Environmental Standards

Waste Classification

KSA

Presidency of Meteorology and Environment

PME Reference

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia National Environmental Standard

Waste Classification

Article I Preliminary

1)

Definitions
Agricultural Waste is any waste from a farm or
market garden and includes organic matter such as
manure from livestock, slurry, silage effluent and
crop residues. It also includes packaging and film,
and animal treatment dips.
Animal Waste includes carcases or parts of
animals or fish, or products of animal origin not
intended for direct human consumption, with the
exception of animal excreta and catering waste.
This includes wastes from the preparation and
processing of meat, fish and other foods of animal
origin.
Asbestos includes materials containing a
naturally occurring fibrous silicate mineral popular in
manufacturing and industry due to its strength,
chemical and thermal stability. All waste containing
greater than 0.1% asbestos is classified as
hazardous waste. Types of asbestos waste are:

crocidolite (blue asbestos);

actinolite;
anthophyllite;
chrysotile (white asbestos);
amosite (brown asbestos);
tremolite;
products resulting from the primary crushing of
asbestos ore.

Batteries or Accumulators are a source of

electrical energy generated by direct conversion of
chemical energy and consist of one or more primary
(non-rechargeable)
batteries
or
secondary
(rechargeable) cells, as listed below:

containing more than 0.0005 % of mercury by

weight;
containing:
more than 25 mg of mercury per cell,
except alkaline manganese batteries,
more than 0.025 % of cadmium by
weight,
more than 0.4 % of lead by weight.
Alkaline manganese batteries containing more
than 0.025 % of mercury.

Batteries contain heavy metals such mercury, lead,

cadmium and nickel, which can contaminate the
environment when improperly disposed of.

Biodegradable Waste is waste that I s capable

of undergoing anaerobic or aerobic decomposition,
such as food or garden waste and paper and
cardboard, i.e. waste that rots.
Bottom Ash is ash that collects at the bottom of a
combustion chamber.
By-Products are materials that are not one the
intended products of a production process and
include many wastes that are not spent materials or
sludges.
Cathode Ray Tubes are vacuum tubes, made
primarily of glass, which constitute the video display
component of televisions and computer monitors.
These tubes are classed hazardous due to their
lead constituent.
Cement Kiln Dust is a fine dust generated during
the cement production process.
Competent Agency where referenced, refers to
the Presidency of Meteorology and Environment or
its designated representative.
Construction and Demolition Waste arises from
activities such as the construction of buildings and
civil infrastructure, total or partial demolition of
buildings and civil infrastructure, road planning and
maintenance. It mostly includes brick, concrete,
hardcore, subsoil and topsoil, but it can also include
quantities of timber, metal, plastics and,
occasionally, hazardous materials.
Corrosivity is the property which identifies
wastes that can readily corrode or dissolve flesh,
metal or other materials.
Dredged Spoils consist of the sediments left over
from dredging aggregates (hard rock, sand and
gravel) from estuaries or coastal areas.
Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE)
means equipment which is dependent on electric
currents or electromagnetic fields in order to work
properly and equipment for the generation, transfer
and measurement of currents and fields designed
for use with a voltage rating not exceeding 1000
volts for alternating current and 1500 volts for direct
current.
Fly Ash refers to particles of ash, such as
particulate matter which may also have metals
attached to them, which are carried up the stack of
a combustion unit with gases during combustion.

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Presidency of Meteorology and Environment

generator is a commercial or industrial

organisation which produces or stores trackable
waste and arranges for this waste to be sent for
storage, recycling, treatment or disposal at another
location via an authorised transporter.
Green waste is waste from gardens and parks
including tree cuttings, branches, grass, leaves (with
the exception of street sweepings), sawdust, wood
chips and other wood waste not treated with and
free of heavy metals or organic compounds.

returnable` items used for the same purposes shall

also be considered to constitute packaging.
Packaging consists only of:

hazardous waste is a waste with properties that

make it dangerous or capable of having a harmful
effect on human health and/or the environment.
ignitability is the property which identifies wastes
that can readily catch fire and sustain combustion.

KSA refers to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Medical Waste refers to:

Any waste which consists wholly or partly of

human or animal tissue, blood or other body
fluids,
excretions,
drugs
or
other
pharmaceutical products, swabs or dressings,
or syringes, needles or other sharp
instruments, being waste which unless
rendered safe may prove hazardous to any
person coming into contact with it;
Any other waste arising from medical, nursing,
dental, veterinary, pharmaceutical or similar
practice, investigation, treatment, care,
teaching or research, or the collection of blood
for transfusion, being waste which may cause
infection to any person coming into contact
with it.

