The document discusses hazardous waste and the Globally Harmonized System (GHS). Hazardous waste is waste that poses threats to public health or the environment, and its treatment, storage, and disposal are regulated in the US by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). The GHS is a system that defines and classifies the hazards of chemical products to ensure health and safety information on labels and safety data sheets is communicated consistently worldwide. The two main elements of GHS are classifying chemical hazards according to its rules and communicating hazard information and precautions using standardized safety data sheets and labels.

1. Hazard Waste
Hazardous waste is waste that poses
substantial or potential threats to public
health or the environment. In the United
States, the treatment, storage, and
disposal of hazardous waste are
regulated under the Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).
Hazardous wastes are defined under
RCRA in 40 CFR 261 where they are
divided into two major categories:
characteristic wastes and listed wastes.

2. What is the Globally Harmonized
System (GHS)?
GHS stands for the Globally Harmonized
System of Classification and Labeling of
Chemicals. GHS defines and classifies the
hazards of chemical products, and
communicates health and safety information
on labels and safety data sheets). The goal is
that the same set of rules for classifying
hazards, and the same format and content
for labels and safety data sheets (SDS) will
be adopted and used around the world. An
international team of hazard communication
experts developed GHS.

3. The two major elements of GHS are:
1. Classification of the hazards of chemicals
according to the GHS rules:
GHS provides guidance on classifying pure
chemicals and mixtures according to its
criteria or rules.
2. Communication of the hazards and
precautionary information using Safety Data
Sheets and labels:
Labels - With the GHS, certain information
will appear on the label.
Safety Data Sheets (SDS) - The GHS SDS
has 16 sections in a set order, and minimum
information is prescribed.