What Makes a Waste Hazardous?

The following describes questions you should be concerned with in reference to classifying a substance or material as a “HAZARDOUS WASTE”.

Is it corrosive? 

• pH less than or equal to 2
• pH greater than or equal to 12.5
• It is a liquid and corrodes steel at a rate greater than .250″ per year at a temperature of 130 degrees F.
• It is not aqueous and when mixed with an equivalent weight of water, produces a solution having a pH less than or equal to 2 or greater than or equal to 12.5
• It is not a liquid and when mixed with an equivalent weight of water, produces a liquid that corrodes steel at a rate greater than.250″ year at a temperature of 130 degrees F.

Is it reactive?

• It is normally unstable and readily undergoes violent change without detonating.
• Reacts violently with water
• It forms potentially explosive mixtures with water
• When mixed with water, it generates toxic gases, vapors or fumes on a quantity sufficient to present a danger to human health or the environment.
• Contains enough cyanide or sulfide to react with a pH between 2 and 12.5 and generate toxic gases, vapors and fumes in a quantity sufficient to present a danger to human health or the environment.
• Is capable of detonation or explosive reaction if it is subjected to a strong initiating source or heated under confinement.
• It is readily capable of detonation or explosive decomposition or reaction at standard temperature or pressure.
• It is a forbidden explosive per 49CFR Sec. 173.51, Class A explosive per 49 CFR Sec. 173.53 of Class B explosive per 40 CFR sec. 173.88.

Is it ignitable?

• A liquid other than an aqueous solution containing less that 24% alcohol and has a flash point less that 140 degrees F.
• It is not a liquid and is capable under standard temperature and pressure of causing a fire through friction, absorption of moisture or spontaneous chemical changes and when ignited burns so vigorously and persistently that it creates a hazard.
• Ignitable compressed gas Oxidizer as defined in 49 CFR 173.151

Is it toxic?

Toxic substances may impact living organisms by:

1.  An ACUTE injurious effect exhibited immediately or shortly after exposure
2.  A CHRONIC injurious effect exhibited at some later date

A waste exhibits the characteristic of toxicity if representative samples of the waste exhibit any
of the following properties:

• When tested, the waste contains a contaminant at a concentration equal of greater that the concentration listed in Table I of Section 66261.24 CCR.
• Has an acute oral LD 50 less than or equal to 5,000 Mg/Kg.
• Has an acute inhalation LC 50 less than or equal to 10,000 ppm asa gas or vapor or 10,000 mg/M3 as a dust or mist.
• Has an acute dermal LD50 of less than or equal to 4,300 mg/Kg.
• Has an acute 96 hour LC 50 less than or equal to 500 mg/l when measured in soft water with flathead minnows.
• When tested, the waste contains a contaminant at a concentration equal to of greater that the concentration listed for the STLC of the TTLC in Table II of Section 66261.24 CCR
• When tested, the waste contains a contaminant at a concentration equal to or greater than the concentration listed for the STLC or the TTLC in Table III of Section 66261.24 CCR.
• It contains any of the substances listed in Section 66261.24 (a)(7) at a single of combined concentration equal of or exceeding 0.001% by weight.
• It has been shown through experience or testing to pose a hazard to human health or the environment because of it carcinogenity, acute toxicity, chronic toxicity, bio-accumulative properties or persistence in the environment.