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Determine If Your Waste is Hazardous
What is Hazardous Waste?
This may seem like a simple question, however the answer is somewhat complicated
because of special rules and exemptions. The definition begins with an explanation
of a "solid waste." A solid waste is any solid, liquid, or contained gaseous
material that is discarded by being disposed of, burned or incinerated, or recycled.
(There are some exceptions for recycled materials.) It can be the by-product
of a manufacturing process or simply a commercial product that you use in your
business--such as a cleaning fluid or battery acid--that is being disposed of.
Even materials that are recyclable or can be reused in some way (such as burning
used oil for fuel) may be considered solid waste.
"Hazardous waste" can be one of two types:
"Listed waste." Your solid waste is considered hazardous
if it appears on one of four lists published in the Code of Federal Regulations
(40 CFR Part 261) (Links to full text regulations). Currently, more than 400 wastes are listed. Wastes are listed as hazardous because they are known to be harmful to human health and the environment when not managed properly.
Even when managed properly, some listed wastes are so
dangerous that they are called "acutely hazardous wastes." Examples of acutely
hazardous wastes include wastes generated from some pesticides that can be
fatal to humans even in low doses.
"Characteristic wastes." If your solid waste does not
appear on one of the hazardous waste lists, it still might be considered
hazardous if it demonstrates one or more of the following characteristics:
- It catches fire under certain conditions. This is known
as an "ignitable" waste and it has a special RCRA waste code ( D001). Examples are paints and certain degreasers and solvents.
- It corrodes metals or has a very high or low pH. This
is known as a "corrosive" waste and it has a special RCRA waste code (D002). Examples are acid or alkaline cleaning baths, and battery acid.
- It is unstable and explodes or produces toxic fumes,
gases, and vapors when mixed with water or under other conditions such as
heat or pressure. This is known as a "reactive" waste and it has a special
RCRA waste code (D003). Examples are certain cyanides or sulfide-bearing wastes.
- It is harmful or fatal when ingested or absorbed, or
it leaches toxic chemicals into the soil or ground water when disposed of
on land. This is known as a "toxic" waste. Toxic wastes have special waste codes (D004 to D0043), depending on the contaminant present. For example, lead contaminated waste has the code D008. Examples are wastes that contain high concentrations of heavy metals, such as spent stripping solutions or sludges.
You can determine if your waste is toxic by having it tested using the Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP), or by simply knowing that your waste is hazardous or that your processes generate hazardous waste.
What is NOT Hazardous Waste
RCRA regulations include a number of exceptions that are important to PWB manufacturing facilities. These exceptions are found in 40 CFR 261.4 (Link to full text regulations). The following are not solid or hazardous wastes:
- Wastewater discharges from PWB facilities that are regulated under the Clean Water Act
- Domestic sewage discharged to aPOTW
- Secondary materials that are reclaimed and returned to the original process in which they were generated (certain provisions must be met)
- Shredded circuit boards being recycled (certain provisions must be met, see 40 CFR 261.4 (a)(14))
- Scrap metal (certain provisions must be met, see 40 CFR 261.4 (a)(13))
Common Coatings-Related Hazardous Wastes
There are a number of hazardous wastes commonly generated by PWB manufacturing. These include:
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