1-15. What are the four characteristics that make a waste hazardous in the United States?
Can you suggest other characteristics that might be appropriate to such a listing?
The four characteristics that make a waste hazardous in the U.S. are: corrosivity, ignitability, reactivity,
and toxicity. Others which may be appropriate to such a listing could include ability to bioaccumulate,
persistence, mobility, infectious nature, and radioactivity (See solution to problem 1-8). [Note: There is a
discussion of how other countries define hazardous waste beginning on p. 74 in Chap. 2]
1-16. Explain why "degree of hazard" is not a factor in determining whether or not a waste
is hazardous in the United States.
"Degree of hazard" is not a factor in determining whether or not a waste is hazardous in the United States
because it is a site-specific concept. In addition to the toxicity of individual contaminants, this term
considers the concentration and the mobility of the each chemical. These vary for the same chemical from
site to site. Therefore, using the "degree of hazard" concept at one site may designate a waste hazardous
while at another site, it may not be in great enough concentration to present a danger. There are clear
regulatory advantages to having a single clear definition of what is regulated, and degree of hazard
considerations can be incorporated into decisions of how to manage the waste.