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What is hazardous waste?

A hazardous waste has the potential to cause an unacceptable risk to:

• Public health
• The environment

Examples of hazardous waste definitions: Basel Convention

45 categories of wastes that are presumed to be hazardous.

PLUS …...

These categories of waste need to exhibit one or more hazardous characteristics:
flammable, oxidising, poisonous, infectious, corrosive, ecotoxic.

Examples of hazardous waste definitions: UNEP

Wastes other than radioactive wastes which,
by reason of their chemical activity or toxic, explosive, corrosive or other characteristics cause danger or are likely to cause danger to health or the environment

Examples of hazardous waste definitions: USA

UNDER US EPA REGULATIONS:

1. The waste is listed in EPA regulations
2. The waste is tested and meets one of the four characteristics established by EPA:
• Ignitable
• Corrosive
• Reactive
• Toxic
3. The waste is declared hazardous by the generator

Examples of hazardous waste definitions: European Waste Catalogue

A core list of 850 types of waste.

Of these, around 420 are classified as hazardous wastes.

These are divided into 19 main categories