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Chapter 2.1 Definition and classification

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General definitionA hazardous waste has the potential to

cause an unacceptable risk to:

– PUBLIC HEALTH

– THE ENVIRONMENT

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Why definition is difficult

HAZARDOUS WASTE

PHYSICAL FORM

PHYSICAL PROPERTIESCHEMICAL PROPERTIES

COMPOSITION

The hazard associated with a waste depends on:

BIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Hazardous characteristics: Toxicity

Toxic wastes are harmful or fatal when ingested, inhaled or absorbed through the skin

Examples:•Spent cyanide solutions•Waste pesticides

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Relative composition of hazardous waste types by region

Source: INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANISATION Global waste survey, final report 1995

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•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:

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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