Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM) Practice Exam

The definition of hazardous waste according to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) focuses on the potential risks to human health and the environment. The correct answer states that hazardous waste is any waste that poses a substantial or potential hazard, indicating that the nature of the waste can be dangerous if not managed properly. This includes a wide range of materials that may be harmful due to their chemical properties, reactivity, toxicity, or potential to cause adverse effects if released into the environment.

Understanding this definition is crucial for the management of hazardous materials because it informs the regulations and procedures that must be followed to safely handle, treat, store, and dispose of such waste. This ensures not only compliance with environmental laws but also protection of public health and safety.

Other options address waste in different contexts; for example, recycling or biodegradability does not account for the harmful characteristics that classify waste as hazardous under RCRA. Thus, these options do not align with the criteria established by RCRA for hazardous waste designation.