Sunday, January 17, 2010

ACI Definition of Hazmat

A hazardous material is defined as having one or more of the following characteristics: ignitable (NFPA 49), corrosive, reactive, or toxic. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-listed wastes are organized into three categories under RCRA: source specific wastes, generic wastes, and commercial chemical products. Source specific wastes include sludges and wastewaters from treatment and production processes in specific industries such as petroleum refining and wood preserving. The list of generic wastes includes wastes from common manufacturing and industrial processes such as solvents used in degreasing operations. The third list contains specific chemical products such as benzine, creosote, mercury, and various pesticides.