PME Reference

sales packaging or primary packaging, that is,

packaging conceived so as to constitute a
sales unit to the final user or consumer at the
point of purchase;
grouped packaging or secondary packaging,
that is, packaging conceived so as to
constitute at the point of purchase a grouping
of a certain number of sales units whether the
latter is sold as such to the final user or
consumer or whether it serves only as a
means to replenish the shelves at the point of
sale; it can be removed from the product
without affecting its characteristics;
transport packaging or tertiary packaging, that
is, packaging conceived so as to facilitate
handling and transport of a number of sales
units or grouped packagings in order to
prevent physical handling and transport
damage. Transport packaging does not
include road, rail, ship and air containers.

particulate matter refers to small

particles emitted from combustion units.

dust-like

PCBs
(polychlorinated
biphenyls)
PBBs
(polybrominated
biphenyl)
and
PCTs
(polychlorinated terphenyls) are a group of
hazardous compounds used for a number of
industrial purposes and in electrical products such
as capacitors and transformers.
PME refers to the Presidency of Meteorology and
Environment who are designated as the responsible
authority for the protection of the environment and
the development of environmental protection
standards in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Mines and Quarry Waste includes materials

such as overburden, rock inter-bedded with the
mineral, and residues left over from initial
processing of the extracted material into saleable
products. Extraction and processing waste may
include:

Power Station Ash is generated from the ash in

coal which amounts to abut 15% of the original coal,
including pulverised fuel ash and furnace bottom
ash.

Putrescible Waste is organic matter constituting

food scraps, food preparation waste and plate
scrapings and other perishable foodstuffs.

materials such as waste rock and sandy

debris,
fine grained materials (tailings), derived from
crushing and washing the mineral.

These materials are non-hazardous and mostly

chemically inert. They are often largely identical to
the geological deposits in the locality from which
they are extracted.
Ozone Depleting Substances (ODSs) are manmade chemicals used in a variety of applications
such as refrigeration, fire fighting, foam blowing and
as solvents and aerosol propellants.

reactivity is the property which identifies wastes

that readily explode or undergo violent reactions.
Scrap Metal is derived from two sources:

Packaging includes products made of any

material of any nature used for the containment,
protection, handling, delivery and presentation of
goods, from raw materials to processed goods, from
the producer to the user or the consumer. 'Non-

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new scrap metal generated from metal

processing, such as off-cuts, stampings,
turnings, grindings and swarf from industries
carrying out metal fabrication processes;
old scrap metal generated from end of life or
obsolete products including heavy scrap from
dismantling industrial plants, railway rolling
stock and track, and light scrap from the
processing of consumer goods such as scrap
automobiles and radiators.

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Presidency of Meteorology and Environment

01) issued by the Presidency of Meteorology and

Environment (PME).

Spent Materials are materials that have been

used and can no longer serve the purpose for which
they were produced without processing.
toxicity is the property which identifies wastes that
are likely to leach dangerous concentrations of toxic
chemicals into groundwater.
TPLP refers
Procedure.

to

Toxicity

Property

3)
.

Timescales for implementation

a) The effective date of this standard
01/05/1433H corresponds to 24/03/2012G.

Leaching

transporter means a person engaged in the offsite transportation of waste by air, rail, highway or
water and is anyone who transports the trackable
waste from its place of production or storage to
another location.

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4)

is

Purpose
a) The objective of this document is to establish a
national baseline Waste Classification System
within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It is anticipated
that this document will be employed nationally by all
waste handlers to whom they apply with inspections
taking place to verify their implementation progress
at a regional level as outlined within the standards.

TSD Facility refers to a treatment, storage and/or

disposal facility.
Tyres are composed of vulcanised rubber in
addition to the rubberised fabric with reinforcing
textile cords, steel or fabric belts and steel-wire
reinforcing beads. Waste tyres are those which
have been permanently removed from vehicles
without the possibility of being remounted for further
road use.

b) The Standard for Waste Classification has effect

for purposes connected with the regulation of waste
and in particular for the purposes of providing:
i)

A national classification system that may

be employed within KSA by all waste
generators, transporters, facility operators
and the relevant competent agencies and
other interested parties;

ii)

A classification, coding and defining of all

waste types so they can be handled,
treated or disposed of accordingly;

iii)

A classification methodology to ensure that

waste is dealt with appropriately to ensure
the protection of human health and the
environment.

