Article: Hazardous waste

This article describes hazardous waste as a substance; for the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal see Basel Convention.

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
• toxicity

Generally, toxicity is quantified through the use of the Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure or TCLP test, as required by EPA.

Hazardous wastes may also be "listed" by EPA. Listed hazardous wastes are generated by specific industries and processes and are considered hazardous waste irrespective of sample results. Examples include waste pickle liquor from iron and steel manufacturing and certain electroplating sludges.

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.

A US facility that treats, stores or disposes (TSDFs) of hazardous waste must obtain a permit for doing so under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.