Which option is not one of the four EPA characteristics used to identify hazardous waste?

• A. Ignitability
• B. Malleability
• C. Corrosivity
• D. Reactivity

Answer: (D)

Hazardous waste is identified by four properties that indicate how dangerous the waste could be: ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity, and toxicity. Malleability, on the other hand, is a mechanical property that describes how easily a material can be deformed, not how hazardous it is. So malleability is not used to identify hazardous waste. Ignitability means the waste can catch fire easily, corrosivity means it has extreme acidity or basicity and can corrode metals, and reactivity means it is unstable or can vigorously react, sometimes releasing gases or causing explosions. The remaining characteristic not listed in the question is toxicity, which relates to the waste’s potential to leach harmful substances.