Hazardous Waste
January 2024 – Hazardous Waste (HW) is the waste with characteristics that makes it dangerous and has a harmful effect on humans and the environment. It is classified as explosive, flammable, poisonous, toxic, or infectious. Hazardous waste is generated from various sources such as healthcare, industrial manufacturing, chemical plants, and oil refineries. Hazardous waste management process includes generation, transportation, recycling, incineration, and disposal. It is regulated internationally by the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm conventions, and in the United States by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).
In this slideshow, you will learn about the definition, characteristics, sources, management, US policy, UN policy, and global statistics of hazardous waste. Discover how it is generated, transported, and ultimately recycled or disposed of in a safe and environmentally sustainable manner.