Classification and Characterization of Hazardous, Radioactive, and Mixed Wastes - Stabilization and Solidification of Hazardous, Radioactive, and Mixed Wastes - page 28

TABLE 3.1
The Hazard Codes

Types Codes

Ignitable Waste (I)

Corrosive Waste (C)

Reactive Waste (R)

Toxicity Characteristic Waste (E)

Toxic Waste (T)

Acute Hazardous Waste (H)

Source: 40 CFR 261.30

3.2.1.1 Hazard Codes

To indicate its reason for listing a waste, EPA assigns a hazard code to each waste
listed on the F, K, P, and U lists (40 CFR 261.30). As shown in Table 3.1, the first
four hazard codes apply to wastes that have been listed because they typically exhibit
one of the four regulatory characteristics of hazardous waste. The last two hazard
codes apply to listed wastes whose constituents pose additional threats to human
health and the environment.
The hazard codes assigned to listed wastes affect the regulations that apply to
treat the waste. For example, acute hazardous wastes followed by the hazard code
(H) are subject to stricter management standards than most other wastes.

3.2.1.2 Listed Wastes

EPA has published lists of wastes in the regulations that are classified as hazardous.
The reason they are considered as listed hazardous wastes is that these wastes are
dangerous enough to warrant full Subtitle C regulation of RCRA based on their
origins. 4 Each listed waste carries its own unique EPA hazardous waste code. The
codes begin with F, K, P, or U followed by three numbers. The listed wastes are
coming from generic industrial processes, certain sectors of industry, and unused
pure chemical products and formulations. The list ranges from spent halogenated
and nonhalogenated solvents, heavy ends, light ends, and bottom tars from various
distillation processes to some commercial chemical products such as arsenic acid,
cyanides, and many pesticides.
At this writing, the EPA has established four categories of listed hazardous
wastes. Some criteria developed by EPA are used to decide whether or not a waste
will be selected, as follows: 5

• It exhibits any of the characteristics of hazardous waste: ignitability,

corrosivity, reactivity, and toxicity.

• The waste is found to be fatal to humans and animals even in very low

doses, or the waste shows in studies to have such dangerous chemicals
that it could cause or significantly contribute to an increase in serious