepiles, land treatment units or surface impoundments. The primary goal with land disposal is "to
permanently contain the waste and prevent the release of harmful pollutants to the environment," according
to the EPA. Most municipalities have land disposal sites in the torms of landfills or otherwise that are capable
of disposing of varying types of hazardous waste.
Storage
Storage of hazardous waste refers only to the holding of waste for a temporary period of time before it
is "treated, disposed, og stored elsewhere," says the EPA storage fact sheet. Depending on the type of
hazardous waste that you will be storing or transporting prior to placing it in an RCRA-compliant facility, waste
storage must adhere to hazardous waste regulations. The waste must be placed in containers, tank drip pads,
containment buildings or waste piles that sufficiently contain it without leaks of any variety.
Underground Injection Wells
Underground injection wells are used primarily for the disposal of liquid hazardos materials.
Underground injection wells are also regulated according to the Safe Drinking Water Act due to their potential
impact on drinking water resources.
Source:
about-ihmm/what-are-hazardous-materials
https://essr.umd.edu/epa-hazardous-waste-codes