What is a Hazardous Waste?
Hazardous waste is a waste with properties that make it potentially dangerous or harmful to human health or the environment. They can be the by-products of manufacturing processes, discarded used materials, or discarded unused commercial products, such as solvents or pesticides. A waste is a hazardous waste if it is either listed as a hazardous waste or if it demonstrates one or more characteristics of hazardous waste (ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity, or toxicity).
Who Qualifies as a Hazardous Waste Generator?
Any business that generates any quantity of a hazardous waste is a Hazardous Waste Generator (22 CCR 66260.10). A generator is a person or business that produces or generates a hazardous waste identified or listed in Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations (22 CCR) or whose act first causes a hazardous waste to become subject to this regulation.
Generator Responsibilities
- Make waste determinations;
- Manage hazardous wastes in compliance with laws and regulations;
- Maintain thorough and accurate records and report hazardous waste activities;
- Prevent and prepare for emergencies involving hazardous wastes;
- Prepare hazardous wastes for transportation;
- Select legal and appropriate treatment and disposal options;
- Have a waste reduction program in effect; and
- Obtain any required permits and pay the fees associated with hazardous waste activities.
Generators are responsible for the safe and legal handling of all of their hazardous wastes from generation through accumulation, recycling, transportation, storage, treatment, and disposal.
See Core Requirements.
Universal Waste
Certain wastes can be managed under less rigorous management regulations, such as universal waste. These include batteries, fluorescent lamps, electronic waste, mercury thermostats, aerosol cans, solar panels/photovoltaic modules and more. It is important to know that California’s universal waste requirements are generally more stringent that those requirements adopted by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA).
Common Hazardous Waste Generating Businesses
Below are likely hazardous/universal wastes for some common business types. If your business generates any of these wastes, then you are a hazardous waste generator and must manage your waste in accordance with applicable regulations.
| Business Type | Likely Hazardous/Universal Wastes |
| Auto Repair or Body Shops | Used oil, filters, solvents, paint waste, antifreeze, batteries, absorbents |
| Dental Office | Amalgam, x-ray fixer, lead foil, disinfectants, sharps overlap |
| Dry Cleaner | Solvents, filters, still bottoms |
| Labs and Schools | Chemical waste, expired reagents, acids/bases |
| Construction | Paint, aerosols, lamps, batteries, contaminated debris |
| Retail/Warehousing | Damaged consumer products, aerosols, batteries, lamps |
| Cannabis Businesses | Extraction chemicals, solvents, waste residues, batteries, lamps |
Visit DTSC for resources on managing hazardous waste.
Reference
California Health & Safety Code, Division 20, Chapter 6.5
California Code of Regulations, Division 4.5, Title 22
Unified Program Ordinance, LA County Code, Chapter 12.50
Los Angeles Municipal Code, Article 7 of Chapter V, Divisions 8 & 14