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Air Indoor Resources - Hazardous Waste Management

Characteristic Waste

A waste is considered hazardous if it exhibits the characteristic(s) of ignitibility, corrosivity, reactivity, and toxicity. These wastes are referred to as “characteristic” wastes under the 40 CFR 261-21-.24 rules. Characteristic hazardous wastes and their waste numbers/codes are:

1. Ignitable/Oxidizer wastes are given the EPA waste number/code D001:
   The waste is considered “ignitable” if it is a liquid that has a flash point of 140 ° F or less; if it is not a liquid and can spontaneously cause a fire through friction, moisture absorption, or chemical change; or if it is an ignitable compressed gas. The waste is an “oxidizer” if it falls under the definition in 49 CFR 173.151 under the Department of Transportation or readily supplies oxygen to a reaction in the absence of air. These types of wastes include: spent solvents, mineral spirits, and used gasoline.
2. Corrosive wastes have an EPA waste number/code of D002:
   The waste is “corrosive” if it is aqueous and has a pH less than 2 or greater than 12.5; or if it is a liquid that corrodes steel at a rate of one-fourth inch per year or more.
3. Reactive wastes are given EPA waste number D003:
   The waste is “reactive” if it is unstable and undergoes violent change without detonation; if it reacts violently with water; if it forms toxic gases; if it is a cyanide or sulfide bearing wastes at certain concentrations; or if it is a forbidden explosive under the Department of Transportation rules.

Toxic wastes are considered harmful or fatal when ingested or absorbed. If the toxic wastes are placed in a landfill, contaminated liquid may leach from the waste and pollute the groundwater. Toxicity characteristic wastes are in a category of 39 constituents that can leach from a landfill. Toxicity characteristic wastes contain metals and other organic compounds such as lead, chromium, silver, and pesticides that can leach or dissolve from wastes. The “Characteristic Waste” category has specific EPA waste numbers/codes represented by the letter “D” and three numerical digits as shown above.

TC waste constituents include: eight heavy metals with waste numbers/codes D004 to D011; four insecticides; two herbicides with waste numbers/codes D012 to D017; and 25 volatile organic compounds with waste numbers/codes D018 to D043 that are analyzed using the Toxic Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP). The TCLP test is a prescribed laboratory procedure that simulates the leaching environment found in landfills. If you suspect only metals in the waste, you can reduce the cost of a TCLP by requesting a mini-TCLP for metals only.

The following is a partial list of the 39 constituents of TC waste identified using the TCLP with waste numbers/codes between D004 and D043:

Wendy Murphy
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Phone: (850) 245-9295

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