Hazardous Materials and Waste
Hazardous materials and waste are substances that can harm people or the environment because they are toxic, flammable, radioactive, or otherwise dangerous. This area covers how such materials are controlled, how waste is handled and disposed of, and how polluted places are cleaned up. The EPA, other federal agencies, and states share oversight.
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Topics in Hazardous Materials and Waste
Chemicals and substances
Toxic Chemicals covers chemicals that can harm health in small amounts, and Specific Hazardous Substances covers individual materials that government singles out for special rules.
Waste streams
Hazardous Waste Management covers how dangerous waste is tracked and disposed of. Nuclear Waste covers radioactive leftovers, Electronic Waste covers discarded devices, and Plastics and Pollution covers plastic waste and its effects.
Cleanup
Contaminated Sites Cleanup covers how polluted land and water are identified and restored.
All Articles on Hazardous Materials and Waste
How EPA Decides a Chemical Is Safe—And Why Courts Sometimes Disagree
In 2018, a jury awarded Dewayne Johnson, a former groundskeeper with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (a type of blood cancer), $289 million—later reduced to $20.4 million.…
Where America’s Waste Goes
Every day, Americans generate a staggering amount of trash. From morning coffee cups to evening food packaging, discarded items embark on a complex journey…
America’s Toxic Military Legacy: Cleaning Up Contaminated Bases
Hundreds of military bases across America sit on poisoned ground. After decades of training exercises, weapons testing, and industrial operations, these installations harbor a…
Mailing Hazardous Items? A Guide to USPS Pub 52
Shipping potentially hazardous items through the United States Postal Service (USPS) requires understanding specific regulations to ensure safety and compliance. USPS Publication 52, titled…