Waste lists

A sohd waste is considered hazardous if it is either a Hsted waste or a characteristic waste. Listed wastes include a Hst of specific processes that generate a waste and a Hst of discarded commercial chemical products. There are four hazardous waste characteristics ignitabiHty, corrosivity, reactivity, and toxicity. The last refers to the leachabiHty of a waste and the resultant toxicity in the groundwater using the analytical method referred to as toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP). A Hst of substances included under TCLP is shown in Table 1. 

Extra duties are imposed on the producers of Special Waste , i.e. a waste that is on the European Hazardous Waste list reproduced in Table 17.6 and if it has one or more of the hazardous properties listed in Table 17.7 (reproduced from Part 2 of Schedule 2 of the Special Waste Regulations, 1996). Also Special Waste is any Controlled Waste which has one of the listed properties. Extra requirements are detailed for the safe transfer and management of such waste. 

Wastes Listed Solely for Exhibiting the Characteristic of Ignitability,... 

To indicate its reason for listing a waste, U.S. EPA assigns a hazard code to each waste listed on the F, K, P, and U lists. These hazard codes are listed below. The last four hazard codes apply to wastes that have been listed because they typically exhibit one of the four regulatory characteristics of hazardous waste. There will be more about the four characteristics of hazardous waste later in this chapter. The hazard codes indicating the basis for listing a waste are as follows2 3 4 5 6 7 ... 

WASTES LISTED SOLELY FOR EXHIBITING THE CHARACTERISTIC OF IGNITABILITY, CORROSIVITY, OR REACTIVITY... 

So far, this chapter has introduced the fundamentals of the hazardous waste identification process and an overview of the hazardous waste listings and characteristics. One should now be able to explain in general terms which solid wastes are hazardous wastes. What remains to be explained is when these hazardous wastes cease being regulated as hazardous wastes. The regulations governing this issue are commonly known as the mixture and derived-from rules. 

The hazardous waste listings, the hazardous waste characteristics, and the mixture and derived-from rules are all essential parts of the definition of hazardous waste, but these key elements are all described in different sections of the RCRA regulations. Only one regulatory section unites all four elements to establish the formal definition of hazardous waste. This section is entitled Definition of Hazardous Waste, which states that all solid wastes exhibiting one of the four hazardous characteristics are hazardous wastes. This section also states that all solid wastes listed on one of the four hazardous waste lists are hazardous wastes. Finally, this section explains in detail the mixture and derived-from rules and the regulatory exemptions from these rules. Thus, although the section is entitled Definition of Hazardous Waste, it serves primarily as a guide to the mixture and derived-from rules. 

The hazardous waste identification process is subject to critical review, and adjusted accordingly to reflect technology changes and new information. The hazardous waste listings are particularly dynamic as U.S. EPA conducts further research to incorporate new listings. The following is a brief discussion of several developments to hazardous waste identification. 

U.S. EPA proposed a concentration-based hazardous waste listing for certain waste solids and liquids generated from the production of paint on February 13, 2001.20 Following a review of the public comments and supplemental analyses based on those public comments, U.S. EPA determined that the paint wastes identified in the proposal do not present a substantial hazard to human health or the environment. Therefore, U.S. EPA did not list these paint production wastes as hazardous. See the April 4, 2002, final determination regarding these hazardous waste listings for additional information.21... 

Any hazardous chemical or chemical waste listed or having characteristics identified by the Resource Conservation Recovery Act, with the exception of those snspended by Congress nnder the Solid Waste Disposal Act... 

In addition to the four characteristics of hazardous wastes, the ERA has established three hazardous waste lists hazardous wastes from nonspecific sources (e.g., spent nonhalogenated solvents), hazardous wastes from specific sources (e.g., bottom sediment sludge from the treatment of wastewaters from wood preserving), and discarded commercial chemical products and off-specification species, containers, and spill residues. 

However, the solvent wastes listed in Items 1 to 3 above are restricted from land disposal effective November 8, 1988. 

Be otherwise capable of causing or significantly contributing to an increase in serious, irreversible, or incapacitating reversible illness. Wastes listed in this manner are classified as acute hazardous wastes that become subject to full hazardous waste regulation in smaller quantities than those for other hazardous wastes. An example of an acute listed hazardous waste is P0I5, beryllium powder. 

Deerhake, ME, et al. n.d. Human and ecological risk assessment for the petroleum refining waste listing determinations background document. Prepared for the Office of Solid Waste, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, by Research Triangle Institute under Contract No. 68-W-4-0042. 

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