9.3 Hazardous Waste

Notes

Hazardous waste is waste that is toxic, corrosive, flammable, or reactive.

• Examples: used oil, solvents, pesticides, batteries, paint, and industrial chemicals; household items include cleaners and electronics.
• The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA, 1976) requires "cradle-to-grave" tracking of hazardous waste from generation to disposal.
• CERCLA (Superfund, 1980) provides for cleanup of abandoned contaminated sites, with polluters required to pay when they can be found. The EPA keeps the National Priorities List of the worst sites.
• A brownfield is a formerly used industrial or commercial site that may be contaminated. Redeveloping them reduces sprawl.
• Disposal options: secure hazardous waste landfills, deep-well injection, incineration at high temperature, and treatment. Bioremediation uses microbes to break down contaminants, and phytoremediation uses plants to absorb them.
• Example: communities hold household hazardous waste collection days for paint and old chemicals.