Used Oil Fuel is any oil that has been refined

from crude oil, or any synthetic oil, that has been
used and, as a result of such use, is contaminated
by physical or chemical impurities.
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment
(WEEE) means electrical or electronic equipment
which is waste within the meaning of including all
components, subassemblies and consumables
which are part of the product at the time of
discarding.
waste handler is a generator, transporter and
receiver of waste who has waste responsibilities.
5)
Waste Oils are any mineral-based lubrication or
industrial oils which have become unfit for the use
for which they were originally intended, and in
particular used combustion engine oils and gearbox
oils, and also mineral lubricating oils, oils for
turbines and hydraulic oils. (see also Used Oil Fuel).
waste tracking is the recording of information from
the waste generator about the quantity and type of
waste produced; recording information about who
transported the waste and when; recording
information from the waste receiver about the
quantity and type of waste received; and matching
information about the waste from both the generator
and the receiver.

2)

Scope
a) These Standards guide those generating, storing
and handling wastes in assessing their classification
in terms of:
i)

The origin of the waste: whether waste is

industrial, commercial or municipal;

ii)

The physical form of the waste: whether

waste is a liquid or a solid (gaseous waste
is outside the scope of this standard);

iii)

The character of the waste: whether waste

is hazardous, non-hazardous or inert.

iv) The type of hazardous waste: whether it is

a listed hazardous waste, contains a
hazardous constituent or displays a
hazardous property.

Citation
a) This document may be cited as the Waste
Classification Standard for KSA. This standard
revises the current General Standards for the
Environment (specifically document number 1423-

b) The assessment of waste will enable Waste

Handlers to determine the overall manageability of
the waste to ascertain the level of control necessary

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Presidency of Meteorology and Environment

and allow for responsible practice to meet any

associated environmental obligations.

i) to give the Competent Agency all such

assistance; and

c) This Standard defines and classifies waste to be

managed in KSA with respect to the form of the
waste material and its associated impact on human
health or the environment.

6)

ii) to provide the Competent Agency with all

such information, as that may reasonably be
required for the purpose of carrying out an
investigation

d) This Standard is relevant to all waste types

currently produced within KSA as well as any other
waste streams which may be produced throughout
the period of operation of this Standard.

d) The Competent Agency or appointed individual

for the purpose of waste classification may:

e) This standard does not apply to the following

waste streams:

i) Enter any premises for the purpose of

carrying out any investigation.

i)

Discharges of industrial and municipal

wastewater to central treatment works or
directly to the environment The Industrial
and Municipal Wastewater Discharges and
Ambient Water Quality Standards control
and manage wastewaters discharges.

ii) carry out such inspections, measurements

and tests on premises entered, articles or
records found on any such premises, and take
away such samples of waste or articles, as
may be considered appropriate for the purpose
of enabling such investigation; or

ii)

Radioactive waste, other than that

produced in the course of healthcare
treatment procedures.

iii) at any reasonable time require any relevant

party to supply him with copies of, or of
extracts from, any records kept for the purpose
of demonstrating compliance with the waste
classification standard.
e) This standard enables the issue of regulations and
technical memoranda which are enforceable by the
Competent Agency who hold delegated authority
under the General Environmental Regulations.

Exemptions
a) Specific exemptions may be specified within this
standard at any point where relevant to the Article
that they are common to.

7)

PME Reference

8)

Powers of Authority
a) Within the scope of these standards the
Competent Agency may:
i)

Prescribe specific requirements as to the

classification of individual wastes that may
be present in or absent within the
Kingdom;

ii)

authorise such relaxations or departures

from, the waste classification standards
and make any such authorisation subject
to the prescribed conditions, and to modify
or revoke any such authorisation or
condition; and

iii)

a) Failure to comply with the requirements of these

standards may lead to prosecution by the Competent
Agency and those convicted of such failure may be
subject to fines or periods of imprisonment as laid
out in the General Environmental Regulations.
b) It is anticipated that the requirements of this
standard will be enforced nationally with inspections
taking place to verify their implementation at a
regional and local level.

