What Are Four Types of Hazardous Waste?

If you are dealing with hazardous materials (HAZMAT) shipping or hazardous material handling, it’s important to understand what products are considered hazardous. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) groups hazardous wastes into four main categories. Each category requires specific types of handling and shipment procedures.

Following is a breakdown of these four types:

Listed wastes

Listed wastes include four sub-categories: F-list, K-list, P-list and U-list. The F-list and K-List wastes are further identified by an EPA code as toxic, acute, ignitable, corrosive, reactive or toxicity characteristic:

• F-list wastes: These include any wastes that are generated from industrial and manufacturing processes. Their source is nonspecific. They include seven groups: dioxin-bearing, wood-preserving, spent solvent, petroleum refinery wastewater treatment, chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons, multisource leachate and electroplating.
• K-list wastes: These are wastes that have a specific source. They are commonly generated in industries such as iron and steel production, petroleum refining, ink formulation, explosives manufacturing, pesticides manufacturing, wood preservation and organic chemicals manufacturing.
• P-list and U-list wastes: These include commercial-grade chemical products that are unused and disposed of.

Characteristic wastes

These wastes are identified by their characteristics. The qualities considered for identification include ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity and toxicity. Substances undergo testing by certified laboratories to determine if their qualities fall under any of these categories and should be considered hazardous.

Universal wastes

This type of waste is also referred to as commonly generated. They include commonly-produced items, such as batteries and pesticides. They may also be identified as dangerous goods. These universal wastes are also identified by class. There are nine classes: explosives, gases, flammable liquids, flammable solids or substances, oxidizing substances and organic peroxides, toxic and infectious substances, radioactive substances, corrosive substances and miscellaneous dangerous substances.

Mixed wastes

These wastes contain both radioactive and hazardous substances. Within this category, mixed wastes are further identified as low-level mixed waste, high-level mixed waste and mixed transuranic waste. Each requires different types of handling and HAZMAT shipping depending on its unique makeup of materials.

Identifying types of hazardous waste

How can you know which type of materials you are dealing with, so you can provide appropriate hazardous material handling? This is crucial for obvious safety concerns as well as avoidance of fines and other penalties for improper handling.

For safe and effective HAZMAT shipping, consult with a local transportation company. These experts can provide in-depth knowledge about the appropriate handling of a full range of hazardous materials. They can help you identify and label each shipment correctly based on current regulations and guidelines.

Learn more

For more insight into hazardous material handling, contact the experts at All Points Transport. We specialize in the one-way and round-trip inland movement of import and export containers, shipping products across the United States. We are your go-to source for shipping specialized cargo, including over-dimensional transport, HAZMAT transport, refrigerated transport and more. We will guarantee safe, reliable and cost-effective service you can depend on. Call us today for more information on HAZMAT shipping or to get started on your next delivery. Reach our team at 843-576-5930.

Categorised in: Hazmat Shipping