Characteristic Wastes

Solid wastes that are not listed waste may still be considered hazardous by the EPA if they exhibit one or more of the following characteristics: ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity, or toxicity. The characteristics are defined as follows:

• Ignitability characteristic - Wastes that are flammable. They each catch fire and sustain combustion.
• Corrosivity characteristic - Wastes that are acidic or alkaline (basic). They may corrode or dissolve metals, wood, flesh, and other materials.
• Reactivity characteristic - Wastes that have a tendency to explode or violently react.
• Toxicity characteristic - Wastes that are likely to release toxic chemicals into the soil and groundwater.

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