Which term describes a waste material that is ignitable, corrosive, reactive or exceeds specific toxic limits established by the EPA?

Which term describes a waste material that is ignitable, corrosive, reactive or exceeds specific toxic limits established by the EPA?

• A. Nonhazardous waste
• B. Hazardous waste
• C. Solid waste
• D. Household waste

Answer: (B)

Hazardous waste is defined by the EPA as waste that exhibits ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity, or toxicity above established limits. These characteristics show why the material poses significant risks to people and the environment, so it must be handled, treated, and disposed of under strict requirements. Ignitable wastes can easily catch fire, corrosive wastes corrosively damage containers or produce harmful fumes, reactive wastes are unstable and can explode or release toxic gases, and toxic wastes contain substances that leach out above regulatory thresholds. Since the statement mentions exceeding toxic limits, it points to the toxicity characteristic that makes a waste hazardous. Nonhazardous waste does not have these properties, solid waste is a broad category that includes both hazardous and nonhazardous materials, and household waste is usually consumer trash and not inherently hazardous unless it contains specific dangerous components.

Hazardous waste is defined by the EPA as waste that exhibits ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity, or toxicity above established limits. These characteristics show why the material poses significant risks to people and the environment, so it must be handled, treated, and disposed of under strict requirements. Ignitable wastes can easily catch fire, corrosive wastes corrosively damage containers or produce harmful fumes, reactive wastes are unstable and can explode or release toxic gases, and toxic wastes contain substances that leach out above regulatory thresholds. Since the statement mentions exceeding toxic limits, it points to the toxicity characteristic that makes a waste hazardous. Nonhazardous waste does not have these properties, solid waste is a broad category that includes both hazardous and nonhazardous materials, and household waste is usually consumer trash and not inherently hazardous unless it contains specific dangerous components.