9)

Penalty fines

10)

a) Maximum fines that may be imposed for

exceeding the applicable standard, breach of permit
and failure to comply with an abatement notice are
set out in the General Environmental Regulations.
Appeals

authorise a local Competent Agency to

exercise any power conferred by these
regulations by paragraphs i) - iii) above.

b) The Competent Agency may, for the purposes of

this Standard, appoint persons to act on their behalf
as technical assessors and monitors in relation to
the powers and duties conferred on him by this
standard and/or its subsequent amendments.

Enforcement procedures

a) A right of appeal exists for any organisation or

individual who is required to take action as a
consequence of the implementation of the revised
standard.

c) In addition to the responsibilities conferred by

other sections contained within this standard, it shall
be the duty of a relevant party;

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Presidency of Meteorology and Environment

PME Reference

b) The right of appeal against conviction or sentence

is available through the appropriate judicial system
as set out in the General Environmental Regulations.

viii) chemicals and other substances which no

longer perform satisfactorily such as
contaminated solvents and acids;

c) All appeals should be fully supported with a

documented case containing as a minimum, the
information required under the appeals process of
the General Environmental Regulations.

ix) slags, still bottoms and other industrial

process residues;
x)

Periodic Review

scrubber sludges, spent filters, baghouse

dusts and other residues from pollution
abatement processes;

xi) residues from machining or finishing such

as lathe turnings and mill scales;

a) As a minimum, the Competent Agency shall

undertake a periodic review of this standard every 5
years.

xii) residues
from
the
extraction
and
processing of raw materials, such as
mining residues;

b) Where new information suggests that

adjustments are required to this standard, all
changes will be subject to the appropriate
consultation and will be notified to facilities by the
Competent Agency. Appropriate implementation
time will be allowed.

xiii) materials which have been adulterated

such as oil contaminated with greater than
50 ppm of polychlorinated biphenyls
(PCBs);
xiv) banned substances that require disposal;
xv) products which the holder no longer
requires (including agricultural, household,
office, commercial and shop waste); and

Article II Defining Waste

1)

What is Waste?

xvi) contaminated substances, materials and

products which result from the remediation
of contaminated land.

a) Treatment, storage or disposal operators of waste

need to ensure uniformity in defining and classifying
the type of waste they handle. A material or
substance will be considered a waste which the
holder;
i)

discards;

ii)

intends to discard; or

iii)

are required to discard.

c) Once it is established that a substance or

material constitutes a waste, the following further
classification is required by Waste Handlers to
ensure that unknown wastes are handled
appropriately and in accordance with the
requirements as specified, to include;
i)

identification of the waste origin of the

waste, that is, is it produced by an
industrial, commercial or municipal waste
Generator;

ii)

establish the physical form of the waste,

that is, is it a liquid or a solid;

iii)

analysis of the waste to ascertain its

character, that is, whether it is
hazardous, non-hazardous or inert; and

iv)

if the waste is hazardous, it will be

subject to additional classification
according to the type of waste stream
and/or risk it presents to human health or
the environment.

b) Examples of waste that generators discard

include;
i)

residues from production or consumption;

ii)

off-specification products;

iii)

products which have passed their use-by

date;

iv) materials which have been spilled and any

other materials or items which have been
contaminated by the spillage;
v)

contaminated materials which have been

used in cleaning up a spillage such as
residues
from
cleaning
operations,
containers or packaging;

Article III Waste Origins

vi) reject batteries;

vii)

exhausted catalysts;

1)

Industrial, Commercial and Municipal Waste

Origins

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Presidency of Meteorology and Environment

a) The origin of the waste needs to be ascertained

so that compliance with the regulatory control
measures can be met and the information supplied
for the purposes of Waste Tracking, as required
under the Waste Regulatory Control and
Compliance Standard which provides a breakdown
of waste origins with codes for industrial and
commercial waste.

PME Reference

x)

waste from premises used for the purposes

of breeding, boarding, stabling or exhibiting
animals;

xi)

automotive and lubricant waste oil, waste

solvent or scrap metal, other than
household waste;

xii) waste imported into KSA;

2)

xiii) tank washings or ships waste landed in

KSA;

Industrial Waste
a) To assist Waste Handlers in identifying their
waste, the following is an exemplary list of the type
of waste that can be classified as industrial;
i)

waste from business premises used for

maintaining vehicles, vessels or aircraft
(except waste from small private garages ,
etc);

xiv) waste from works of construction or

demolition, other than those carried out by
private individuals at their own properties.

