Environmental Health & Safety

Hazardous Waste Determination Guidance

Follow these simple steps to determine if your unwanted material is regulated as hazardous waste:

Radioactive Waste

If the material’s original container included radioactive labeling, it is radioactive waste; if there is any known or measurable radioactivity, it is radioactive waste.

Biohazardous Waste

If there are any known or suspected infectious agents present in animal parts, tissues, fluids, carcasses, blood or blood products; if there are any known or suspected infectious agents present in waste containing discarded materials contaminated with excretion, exudate, or secretions from humans or animals; human specimens or tissues which have been fixed in formaldehyde or other fixatives; waste which is contaminated through contact with or having previously contained chemotherapeutic agents; any laboratory or research waste that is potentially infectious to humans, plants, or animals, or would pose a threat to the community or the environment (e.g., organisms with potentially significant environmental impact, or transgenic or recombinant organisms), it is biohazardous waste. Ethidium Bromide waste is NOT biohazard waste.

If it is biohazardous waste, and it is sharps; or it is generated or produced as a result of the diagnosis, treatment, or immunization of human beings or animals, or it is generated or produced as a result of research pertaining to the diagnosis, treatment, or immunization of human beings or animals, it is biohazardous medical waste.

Chemical Waste

It is chemical hazardous waste if it is a hazardous chemical, or includes a chemical component that is:

  • Inherently waste-like; an expired or unknown chemical
  • On a list of regulated hazardous chemicals. Check these lists to see if your unwanted material contains any regulated hazardous chemicals:
  • Exhibits one of four defined hazardous waste characteristics. Check the Hazardous Chemicals List reference to see if your unwanted material contains any listed hazardous waste.
    • Hazardous Chemicals List - Listing of 2,126 chemicals with hazardous waste characteristics, RCRA and CA waste code references: Environmental Health & Safety : Waste Management , EPA’s Defining Hazardous Waste
      • Ignitable
        • Flashpoint <140F
        • Capable of causing fire at standard temperature and pressure through friction, absorption of moisture, or spontaneous chemical changes
        • Is an ignitable compressed gas
        • Is an oxidizer
      • Corrosive
        • Liquid with a pH <2 or >12.5
        • Solid that has pH <2 or >12.5 when mixed with equal weight of water
      • Reactive
        • Normally unstable and readily undergoes violent change
        • Reacts violently with water
        • Forms potentially explosive mixtures with water
        • Forms toxic gases, vapors, or fumes when mixed with water
        • 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
        • Is capable of detonation or explosive decomposition if subjected to a strong initiating source or heated under confinement
        • Is readily capable of detonation or reaction at standard temperature and pressure
      • Toxic
        • Has an acute oral LD50 less than 2,500 mg/kg
        • Has an acute dermal LD50 less than 4,300 mg/kg
        • Has an acute inhalation LC50 less than 10,000 ppm as a gas or vapor
        • Has an acute aquatic 96-hour LC50 less than 500 mg/L
        • Has been shown through experience or testing to pose a hazard to human health or environment because of its carcinogenicity (carcinogen, mutagen, teratogen), acute toxicity, chronic toxicity, bioaccumulative properties, or persistence in the environment
        • Use 22 CCR 66260.200 calculation to make a determination.

Other Waste

Other types of waste are also regulated as hazardous waste due to their characteristics and potential effect on the environment.

These wastes include:

  • Universal Waste
    • Batteries
    • Fluorescent lamps
    • Thermostats with mercury switches
  • Electronic Waste (E-Waste)
    • PC monitors
    • Televisions
    • LCD screens
    • Cell phones
    • Any equipment that contains a circuit board and rechargeable batteries
  • Special Waste
    • Used oil
    • Used oil filters
    • Lead-acid batteries