Knowledge of the three categories of hazardous waste

 

The process of disposing of Hazardous and Non-hazardous waste can vary widely. Therefore, it is important to know what is and what is not considered hazardous waste. EPA defines three types of hazardous waste: Listed, Distinctive, and Mixed Radiation Waste. Each of these categories has subcategories that can be very specific, but the basic ones are as follows.

Listed waste:

The wastes listed are those that originate from identifiable manufacturing processes and industries, or that may be chemical wastes from commercial products. There are four types of wastes listed: F, K, P, and U wastes.

List F wastes

List F wastes come from non-specific sources. They are created from industrial and manufacturing processes, but these processes can take place in many different industries. EPA defines seven groups of List F wastes and they are grouped according to how they were generated.

List K wastes

Unlike List F wastes, List K wastes have specific sources. They also come from industrial and manufacturing processes, but they come from identifiable industries such as wood preservation, petroleum refining, and explosives manufacturing. There are 13 of these categories; See the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 40, Section 261.32 for detailed descriptions.

Residuals of lists P and U

Wastes listed P and U indicate pure and unused chemicals that are destined for disposal and have three criteria in common: They contain one of the chemicals on the P or U list, so the chemical in the waste does not is used and the chemical is in the form of a commercial chemical.

List P waste is serious waste and its empty packaging is treated as hazardous waste. U-list wastes are also toxic, but empty containers are not considered hazardous.

Characteristic residues:

Characteristic residues are defined as having at least one of the following properties: flammability, corrosivity, reactivity, and toxicity.

Flammable: waste that can catch fire. Wastes of this grade include compressed gases, solid wastes subject to spontaneous combustion, and liquids with flash points below 60 ° C.

Corrosive: residue that can corrode another substance through chemical reactions. Hazardous wastes of this grade include liquid wastes with a pH of 2 and less or 12.5 and more. Corrosion can also be due to the substance's ability to corrode steel.

Reagent: unstable residue under typical conditions. These hazardous wastes can react chemically with water or explode when exposed to heat. Explosives and lithium-sulfur batteries are considered reactive hazardous waste.

Toxic: harmful or fatal waste if ingested or absorbed by living beings. Examples of hazardous toxic wastes are arsenic and chloroform. For a complete list of toxic wastes and the legal requirements that classify them as hazardous.

Mixed radiological waste:

The last category of hazardous waste is mixed radiological waste, which means that the waste contains both a hazardous component and a radioactive component. Since it contains two types of regulated waste, the disposal of mixed radiological waste must comply with RCRA and the Atomic Energy Act. It is the Ministry of Energy or the Nuclear Regulatory The commission that regulates the radiological part of this hazardous waste.

It can be difficult and time-consuming to determine whether or not your business produces hazardous waste, what category it falls into, and how it is disposed of properly. For help with regulatory compliance and Hazardous Waste Disposal, Contact Corpseed for a quick, free quote.