3)

Commercial Waste
a) To assist Waste Handlers in identifying their
waste, the following is an exemplary list of the type
of waste that can be classified as commercial;

ii)

waste from a laboratory;

iii)

waste from a workshop or similar premises

(not including factories or premises at
which the principal activities are computer
operation or the copying of documents by
photographic or lithographic means);

i)

waste from an office or showroom;

ii)

waste from a hotel;

iii)

waste from the business part of a

building which is used for both
domestic and trade purposes;

iv)

waste from premises occupied by a

club, society or association;

v)

waste from premises occupied by a:

Court;
Government department or
Municipality authority;
Body corporate or an individual
appointed to discharge any
public functions.

vi)

waste from a tent pitched on land other

than a camp site;

vii)

waste from a souk, market or fair; and

viii)

waste from open land collected by a

contractor on behalf of the relevant
Municipality or PME.

iv) waste from premises occupied by an

approved scientific research association;
v)

medical waste other than medical waste

from a domestic property, caravan or
residential home, or from a moored vessel
which
is
only
used
as
living
accommodation;

vi) waste arising from any aircraft, vehicle or

vessel which is not occupied for domestic
purposes;
vii) waste which has previously formed part of
any aircraft, vehicle or vessel and which is
not classified as municipal waste;
viii) harmful or hazardous leachate from a
deposit of waste;
ix) poisonous or noxious waste arising from
any of the following processes undertaken
on business or trade premises;
-

mixing or selling paints;

sign writing;
laundering or dry cleaning;
developing
or
printing
photographs;
selling petrol, diesel fuel,
paraffin, kerosene, heating oil
or similar substances;
selling pesticides, herbicides or
fungicides.

4)

Municipal Waste
a) To assist Waste Handlers in identifying their
waste, the following is an exemplary list of the type
of waste that can be classified as municipal and
constitutes waste from a domestic property,
caravan,
residential
home,
educational
establishment, hospital or nursing home which
includes;
i)

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

waste from any land associated with

domestic property, including a caravan or
residential home;

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ii)

c) Liquid waste may be classified into the following

five groups;

waste from a garage which is used wholly

or mainly to accommodate a private motor
vehicle;

iii)

i)

water containing larger quantities of

filterable or non-filterable solids. Examples
are: dredge spoil, mine tailings, and
slurries, provided that they are not
contaminated with suspended or dissolved
chemicals to an extent that requires them
to be disposed of in a controlled manner;

ii)

water containing larger quantities

dissolved chemical substances;

of

iii)

water containing larger quantities

nutrients, that is, wastewater effluent;

of

waste from private storage premises used

wholly or mainly for the storage of domestic
articles;

iv) waste from a moored vessel which is used

only for living accommodation;
v)

waste from a place of worship, which is

exempted from business rates;

vi) waste from premises occupied by a charity

and used for charitable purposes;

iv) non-aqueous liquids. Examples are: oils,

solvents and solvent containing liquids
such as coatings and paints; and

vii) waste from a camp site;

viii) waste from a prison or other penal
institution;

v)

ix) waste from a hall or other premises used

wholly or mainly for public meetings;
x)

waste arising from street cleaning for which

the Competent Agency is responsible;

i)

domestic sanitary waste water and other

wastes passing through the sanitary
drainage network to the treatment facility.
This exclusion does not cover sludge
resulting from the sanitary waste water
treatment facility or wastewaters being
collected, stored or treated before
discharge;

ii)

final discharge of treated industrial

wastewater. This exclusion does not cover
wastewater prior to discharge;

iii)

agricultural drainage runoff and irrigation

return flows; and

xii) municipal parks and garden wastes;

xiii) civic amenity site waste.

Article IV Physical Forms of Waste

Liquid Waste

iv) mining residual matter remaining at their

natural location in the mine during
excavation.

a) Waste in liquid form should be regarded as;

i)

any waste that near instantaneously

flows into an indentation void made in
the surface of the waste; or

ii)

any waste load containing free draining

liquid substance in excess of 250 litres or
10% of the load volume, whichever
represents the lesser amount. Free
draining means a liquid as defined in i),
irrespective of whether that liquid is in a
container.

b) The second interpretation should be used where

liquids are known to be present in small amounts in
a generally solid waste, for example, cartons of milk
or juice in mixed commercial waste or are
adventitious in a waste, for example, liquid that has
drained or been squeezed from components of the
waste.

combinations of two or more of the above

groups.

d) The following liquids shall not be deemed as

wastes for the purposes of this Standard;

xi) municipal waste delivered to municipal

recycling points;

