Hazardous waste management in Chile: novel challenges for a new regulation

During the next 180 days after its publication (i.e. until December 12th, 2004), each industrial facility was obligated to present a "Hazardous Waste Management Plan" if the facility generates more than 12 ton/year hazardous wastes or more than 12 kg/year acute toxic wastes. The new regulation defines four characteristics for the hazardous wastes: Toxicity (acute, chronic and extrinsic), inflammability, reactivity and corrosiveness. Acute toxicity is mainly related with specific compounds present in wastes that can cause death to human beings in small doses (e.g. arsenic oxides). Chronic toxicity is related with wastes that contain substances that can cause accumulative toxic effects, carcinogenic effects, mutagenic effects and teratogenic effects in human beings (e.g. 2,4,6-trichlorophenol). Extrinsic toxicity is associated with the leachability of toxic (acute and chronic) compounds present in wastes and is related to the maximum permissible concentration of the compound in the leachate (e.g. lead, 5 mg/L).