hazardous waste, definition of

Byproducts of society with physical, chemical or infectious characteristics that pose hazards to the environment and human health when improperly handled.

• California sues Walmart for allegedly dumping hazardous waste
  The state of California, through its Attorney general, has filed a lawsuit accusing Walmart of allegedly illegally disposing of hazardous waste in landfills across the state...
• Global warming is uncovering toxic pollutants from an abandoned Arctic military base
  A decommissioned U.S. military base encased in the Greenland Ice Sheet since the 1960s is slowly being unearthed by Earth’s rising temperatures, along with the toxic waste stored inside. Snowfall is not able to keep up with melting ice on top of the...
• Trafigura Fined €1M For Illegally Dumping Toxic Waste in Africa
  photo credit: ©Raigo Pajula/AFP/Getty Images Some justice has finally come of the 2006 export disaster involving Swiss-based oil trader Trafigura, who will now be fined €1M for illegally exporting hazardous waste out of Amsterdam...