1)

PME Reference

2)

Solid Wastes
a) For waste to be considered solid, it must meet all
of the following criteria:
i)

it has an angle of repose of greater than

five degrees (5);

ii)

it has no free liquids in excess of 10% of

the load volume, when tested in
accordance with the USEPA Paint Filter
Liquids Test Method 9095 (USEPA
1986);

iii)

it liberates
transported;

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no

free

liquids

when

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Presidency of Meteorology and Environment

iv) it does not become free flowing at or below

60C or when transported; and

i)

asbestos waste; and

v)

ii)

waste classified as hazardous from a

hospital, clinic, doctors office or a nursing
or dental establishments.

it is spadeable.

b)
All other waste that is not gaseous is
considered to be liquid waste.
4)
3)

Inert Waste

Sludge
a) Waste is inert if:

a) A sludge will be defined as a liquid or solid waste

depending on whether its particular characteristics
meet the criteria set out in Section (1), liquid Waste,
or Section (2), Solid Waste, of this Article
respectively.

i)

it does not undergo

physical,
chemical
transformations;

ii)

when in contact with other matter, it does

not react in any way which would cause
environmental pollution or harm to human
health (for example, by dissolving, burning
or biodegrading); and

iii)

it produces only an insignificant quantity of

leachate, which would not cause pollution
or endanger the quality of surface or
groundwater.

Article V Character of Waste

1)

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Waste Characteristics
a) Industrial, commercial or municipal waste origins
may comprise liquid and solid waste types which
may be hazardous, non-hazardous or inert, ranging
from the most harmful to the environment to the
least harmful.

any
or

significant
biological

Article VI Hazardous Waste

2)

Hazardous Waste
1)
a) Hazardous waste is waste which presents a
hazard to human health or the environment because
it contains dangerous substances. A waste is
hazardous if;
i)

it is included in the Hazardous Waste List,

Appendix A, Table 1; and/or

ii)

it contains one of the hazardous

constituents listed in Appendix B, Table 2;
and/or

iii)

it displays one of the hazardous properties

listed in Appendix C, Table 3, for example,
toxic, corrosive or dangerous to the
environment; and/or

iv) the waste is a mix of hazardous and nonhazardous materials; or

v)

3)

if the Competent Agency decides to

consider them specifically hazardous.

Non-Hazardous Waste
a) Non-hazardous waste is waste which is not
classified as either hazardous or inert. It comprises
non-hazardous industrial and commercial waste
streams.

Classification of hazardous waste

a) To establish whether a waste is classified as
hazardous, it must be determined if the waste is
Listed on the Hazardous Waste List (Appendix A,
Table 1).
b) If a waste is identified as one of the waste
streams in the Hazardous Waste List then it must be
classified and treated as hazardous, irrespective of
whether a hazardous waste constituent or property
is present or not in the waste. The Table lists
wastes from generic industrial processes, wastes
from certain sectors of industry and unused pure
chemical products and formulations. Any waste
fitting a narrative listing description is considered a
listed hazardous waste.
c) If the waste is not listed, a waste Generator must
then establish whether the waste contains any of
the hazardous constituents listed in Appendix B,
Table 2. These constituents pose a threat to human
health and the environment.
d) If the waste is not listed in the Hazardous Waste
List or does not contain one of the hazardous waste
constituents, the assessor of the waste must
determine the wastes composition to establish
whether it contains a hazardous property, as listed
in Appendix C, Table 3, according to either:
i)

b) All municipal waste is classified as nonhazardous except:

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its physical property,

flammability; or

for

example,

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Presidency of Meteorology and Environment

ii)

2)

the
concentration
substance(s).

of

dangerous

3)

Reactivity
a) The reactivity property identifies wastes that
readily explode or undergo violent reactions or react
to release toxic gases or fumes. A waste is
considered reactive if it meets any of the following
conditions;

The Composition of Hazardous Waste

a) The composition of the waste can be identified
using:

i)
i)

chemical analysis of the waste;

ii)

knowledge of the process or activity that

produced the waste;

iii)

safety data sheets;

PME Reference

It is capable of detonation or explosive

decomposition or reaction;
-

iv) previous analyses of the waste.

ii)

b) If the composition of the waste is not known, the

waste assessor is still responsible for determining
whether it displays a hazardous property.

