What defines hazardous waste (HW)?

The definition of hazardous waste is best characterized by the statement that it includes any discarded material meeting the HAZMAT (hazardous materials) definition. This encompasses a wide array of substances that are harmful or potentially harmful to human health and the environment. HAZMAT is defined based on various characteristics such as ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity, and toxicity.

When a material is discarded and meets any of these criteria, it is classified as hazardous waste. This is critical for ensuring proper management and disposal to mitigate risks associated with environmental contamination and public health threats.

Other choices, while addressing aspects of hazardous materials, do not capture the full breadth of what constitutes hazardous waste. For instance, saying any discarded material that is toxic limits the definition exclusively to toxicity without considering other critical characteristics. Similarly, stating that hazardous waste is any material that has been exposed to radiation is too narrow, as it does not encompass non-radioactive hazardous materials. The option mentioning non-recyclable materials overlooks the fact that recyclable materials can also be classified as hazardous waste if they meet the necessary criteria.