Chemical waste

Chemical waste is discarded material containing substances that require controlled handling and disposal because of their hazardous properties or environmental persistence.

Hazardous waste: Waste that poses risks to human health or the environment and is regulated for safe management. Chemical waste falls within this broader category when its properties meet hazard criteria.
Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals: An international framework for classifying chemical hazards and communicating them through labels and safety data sheets. Its hazard classes help characterize chemicals before they become waste.
Waste segregation: The separation of waste streams according to their properties and handling requirements. Separating incompatible chemicals can prevent reactions in storage and treatment.
Groundwater contamination: The presence of harmful substances in water beneath Earth’s surface. Leaking chemical waste can introduce contaminants into groundwater.
Radioactive waste: Discarded material containing radionuclides at levels requiring radiological controls. Its defining hazard is ionizing radiation rather than chemical properties alone.
Chemical waste management: The processes used to identify, segregate, store, treat, and dispose of chemical waste. It organizes chemical waste from generation through final disposal.
Safety data sheet: A document describing a chemical’s hazards, handling, storage, and emergency measures. Safety data sheets provide hazard information useful when identifying waste constituents.
Chemical compatibility: The ability of substances to be stored or handled together without dangerous reactions. Compatibility guides which chemical wastes can share containers or storage areas.
Soil contamination: The accumulation of substances in soil at levels that can harm organisms or land use. Spills and improper disposal can leave persistent chemical residues in soil.
Biological waste: Discarded material containing organisms or biological material that may pose infection or other biological risks. Its primary controls address biological hazards, though it can also contain chemicals.

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