Key Terms

Characteristic waste refers to solid waste that exhibits one of the following four characteristics: corrosivity, ignitability, toxicity, or reactivity.

Debris refers to manufactured items and naturally occurring materials that contain or are contaminated with hazardous wastes (for example, rocks, branches, used lumber, or dismantled machinery).

Lab packs are large containers (for example, a 55-gallon drum) that are filled with many small containers of hazardous waste packed in non-biodegradable absorbent materials.

Land disposal restrictions, or LDRs, are extensive technical standards developed for land-based units (for example, landfills) by the EPA and set forth in the RCRA regulations. LDRs are designed to protect human health and the environment from the dangers caused by groundwater contamination.

Land treatment units are locations in which land is treated to remove toxic contaminants from the soil often through a process of bioremediation in which microorganisms or other forms of life consume and break down contaminants.

LDR prohibitions refers to three requirements with which owners and operators of land treatment units must comply. The LDR prohibitions address the disposal, dilution, and storage of land-based hazardous waste disposal.

Listed wastes are wastes that meet the specific criteria to be on one of the four Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lists: The F-, K-, P-, and U- lists. These listings can be found in the regulations at 40 CFR 261 Subpart D.

Overpacking refers to the process of packing small containers of hazardous wastes together in a larger drum. The filled drums are called "lab packs."

Prohibited wastes are wastes that may not be disposed of by land unless they have been treated using an EPA-defined treatment standard. Prohibited wastes are a small group within restricted wastes.

Restricted wastes are all wastes that are subject to the LDR regulations.

Soil gas is the gas that occupies the spaces between soil particles.

Soil vapor extraction system, or SVE, refers to a device used for decontaminating soil. The SVE system applies a vacuum to a mass of soil. The vacuum pulls out the soil gas along with the toxic chemicals it contains.

Surface impoundments are above-ground areas in which hazardous wastes are treated, stored, or disposed of. They are bowl-shaped depressions that can be natural, excavated or diked areas.

Universal wastes are commonly recycled hazardous wastes that are generated by many different people in many different settings. The RCRA established special provisions for their handling to encourage recycling. The four categories of universal wastes are batteries, recalled or unused pesticides, mercury-containing equipment (such as thermostats), and lamps (such as fluorescent bulbs).

To learn more about RCRA visit our RCRA Hazardous Waste Safety Online Training web page.