Listed hazardous wastes
Listed hazardous wastes include PCB wastes and those wastes that appear on one of the four specific lists (F, K, P, or U) found in the Code of Federal Regulations, title 40, part 261, subpart D and incorporated by reference in the Minnesota hazardous waste rules.
F list (PDF)
This list includes waste solvents, wastewater treatment sludges and electroplating baths, sludges, and related wastes. Examples of F listed wastes include many paint and lacquer thinners, some types of brake and carburetor cleaners, vapor degreasing and dry cleaning solvents, as well as distillation bottoms from the reclamation of these spent solvents or spent solvent mixtures.
K list (PDF)
This list includes wastes that are the result of a specific industry process such as wood preserving, manufacture of pesticides, explosives, inks, organic or inorganic chemicals and inorganic pigments, petroleum refining, and iron and steel industries.
P list (PDF) and U list (PDF)
These lists should be checked if you are disposing of unused or usable chemical products or spill residues. To be P or U listed, the P or U chemical must comprise 100 percent of the waste or be the sole active ingredient.
PCB wastes (PDF)
PCBs are substances that contain PCBs at a concentration of 50 parts per million or greater.
Characteristic hazardous wastes
Characteristic hazardous wastes (PDF) are those wastes that are not listed as hazardous wastes on one of the specific lists (the F, K, P or U lists) but that exhibit one or more of the following characteristics:
- Ignitability or is an oxidizer
- Corrosivity
- Reactivity
- Lethality or toxicity
Descriptions of hazardous waste characteristics
Descriptions of each characteristic and examples of some wastes that may have such characteristics are listed below along with the 4-digit hazardous waste code:
Ignitable wastes (D001) have flash points of less than 140 degrees Fahrenheit or ignite spontaneously and burn vigorously.
- The Safety Data Sheet (SDS) will give the flash point of the product. This will likely be close to the flash point of the waste unless the waste is contaminated with materials that have a very low flash point, such as gasoline.
- Examples: mineral spirits, many petroleum based parts washer solvents, alcohols, etc.
Oxidizing wastes (D001) supply oxygen to a fire in the absence of air.
- The SDS will usually tell you whether the product is an oxidizer.
- Examples: oxides, permanganates, nitrates, etc.
Corrosive wastes (D002) are liquids with a pH of 2.0 or less, 12.5 or more, or able to corrode steel at a rate greater than one-quarter of an inch per year.
- The SDS will often give the pH of the product. Diluting the product prior to use and actual use of the product may change the pH enough so the waste is non-hazardous.
- Some corrosive wastes may be able to be neutralized and discharged to a sanitary sewer. Check with your wastewater treatment plant operator for details.
- Examples: strong acids and bases such as battery acid and radiator boil out tanks.
Reactive wastes (D003) are wastes that are unstable, react violently or form potentially explosive mixtures when mixed with water, or can produce toxic gases.
- The reactivity hazard data section of the SDS may indicate the product is hazardous.
- Examples: explosives and some cyanide bearing wastes.
Lethal wastes (PDF) (MN01) are wastes that can cause severe health effects when ingested, inhaled or absorbed through the skin.
- The health hazard data section of the SDS may provide information that could help you determine if a waste might be lethal.
- Examples: some pesticide wastes and wastes containing arsenic.
Toxicity characteristic wastes (D004-D043) are wastes containing hazardous contaminants above the maximum allowable concentration specified in the hazardous waste rules.
- Examples of hazardous contaminants include heavy metals such as barium, cadmium, chromium, lead and silver, and organics such as benzene, methyl ethyl ketone, and trichloroethylene.
- Examples of wastes in this category include paint or ink with metal pigments, plating wastes, and photographic fixer.
Universal wastes
Universal wastes (PDF), as defined in Hennepin County's Hazardous Waste Management Ordinance, include the following hazardous wastes:
- Batteries
- Pesticides
- Mercury-containing equipment
- Lamps
- Aerosol containers
Special hazardous wastes
Special hazardous wastes, as defined in Hennepin County's Hazardous Waste Management Ordinance, include the following hazardous wastes:
- Photographic and X-ray negatives
- Electronic waste (PDF), which includes equipment containing circuit boards and/or cathode ray tubes, such as computer and peripherals, telephones and TVs.
Common wastes by industry
Below is a listing of wastes commonly generated by certain industries and processes. This list does not describe all wastes that may be generated or regulated.
Building maintenance
Paints, thinners, solvents, cleaners, PCBs
General repair
Solvents, paints, acids, bases, adhesives, oils
Laboratory
Reagents, wash-up, reacted chemicals, dated chemicals
Metal fabrication
Solvents, sludges, cleaners, paints, acids, caustics
Plating
Sludges, cleaners, acids, caustics, cyanides
Vehicle maintenance, service and repair
Oils, filters, solvents, paints, thinners