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TRP Chapter 2.1 2
General definitionA hazardous waste has the potential to
cause an unacceptable risk to:
– PUBLIC HEALTH
– THE ENVIRONMENT
TRP Chapter 2.1 3
Why definition is difficult
HAZARDOUS WASTE
PHYSICAL FORM
PHYSICAL PROPERTIESCHEMICAL PROPERTIES
COMPOSITION
The hazard associated with a waste depends on:
BIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES
TRP Chapter 2.1 4
Examples of hazardous waste definitions: Basel Convention
45 categories of wastes that are presumed to be hazardous.
PLUS …...
These categories of waste need to exhibit one or more hazardous characteristics:
flammable, oxidising, poisonous, infectious, corrosive, ecotoxic
TRP Chapter 2.1 5
Examples of hazardous waste definitions: UNEP
Wastes other than radioactive wastes which, by reason of their chemical activity or toxic, explosive, corrosive or other characteristics cause danger or are likely to cause danger to health or the environment
TRP Chapter 2.1 6
Examples of hazardous waste definitions: USA
UNDER US EPA REGULATIONS:
1 The waste is listed in EPA regulations
2 The waste is tested and meets one of the four characteristics established by EPA:
• Ignitable• Corrosive• Reactive• Toxic
3 The waste is declared hazardous by the generator
TRP Chapter 2.1 7
Examples of hazardous waste definitions: European Waste Catalogue
A core list of 850 types of waste
Of these, around 420 are classified as hazardous wastes
These are divided into 19 main categories
TRP Chapter 2.1 8
The objective of definitions
Why define wastes?
To decide whether or not that waste should be controlled - this is important for the generator as well as the regulator
Why create a list?
•Clear and simple
•No need for testing
TRP Chapter 2.1 9
Different methods of classification
Lists eg Basel Convention Annex I, Basel List A, EU European Waste Catalogue, US EPA list
Origin eg processes, Basel Convention Annex II
Hazardous characteristics eg toxicity, reactivity, Basel Convention Annex III
Chemical and physical properties eg inorganic, organic, oily, sludges
• Need to match classification to objectives
• No method will suit all cases
TRP Chapter 2.1 10
Methods of waste classification: by origin
•Waste streams eg Basel Convention
•Miscellaneous or ubiquitous wastes eg • contaminated soils• dusts• redundant pesticides from agriculture• hospital wastes
TRP Chapter 2.1 11
Example of waste classification by origin: Basel
The Basel Convention’s List of
Hazardous Waste Categories (Y1-Y18) identifies wastes from specific processes
eg Y1 Clinical wastes
Y6 Wastes from the production and use of organic solvents
Y18 Residues from industrial waste disposal operations
TRP Chapter 2.1 12
Methods of waste classification: by hazardous characteristics
Main characteristics:•Toxic•Corrosive
UN Committee on the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road or Rail (ADR) lists waste characteristics. These have been adopted by Basel Convention - Annex III gives 13 characteristics, based on ADR rules, including:
•Explosive•Flammable•Toxic and eco-toxicRepresented as codes H1-H13
•Ignitable•Reactive
TRP Chapter 2.1 13
Hazardous characteristics: Toxicity
Toxic wastes are harmful or fatal when ingested, inhaled or absorbed through the skin
Examples:•Spent cyanide solutions•Waste pesticides
TRP Chapter 2.1 14
Hazardous characteristics: Corrosivity
Acids or alkalis that are capable of dissolving human flesh and corroding metal such as storage tanks and drums
Examples:•acids from metals cleaning processes eg ferric chloride from printed circuit board manufacture
•liquor from steel manufacture
TRP Chapter 2.1 15
Hazardous characteristics: Ignitability
Ignitable wastes:• can create fires under certain conditions• or are spontaneously combustible
Examples: •Waste oils•Used solvents•Organic cleaning materials•Paint wastes
TRP Chapter 2.1 16
Hazardous characteristics: Reactivity
Reactive wastes are unstable under ‘normal conditions’ They can cause: • explosions • toxic fumes • gases or vapours
Examples:• Peroxide solutions• Hypochlorite solutions or solids
TRP Chapter 2.1 17
Hazardous characteristics: Eco-toxicity
Eco-toxic wastes are harmful or fatal to other species or to the ecological integrity of their habitats
Examples:
• Heavy metals
• Detergents
• Oils
• Soluble salts
TRP Chapter 2.1 18
Methods of waste classification: by chemical, biological and physical
properties
• Inorganic wastes eg acids, alkalis, heavy metals, cyanides, wastewaters from electroplating
• Organic wastes eg pesticides, halogenated and non-halogenated solvents, PCBs
• Oily wastes eg lubricating oils, hydraulic fluids, contaminted fuel oils
• Sludges eg from metal working, painting, wastewater treatment
TRP Chapter 2.1 19
Relative composition of hazardous waste types by region
Source: INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANISATION Global waste survey, final report 1995
TRP Chapter 2.1 20
•Hazardous waste from households - outside the controls in many countries
•Small quantity generators - often placed outside the system, at least initially
•Aqueous effluents discharged to sewer or treated on-site - controlled separately from hazardous wastes in most countries
•Sewage sludge - excluded in some countries•Mining wastes - often excluded•Agricultural waste - often excluded•Nuclear waste - always excluded
Exclusions from control systemsSome wastes may be excluded from the legal definition of hazardous wastes, and thus not subject to controls. These vary, but may include:
TRP Chapter 2.1 21
Chapter 2.1 Summary
•This chapter sets out the need for definitions, and why definition is difficult
•It provides examples of definitions: Basel Convention, UNEP, USEPA, European Waste Catalogue
•It gives the objective of definitions
•It describes classification methods: by origin, by hazardous characteristics, by chemical, biological and physical properties
•It covers exclusions from definitions