Conversely, hazardous waste is waste that is dangerous or potentially harmful to our health or the environment. Hazardous wastes can be liquids, solids, gases, sludges, discarded commercial products (e.g., cleaning fluids or pesticides), or the by-products of manufacturing processes.

Nearly everything we do leaves behind some kind of waste. Understanding how your waste is generated is an important factor in determining whether waste can be considered Non-Hazardous. Generators should be able to identify the raw materials (obtain SDS) and, have knowledge of the process that creates the waste to determine the composition. In some cases, analysis may also be required.