The EPA defines hazardous waste as the following: A subset of solid wastes that pose substantial or potential threats to public health or the environment and meet any of the following criteria identified 40 CFR 260 and 261:
*It is specifically listed as a hazardous waste by EPA 
*It exhibits one or more of the characteristics of hazardous waste (ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity, and/or toxicity); 
*It is generated by the treatment of hazardous waste; or is contained in a hazardous waste.