Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
contaminated industrial gases, and deteriorated explosives. A solid waste exhibits
the characteristic of reactivity if a representative sample of the waste has any of the
following properties (40 CFR 261.23):
•
It is normally unstable and readily undergoes violent change without
detonating.
•
It reacts violently with water.
•
It forms potentially explosive mixtures with water.
•
When mixed with water, it generates toxic gases, vapors, or fumes in a
quantity sufficient to present a danger to human health or the environment.
•
It is a cyanide- or sulfide-bearing waste which, when exposed to pH
conditions between 2 and 12.5, can generate toxic gases, vapors, or fumes
in a quantity sufficient to present a danger to human health or the envi-
ronment.
•
It is capable of detonation or explosive reaction if it is subjected to a
strong initiating source or if heated under confinement.
•
It is readily capable of detonation or explosive decomposition or reaction
at standard temperature and pressure.
•
It is a forbidden explosive as defined in 49 CFR 173.51, or a Class A
explosive as defined in 49 CFR 173.53, or a Class B explosive as defined
in 49 CFR 173.88.
Wastes exhibiting the characteristic of reactivity are assigned the waste code
D003.
(d) Toxicity
The term toxicity refers to both a characteristic of a waste and a test. The test
procedure is called Toxicity Characteristics Leaching Procedure (TCLP), which
is designed to produce an extract simulating the leachate that may be produced
in a land disposal situation. The extract is then analyzed to determine if it includes
any of the toxic contaminants listed in 40 CFR 261.24, shown in Table 3.2. If
the concentrations of any of the Table 3.2 constituents are greater than or equal
to the levels listed in the table, the waste is classified as hazardous. The regulatory
levels listed in Table 3.2 are based on groundwater modeling studies and toxicity
data that calculate the limit above which these common toxic compounds and
elements will threaten human health and the environment by contaminating
drinking water. The wastes in this category are often referred to as toxicity
characteristic (TC) wastes.
3.2.3
I
DENTIFICATION
P
ROCESS
OF
A
H
AZARDOUS
W
ASTE
3.2.3.1
Question Determination Process
The characteristics and classification introduced in the above sections, albeit simple and
straightforward, still could not give easy hazardous waste identification. Actually, RCRA
have adopted an effective question determination process to decide if a waste belongs
to regulated hazardous waste. The questions are listed in Figure 3.2.
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