The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has authority over matters concerning the proper disposal of hazardous waste. But what exactly is hazardous waste, and how should it be disposed of? What rules or regulations apply to small business owners in particular? If you don't know the answers to these questions, you might find the following information helpful.

What is Hazardous Waste?

• Under EPA regulatory guidelines, to be considered hazardous any waste must first meet the definition of "solid waste" as defined by the EPA.

• "Solid waste" does not have the common meaning these words conjure. In fact, "solid" waste under EPA laws and regulations means any solid, liquid, or contained gaseous material that is no longer being used and is either recycled, thrown away, or stored until enough is collected to treat or dispose of it.

• If a waste meets the definition of "solid waste" it is considered to be hazardous if:

• It is one of over 400 wastes included on one of the four lists of hazardous waste as contained in the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) regulations, meaning that it is a "listed waste;" (i.e., it has been shown to be harmful to health and the environment when not properly managed); or
• It exhibits one of the four defined hazardous waste characteristics, meaning that it is a "characteristic waste." The four hazardous waste characteristics are:

1) Ignitability (waste that catches on fire easily when exposed to heat, such as solvents, paint wastes, and gasoline);

2) Corrosivity (waste that "eats" other matter, such as battery acid, caustic paint strippers, and some alkaline or lime-based floor cleaners);

3) Reactivity (such as certain cyanides or sulfide-bearing wastes or any other waste that is unstable, explosive, or toxic when mixed with water, or another substance or exposed to heat or pressure); or

4) Toxicity (wastes that are harmful or fatal when ingested or absorbed, such as gasoline and solvents).