1)

a) Wastes that display the ignitability property are

those that can readily catch fire and sustain
combustion. Wastes that are hazardous because
they may ignite include the following:

ii)

2)

liquid wastes (other than those aqueous

waste containing less than 24% alcohol by
volume) that have a flash point less than
60C (140F). The flash point test
determines the lowest temperature at
which the fumes above a waste will ignite
when exposed to flame;
solid wastes that, under standard
temperature and pressure, are capable of
causing fire through friction, absorption of
moisture,
or
spontaneous
chemical
changes and, when ignited, burn so
vigorously and persistently that they create
a hazard.

4)

Potentially explosive;
Reacts violently; or
Generates toxic gases or
vapours.

iii)

If a cyanide or sulfide-bearing waste is

exposed to pH conditions between 2 and
12.5, it can generate enough toxic gases,
vapours, or fumes to present a danger to
human health or the environment.

i)

It is normally unstable and readily

undergoes
violent
change
without
detonating or becomes unstable if resulting
from decomposition from shock or impact.

Ignitability

i)

When mixed with water, it is:

-

Article VII Hazardous Waste Properties

At standard temperature
and pressure;
If subjected to a strong
ignition source; or
If
heated
under
confinement.

Toxicity
a) Toxic compounds or elements can leach into
underground drinking water supplies and expose
users of the water to hazardous chemicals and
constituents. A waste is toxic if it is likely to leach
dangerous concentrations of toxic chemicals into
groundwater. The Toxicity Property Leaching
Procedure (TPLP) requires that a liquid leachate is
created from a hazardous waste sample. It must
then be determined whether the leachate contains
any of the toxic chemicals in amounts above the
specified levels listed in Appendix D, Table 4.

Corrosivity
a) Corrosive wastes can readily corrode or dissolve
flesh, metal or other materials. Corrosive hazardous
wastes include the following;
i)

aqueous wastes with a pH of 2 units or

below or of 12.5 units or above; and

ii)

liquid wastes that corrode steel at a rate

greater than 6.35 mm (0.250 inches) per
year.

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PME Reference

Appendix A Table 1
Hazardous Waste List
Y1

Clinical wastes from medical care in hospitals, medical centres and clinics

Y2

Wastes from the production and preparation of pharmaceutical products, drugs and
medications

Y3

Wastes from the production, formulation and use of biocides and phytopharmaceuticals

Y4

Wastes from the manufacture, formulation and use of wood preserving chemicals

Y5

Wastes from the production, formulation and use of organic solvents

Y6

Wastes from heat treatment and steel tempering operations containing cyanides

Y7

Waste mineral oils unfit for their originally intended use

Y8

Waste oils/water, hydrocarbons/water mixtures, emulsions

Y9

Waste substances and articles containing (greater than 50 ppm) polychlorinated

biphenyls (PCBs) and/or polychlorinated terphenyls (PCTs) and/or polybrominated
biphenyls (PBBs)

Y10

Waste tarry residues arising from refining, distillation and any pyrolysis treatment

Y11

Wastes from production, formulation and use of inks, dyes, pigments, paints, lacquers,
varnish

Y12

Wastes from production, formulation and use of resins, latex, plasticizers, glues and
adhesives

Y13

Waste chemical substances arising from research and development or teaching

activities which are not known and are new and whose effects on human health and the
environment are not yet known

Y14

Wastes of an explosive nature not subject to other regulations or standards

Y15

Wastes from production, formulation and use of photographic chemicals and

processing materials

Y16

Wastes resulting from surface treatment of metals and plastics

Y17

Residues arising from industrial waste disposal operations

Y18

Petroleum refinery wastewater treatment sludges

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PME Reference

Appendix B Table 2
Hazardous Waste Constituents

Y19
Y20
Y21
Y22
Y23
Y24
Y25
Y26
Y27
Y28
Y29
Y30
Y31
Y32
Y33
Y34
Y35
Y36
Y37
Y38
Y39
Y40
Y41
Y42
Y43
Y44

Metal carbonyls
Beryllium and beryllium compounds
Hexavalent chromium compounds
Copper compounds
Zinc compounds
Arsenic and arsenic compounds
Selenium and selenium compounds
Cadmium and cadmium compounds
Antimony and antimony compounds
Tellurium and tellurium compounds
Mercury and mercury compounds
Lead and lead compounds
Inorganic fluorine compounds excluding calcium fluoride
Inorganic cyanides
Acidic solutions or acids in solid form
Basic solutions or bases in solid form
Asbestos (dust and fibres)
Organic phosphorus compounds
Organic cyanide compounds
Phenols and phenol compounds, including chlorophenol compounds
Ether compounds
Halogenated organic solvents
Organic solvents other than halogenated solvents
Any congener of polychlorinated dibenzo-furan
Any congener of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin
Organic halogen compounds other than substances referred to in this Table

