HAZWASTE is defined as what?

• A. A material requiring quarantine
• B. A hazardous material currently in use
• C. Any discarded or abandoned hazardous substance
• D. A material that is recyclable

Answer: (C)

Hazardous waste is defined by its status as waste—something that has been discarded or abandoned and is hazardous. The key point is that the material has been set aside as waste, not that it’s still in use. Under regulations, a material becomes hazardous waste when it’s discarded and is identified as hazardous either by its characteristics or by listing. Among the options, the description that fits best is the one that says it’s any discarded or abandoned hazardous substance. The other descriptions describe materials that are currently in use, quarantined, or recyclable, which do not reflect the waste status that defines hazardous waste.