For most listed hazardous wastes, EPA uses hazard codes designated at 40 CFR 261.30 and shown on the table below to identify the basis for listing.
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Hazard Code
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Hazard
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I
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Ignitability characteristic
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C
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Corrosivity characteristic
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R
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Reactivity characteristic
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E
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Toxicity characteristic
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H
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Acutely hazardous
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T
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Toxic
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For example, in the excerpt of the F-list below, you can see that EPA has assigned the hazard code T to F001 spent halogenated solvents, and therefore they are toxic.
Hazard codes are also used to identify the basis for listing on the K-list. In the excerpt below, you can see that K001 wood preservation wastes are also toxic.
The U-list at 40 CFR 261.33(f) includes chemicals that EPA has identified as toxic wastes. Hazard code (T) applies to wastes on this list that do not have a hazard code in parentheses following the chemical name. When EPA has designated other hazard codes for a U-list waste, these codes are shown in parentheses following the chemical name.
As shown in the excerpt below, you can see how hazard codes are designated on the U-list:
- Auramine, U014: No hazard code is specified. This indicates that the chemical is listed solely for being toxic and hazard code (T) applies
- Acetone, U002: Hazard code (I) indicates that the chemical is listed solely due to the ignitability characteristic
- Benzenesulfonyl chloride, U020: Hazard codes (C, R) indicate that the chemical is listed due to the corrosivity and reactivity characteristics
Wastes on the P-list are acutely hazardous. In the May 19, 1980, Federal Register (45 FR 33084), the meaning of acutely hazardous waste is discussed on page 33106:
“It is the EPA's conviction that most wastes are hazardous only because they ‘pose a substantial present or potential hazard to human health or the environment when improperly managed’… Nevertheless, EPA recognizes that there are wastes which are so acutely hazardous that they can be considered to present a substantial hazard whether improperly managed or not… EPA has also defined this category of [acutely hazardous] wastes to include wastes, such as explosives, which otherwise meet part (A) of the statutory definition of hazardous waste. This has been done in recognition that wastes may be acutely hazardous even if they are not toxic.”
EPA assigned the majority of the wastes to the P-list because they are highly toxic, and they also designated wastes for this list that are not highly toxic, but otherwise are acutely hazardous.
P-listed chemicals without a hazard code in parentheses following the chemical name indicates the chemical is included on the P-list solely because EPA considers it acutely hazardous waste and hazard code (H) applies. If EPA has designated other hazard codes for a P-listed chemical, they are shown in parentheses following the chemical name.
As shown in the excerpt below, you can see how hazard codes are designated on the P-list:
- Aldrin, P004: No hazard code, which means the chemical is listed because it is acutely hazardous due to being highly toxic and hazard code (H) applies
- Nitroglycerine, P081: Hazard code (R), which means the chemical is listed as an acutely hazardous waste due solely to the reactivity characteristic
- Aluminum phosphide, P006: Hazard codes (R, T), which means the chemical is listed due to the reactivity characteristic and because it is highly toxic
