hazardous waste

The internationally recognized symbols, warning of the potential dangers of handling certain substances.

Waste substance, usually generated by industry, that represents a hazard to the environment or to people living or working nearby. Examples include radioactive wastes, acidic resins, arsenic residues, residual hardening salts, lead from car exhausts, mercury, non-ferrous sludges, organic solvents, asbestos, chlorinated solvents, and pesticides. The cumulative effects of toxic waste can take some time to become apparent (anything from a few hours to many years), and pose a serious threat to the ecological stability of the planet; its economic disposal or recycling is the subject of research.

International agreement In 1994 the United Nations Basel Convention for the movement of hazardous waste across boundaries agreed a total ban on shipments of hazardous waste from the 25 industrialized nations that make up the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), for disposal in all non-OECD countries. The ban was immediately put into effect, to be extended in 1997 to include all shipments intended for recycling.