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Presidency of Meteorology and Environment

PME Reference

Appendix C Table 3
Hazardous Property List
H1 Explosive
H2 Oxidising
H3 Highly
Flammable

H3B
Flammable
H4 Irritant

H5 Harmful
H6 Toxic

H7
Carcinogenic
H8 Corrosive
H9 Infectious
H10 Toxic for
Reproduction

H11 Mutagenic

H12 Toxic Gas

Release
H13 Ecotoxic
H14

Substances and preparations which may explode under the effect of flame or
which are more sensitive to shocks or friction than dinitrobenzene
Substances and preparations which exhibit highly exothermic reactions when
in contact with other substances, particularly flammable substances
(a) liquid substances and preparations having a flashpoint below 21C
(b) substances and preparations which may become hot and finally catch
fire in contact with air at ambient temperatures without any
application of energy
(c) solid substances and preparations which may readily catch fire after
brief contact with a source of ignition and which continue to burn or to
be consumed after removal of the source of ignition
(d) gaseous substances and preparations which are flammable in air at
normal pressure
(e) substances and preparations which, in contact with water or damp
air, evolve highly flammable gases in dangerous quantities
Liquid substances and preparations having a flashpoint >=21C and <=55C
Non-corrosive substances and preparations which, through immediate,
prolonged or repeated contact with the skin or mucous membrane, can cause
inflammation
Substances and preparations which, if they are inhaled or ingested or if they
penetrate the skin, may involve limited health risks
Substances and preparations (including very toxic substances and
preparations) which, if they are inhaled or ingested or if they penetrate the
skin, may involve serious, acute or chronic health risks and even death
Substances and preparations which, if they are inhaled or ingested or if they
penetrate the skin, may induce cancer or increase its incidence
Substances and preparations which can readily corrode or dissolve flesh,
metal or other materials
Substances containing viable micro-organisms or their toxins which are known
or reliably believed to cause disease in man or living organisms
Substances or preparations which, if they are inhaled or ingested or if they
penetrate the skin, may produce or increase the incidence of non-heritable
adverse effects in the progeny and/or of male or female reproductive functions
or capacity
Substances and preparations which, if they are inhaled or ingested or if they
penetrate the skin, may induce hereditary genetic defects or increase their
incidence
Substances or preparations which release toxic or very toxic gases in contact
with water, air or an acid
Substances or preparations which present or may present immediate or
delayed risks for one or more sectors of the environment
Substances and preparations capable by any means, after disposal, of yielding
another substance, for example leachate, which possesses any of the
characteristics H1 to H13

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PME Reference

Appendix D Table 4
Toxicity Property Leaching Procedure Regulatory Levels

Contaminant
Arsenic
Barium
Benzene
Cadmium
Carbon Tetrachloride
Chlordane
Chlorobenzene
Chloroform
Chromium
o-Cresol*
m-Cresol*
p-Cresol*
Total Cresols
2,4-D
1,4-Dichlorobenzene
1,2-Dichlorobenzene
1,1-Dichlorobenzene
2,4-Dichlorobenzene
Endrin
Heptachlor (and its epoxide)
Hexachlorobenzene
Hexachlorobutadiene
Hexachloroethane
Lead
Lidane
Mercury
Methoxychlor
Methyl ethyl ketone
Nitrobenzene
Pentachlorophenol
Pyridine
Selenium
Silver
Tetrachloroethylene
Toxaphene
Trichloroethylene
2,4,5-Trichlorophenol
2,4,6-Trichlorophenol
2,4,5-TP (Silvex)
Vinyl Chloride

Concentration mg/l
5.0
100.0
0.5
1.0
0.5
0.03
100.0
6.0
5.0
200.0
200.0
200.0
200.0
10.0
7.5
0.5
0.7
0.13
0.02
0.0008
0.13
0.5
3.0
5.0
0.4
0.2
10.0
200.0
2.0
100.0
5.0
1.0
5.0
0.7
0.5
0.5
400.0
2.0
1.0
0.2

* if 0-, m- and p-cresols cannot be individually measured, the level for total cresols is used.

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