Page 572 - Materials Chemistry, Second Edition

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Part IV

Special Categories of Waste

The final section of this book serves as a “catch-all” section covering the management of those
wastes that may not fit well in a regulatory or management context with either municipal or haz-
ardous wastes. Universal Wastes, used motor oil, medical waste, construction and demolition
debris, and electronics waste are included. Some of these residuals, for example, medical or infec-
tious wastes and certain electronics wastes, may be inherently hazardous; others have the reputation
of being simply nuisance materials (e.g., construction and demolition debris), which are generated
in large volumes. Many of these wastes had not been adequately managed in the past. Regulations
regarding the management of these special wastes have evolved rapidly over the past decade and
continue to be updated with the advent of new waste types in the waste stream and new technolo-
gies for their treatment and disposal.