R315-264-1405. Appendix V to Rule R315-264 -- Examples of Potentially Incompatible Waste

Many hazardous wastes, when mixed with other waste or materials at a hazardous waste facility, can produce effects that are harmful to human health and the environment, such as (1) heat or pressure, (2) fire or explosion, (3) violent reaction, (4) toxic dusts, mists, fumes, or gases, or (5) flammable fumes or gases. Section R315-264-1405 lists examples of potentially incompatible wastes, waste components, and materials, along with the harmful consequences that result from mixing materials in one group with materials in another group. The list is intended as a guide to owners or operators of treatment, storage, and disposal facilities, and to enforcement and permit granting officials, to show the need for special precautions when managing these potentially incompatible waste materials or components. This list is not intended to be exhaustive. An owner or operator shall, as the rules require, adequately analyze the owner or operator's wastes so that the owner or operator can avoid creating uncontrolled substances or reactions, whether they are listed or not. It is possible for potentially incompatible wastes to be mixed in a way that precludes a reaction, for example adding acid to water rather than water to acid, or that neutralizes them, for example a strong acid mixed with a strong base, or that controls substances produced, for example by generating flammable gases in a closed tank equipped so that ignition cannot occur, and burning the gases in an incinerator. In the lists, the mixing of a Group A material with a Group B material may have the potential result as noted. Table 3 Group 1-A Acetylene sludge Alkaline caustic liquids Alkaline cleaner Alkaline corrosive liquids Alkaline corrosive battery fluid Caustic wastewater Lime sludge and other corrosive alkalies Lime wastewater Lime and water Spent caustic Group 1-B Acid sludge Acid and water Battery acid Chemical cleaners Electrolyte, acid Etching acid liquid or solvent Pickling liquor and other corrosive acids Spent acid Spent mixed acid Spent sulfuric acid Potential result: Heat generation; violent reaction. Group 2-A Aluminum Beryllium Calcium Lithium Magnesium Potassium Sodium Zinc powder Other reactive metals and metal hydrides Group 2-B Any waste in Group 1-A or 1 -B Potential result: Fire or explosion; generation of flammable hydrogen gas. Group 3-A Alcohols Water Group 3-B Any concentrated waste in Groups 1-A or 1-B Calcium Lithium Metal hydrides Potassium SO2 Cl2, SOCl2, PCl3, CH3 SiCl3 Other water-reactive waste Potential result: Fire, explosion, or heat generation; generation of flammable or toxic gases. Group 4-A Alcohols Aldehydes Halogenated hydrocarbons Nitrated hydrocarbons Unsaturated hydrocarbons Other reactive organic compounds and solvents Group 4-B Concentrated Group 1-A or 1-B wastes Group 2-A wastes Potential result: Fire, explosion, or violent reaction. Group 5-A Spent cyanide and sulfide solutions Group 5-B Group 1-B wastes Potential result: Generation of toxic hydrogen cyanide or hydrogen sulfide gas. Group 6-A Chlorates Chlorine Chlorites Chromic acid Hypochlorites Nitrates Nitric acid, fuming Perchlorates Permanganates Peroxides Other strong oxidizers Group 6-B Acetic acid and other organic acids Concentrated mineral acids Group 2-A wastes Group 4-A wastes Other flammable and combustible wastes Potential result: Fire, explosion, or violent reaction. Source: "Law, Regulations, and Guidelines for Handling of Hazardous Waste." California Department of Health, February 1975.