Hazardous waste

EPA defines hazardous waste as waste with properties that make it dangerous or capable of having a harmful effect on human health or the environment. It can be liquid, solid, gas or sludge, and it comes from sources ranging from industrial processes to batteries.

The governing law is the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, passed in 1976. It sets up a cradle-to-grave system. The business that creates the waste stays responsible for it through transport and final disposal.

That last point surprises owners. Hiring a hauler does not end your duty. Keep manifests and disposal records.

A generator first decides if the waste is a solid waste, then whether it is a listed or characteristic hazardous waste. Mislabeling is a common and costly mistake.

Cleanups often make hazardous waste. Contaminated debris from a soil remediation job or from a removed underground tank may need regulated handling. Ask your contractor to name the waste type and the disposal facility in writing.