What Is Toxic Waste?

Toxic waste is generally described as any discarded material that is dangerous to any life form, including humans, animals and plant life. Toxic waste can pollute the air, land and water. Exposure to toxic waste can cause cancer and other illness, and has been linked to birth defects. In many cases, government agencies carefully regulate the disposal of toxic waste, but millions of tons of hazardous waste are released into the environment every year, both accidentally and intentionally.

Radioactive Waste

Radioactive waste is typically generated through power generation, although radioactive waste is also a byproduct of some other processes. Disposal of radioactive waste depends on the type of waste, but it is generally regulated by government agencies.

Chemical Waste

Many factories produce chemical waste as a byproduct of what they are producing. Examples of chemical waste include dioxins, polychlorinated biphenyls and vinyl chloride.

Medical Waste

Much of the waste generated by hospitals and other medical facilities cannot safely be disposed of with regular waste. Among the toxic medical waste items are clinical instruments and needles that have been exposed to blood, body parts and the chemicals used in the treatments of some diseases.

Agricultural Waste

The fertilizers and pesticides that are used to help farmers grow their crops contain many dangerous chemicals that can enter the groundwater supply and remain in the soil the crops are grown in.

Household Hazardous Waste

Many common household items such as batteries, paint, cleaners, fluorescent light bulbs and electronics items contain dangerous chemicals and should not be put out with the trash. Check with your waste hauler for proper disposal techniques.