Environmental scienceLesson 3 of 3 in the course Waste management

Hazardous Waste: Properties, Treatment, Regulation, and Disposal

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

Hazardous waste can threaten people and ecosystems if it is not identified and managed properly. This lesson introduces what makes waste hazardous, where it comes from, and how universal wastes fit into the broader category.

Hazardous waste is waste that can damage human health or the environment. It may be a liquid, solid, contained gas, or sludge. Some hazardous wastes are manufacturing by-products; others are discarded products such as cleaning fluids or pesticides.

All flashcards

What makes waste hazardous?
Properties that make it dangerous or potentially harmful to human health or the environment.
Which four characteristics can identify hazardous waste under U.S. RCRA rules?
Ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity, and toxicity.
What are universal wastes?
Certain common hazardous wastes that may have modified requirements but still need proper management.
What does RCRA regulate?
Hazardous-waste management, including treatment, storage, and disposal.
What is pyrolysis?
Waste treatment using high heat in an oxygen-starved environment to avoid combustion.

Quiz questions

  1. What is CERCLA's primary role in hazardous-waste policy?Answer: It provides a framework for cleaning up historic hazardous-material releases.
  2. How does pyrolysis treat certain wastes?Answer: It applies high heat in an oxygen-starved environment.
  3. What can happen to metals during hazardous-waste incineration?Answer: They may remain in the furnace or enter gas emissions.
  4. What is a central aim of the Basel Convention?Answer: To stop hazardous-waste flows to countries with less stringent protections.
  5. Under U.S. RCRA waste listings, which lists cover discarded commercial chemical products?Answer: The P-list and U-list

Based on the Wikipedia article Hazardous waste, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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