• Elk Environmental Services

After determining your facility generates hazardous waste, the characteristic the waste exhibits must also be determined. The EPA makes this easy with their two-step process under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). However, determining the waste characteristic is more involved than just finding the waste on one of the four waste lists. Understanding the properties of each waste characteristic is key to correct identification, including test methods.

There are certain types of wastes that can be easily determined by test methods, such as ignitability and corrosivity. However, that’s not the case for reactivity waste since there are no SW-846 test methods for it. Thus, the generator must rely on knowledge. So, how much do you know about the reactivity waste characteristic?

Defining the Reactivity Characteristic

Reactivity is one of the four hazardous waste characteristics that identifies a waste that is unstable under normal conditions and exhibits any of the following properties:

  1. It is normally unstable and readily undergoes violent change without detonating.
  2. It reacts violently with water.
  3. It forms potentially explosive mixtures with water.
  4. When mixed with water, it generates toxic gases, vapors or fumes in a quantity sufficient to present a danger to human health or the environment.
  5. It is a cyanide or sulfide bearing waste which, when exposed to pH conditions between 2 and 12.5, can generate toxic gases, vapors or fumes in a quantity sufficient to present a danger to human health or the environment.
  6. It is capable of detonation or explosive reaction if it is subjected to a strong initiating source if heated under confinement.
  7. It is readily capable of detonation or explosive decomposition or reaction at standard temperature and pressure.
  8. It is a forbidden explosive as defined in 49 CFR 173.54, or is a Division 1.1, 1.2, or 1.3 explosive as defined in 49 CFR 173.50 and 173.53.

If one of these properties is present, the waste must be classified as reactive hazardous waste (D003)

Examples of reactive hazardous waste include:

  • Ethers
  • Organic Peroxides
  • Pressurized Aerosol Cans
  • Explosives

At Elk, we have Elk over 30 years of experience and expertise in transporting and disposing of reactive hazardous waste to appropriate facilities. We also provide drums and totes for storage and transport. Contact us today to learn more about our waste management services!