hazardous waste

[haz-er-duhs weyst]

noun

1. any industrial by-product or discarded commercial product that is potentially harmful to the environment or people and other living organisms because it is ignitable, corrosive, reactive, and/or toxic.

   You can’t throw these flammable old cans of paint thinner in with your regular trash—they need to be treated as hazardous waste.

   We are in compliance with all state regulations that pertain to the containment and disposal of hazardous wastes.

hazardous waste

1. A used or discarded material that can damage the environment and be harmful to health. Hazardous wastes include heavy metals and toxic chemicals used in industrial products and processes as well as infectious medical wastes and radioactive materials such as spent nuclear fuel rods.

Word History and Origins

Origin of hazardous waste¹

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

Some are even in 1,000s, which the state classifies as hazardous waste.

From Los Angeles Times

CalRecycle’s latest attempt at rules to implement the state’s plastic waste law is under fire — including for its decision to use ISO guidelines on hazardous waste that cost nearly $200 to access.

From Los Angeles Times

United Parcel Service Inc. and its affiliates will pay $1.7 million to settle a lawsuit filed by the district attorneys for 45 California counties, alleging the shipping giant sent improperly labeled hazardous waste to area landfills, the Riverside County district attorney’s office announced Monday.

From Los Angeles Times

UPS said that, in advance of the settlement, it implemented new waste management systems and training programs that teach employees how to deal with hazardous waste at all California facilities.

From Los Angeles Times

“UPS, like all California businesses, is required to properly dispose of hazardous waste and medical waste in labeled and segregated containers to ensure that incompatible waste does not mix and cause dangerous chemical reactions or harm to the environment,” the statement said.

From Los Angeles Times