Hazardous Wastes - Definition and Overview

Hazardous waste is waste that poses substantial or potential threats to public health or the environment and generally exhibits one or more of these characteristics:

• ignitability
• corrosivity
• reactivity (explosive)
• toxicity

Many types of businesses generate hazardous waste. Some are small companies that may be located in a community. For example, the following types of businesses typically generate hazardous waste: dry cleaners, automobile repair shops, hospitals, exterminators, and photo processing centers. Some hazardous waste generators are larger companies like chemical manufacturers, electroplating companies, and oil refineries.

See also: radioactive waste, toxic waste, remediation.

External link

• The EPA's hazardous waste page: http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/osw/hazwaste.htm