What makes a waste hazardous?

Question

it for a test and i don't knwo the answer. So please help.

Answer 1

A waste is hazardous when it is harmful to the environment or any organisms.

Hazardous waste is a waste with properties that make it dangerous or potentially harmful to human health or the environment. The universe of hazardous wastes is large and diverse. Hazardous wastes can be liquids, solids, contained gases, or sludges. They can be the by-products of manufacturing processes or simply discarded commercial products, like cleaning fluids or pesticides.

Answer 2

In the US, hazardous waste are those that are regulated by a specific set of laws.  The main US reference is EPA and the reference is given.

"In regulatory terms, a RCRA hazardous waste is a waste that appears on one of the four hazardous wastes lists (F-list, K-list, P-list, or U-list), or exhibits at least one of four characteristics—ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity, or toxicity. Hazardous waste is regulated under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Subtitle C. For more information on the RCRA statute and links to the regulations, visit RCRA Laws and Regulations."

Answer 3

Environment Canada defines hazardous materials or waste as materials that are corrosive, flammable, reactive or toxic. Materials with these characterisics are regulated to insure their safe storage and disposal.

http://www.atl.ec.gc.ca/epb/wastemgmt/ha...

That website should help you answer anymore questions on hazardous waste

Answer 4

i can think of a few things, although there might be more. These are based on educated guesses.

1. it's radioactive

2. most chemical waste can be classified as hazardous

3. It contains diseases