Hazardous Waste
What do you do with Hazardous Waste?
The proper disposal method for C&D debris is determined by the debris itself. If the C&D debris is hazardous, the debris must be properly disposed at a licensed hazardous waste facility. However, debris found to be nonhazardous can be disposed of in a landfill with municipal solid waste or recycled.
Sampling to Determine if Materials are Hazardous
The first step in disposing of C&D debris is to determine whether the debris is a hazardous waste. To correctly characterize the C&D debris, you must obtain a sample of any waste stream that might potentially contain hazardous waste as any one of its components. The sample should be a composite which reflects all components of the C&D debris. Therefore, the proportion of each individual C&D debris component within the composite sample should be the same as the proportion of each C&D component within the debris. Lead-based paints and asbestos-containing materials are two potential hazardous components of many building sites.
Each sample or composite sample must be analyzed by the Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) (discussed below). Because this analysis requires approximately 100 grams of the composite sample, the individual samples should be large enough to ensure the laboratory has enough of a sample to analyze. Generally, the minimum size of each individual sample should be 3 inches x 6 inches to allow for proper compilation of the composite sample.
Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) Analysis
To ascertain whether C&D debris is hazardous, the debris sample must undergo TCLP analysis by a certified laboratory. Analysis results are then compared to levels established by the EPA for certain chemicals. If the level in the sample exceeds the established level, the waste is considered hazardous. Examples of TCLP levels established by the EPA for a few common contaminants are shown in the following table. Tests results for specific chemicals less than the values shown are not hazardous and can be recycled or disposed through normal C&D methods.
Examples of EPA-established TCLP Cutoff Points for Common Contaminants
| Contaminant | Cutoff Point (mg/L) |
| Arsenic | 5.0 |
| Chromium | 5.0 |
| Lead | 5.0 |
| Mercury | 0.2 |
| Pentachlorophenol | 100. |
