Final answer:
Hazardous wastes are classified as listed, characteristic, and mixed, each with specific management protocols. The NFPA 704 system and international symbols help identify the level of hazards. Information such as hazard class, international ID number, and quantity is essential for safe transport.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding the classification, handling, and disposal of hazardous waste is crucial for mitigating its impact on human health and the environment. Under the guidelines provided by the United States Department of Transportation and the Environmental Protection Agency, hazardous wastes are classified into various categories. These categories include listed wastes, characteristic wastes, and mixed wastes. Listed wastes are defined by specific rules and are detailed in Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations section 261, which includes four lists: F, K, P, and U.
Characteristic wastes, on the other hand, exhibit properties like ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity, or toxicity that make them hazardous. Such wastes must be identified and managed according to the severity of their hazard. The National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) 704 Hazard Identification System is one method of rating these hazards, using a diamond symbol to encode the levels of fire, health, reactivity, and special hazards. Each characteristic is rated on a scale from 0 (no hazard) to 4 (extremely hazardous).
Furthermore, it is important to recognize the international symbol for biohazards to ensure proper disposal techniques, such as autoclaving, are applied before biohazard waste enters the general waste stream. Awareness of the different plastic polymers and their respective plastic identification codes (PIC) is also essential for proper recycling and disposal of plastic packaging materials. When transporting hazardous materials, details such as the hazard class and division, international ID number, packaging group, and quantity are critical elements to consider for safety and compliance with regulations.