What characterizes hazardous waste?

Hazardous waste is characterized by its potential to cause harm to human health or the environment. This includes waste that is toxic, flammable, corrosive, or reactive—factors that can lead to significant health risks or environmental damage if not properly managed. The identification of hazardous waste is crucial for the implementation of safety measures and regulatory compliance to ensure safe handling, treatment, and disposal.

In contrast, waste that is harmless to health does not fall within the definition of hazardous waste, as it poses no significant risk. Similarly, while some hazardous waste may be recyclable, not all hazardous waste is recyclable, so this statement does not define it accurately. The notion of requiring special storage is certainly pertinent to hazardous waste management, but the core characteristic hinges on its potential to harm rather than the conditions of storage. Thus, acknowledging the inherent risks associated with hazardous waste underlines why the accurate characterization is that it can cause health or environmental harm.