Appendix V.  


Examples of Potentially Incompatible Waste
Many hazardous wastes, when mixed with other waste or materials at a hazardous waste facility, can produce effects which are harmful to human health and the environment, such as (1) heat or pressure, (2) fire or explosion, (3) violent reaction, (4) toxic dusts, mists, fumes, or gases, or (5) flammable fumes or gases.
Below are examples of potentially incompatible wastes, waste components, and materials, along with the harmful consequences which result from mixing materials in one group with materials in another group. The list is intended as a guide to owners or operators of transfer, treatment, storage, and disposal facilities, and to enforcement and permit granting officials, to indicate the need for special precautions when managing these potentially incompatible waste materials or components.
This list is not intended to be exhaustive. An owner or operator shall, as the regulations require, adequately analyze all wastes so as to avoid creating uncontrolled substances or reactions of the type listed below, whether they are listed below or not.
It is possible for potentially incompatible wastes to be mixed in a way that precludes a reaction (e.g., adding acid to water rather than water to acid) or that neutralizes them (e.g., a strong acid mixed with a strong base), or that controls substances produced (e.g., by generating flammable gases in a closed tank equipped so that ignition cannot occur, and burning the gases in an incinerator).
In the lists below, the mixing of a Group A material with a Group B material may have the potential consequence as noted.
Group 1-A
Group 1-B
Acetylene sludge
Acid sludge
Alkaline caustic liquids
Acid and water
Alkaline cleaner
Battery acid
Alkaline corrosive liquids
Chemical cleaners
Alkaline corrosive battery fluid
Electrolyte, acid
Caustic wastewater
Etching acid liquid or solvent
Lime sludge and other corrosive alkalies
Lime wastewater
Pickling liquor and
other corrosive acids
Lime and water
Spent acid
Spent caustic
Spent mixed acid
Spent sulfuric acid
Potential consequences: Heat generation; violent reaction.
Group 2-A
Group 2-B
Aluminum
Any waste in Group
1-A or 1-B
Beryllium
Calcium
Lithium
Magnesium
Potassium
Sodium
Zinc powder
Other reactive metals and metal hydrides
Potential consequences: Fire or explosion; generation of flammable hydrogen gas.
Group 3-A
Group 3-B
Alcohols
Any concentrated waste
in Groups 1-A or 1-B
Water
Calcium
Lithium
Metal hydrides
Potassium
SO 2 Cl 2, SOCl 2, PCl 3,
CH 3 SiCl 3
Other water-reactive waste
Potential consequences: Fire, explosion, or heat generation; generation of flammable or toxic gases.
Group 4-A
Group 4-B
Alcohols
Concentrated Group
1-A or 1-B wastes
Aldehydes
Group 2-A wastes
Halogenated hydrocarbons
Nitrated hydrocarbons
Unsaturated hydrocarbons
Other reactive organic compounds and solvents
Potential consequences: Fire, explosion, or violent reaction.
Group 5-A
Group 5-B
Spent cyanide and sulfide solutions
Group 1-B wastes
Potential consequences: Generation of toxic hydrogen cyanide or hydrogen sulfide gas.
Group 6-A
Group 6-B
Chlorates
Acetic acid and
other organic acids
Chlorine
Concentrated mineral acids
Chlorites
Group 2-A wastes
Chromic acid
Group 4-A wastes
Hypochlorites
Other flammable and
combustible wastes
Nitrates
Nitric acid, fuming
Perchlorates
Permanganates
Peroxides
Other strong oxidizers
Potential consequences: Fire, explosion, or violent reaction.
Source: “Law, Regulations, and Guidelines for Handling of Hazardous Waste.” California Department of Health, February 1975.
HISTORY
1. New section filed 5-24-91; operative 7-1-91 (Register 91, No. 22).