The difference between hazardous chemicals and hazardous waste
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This post was last edited by Zhizhi Ming on 2025-1-10 at 10:55. Recently, a friend asked about the difference between hazardous chemicals and hazardous waste, as they couldn’t tell the difference. So what are the differences between them? 1. Definition of different hazardous chemicals: Refers to highly toxic chemicals and other chemicals that possess properties such as toxicity, corrosivity, explosiveness, flammability, or oxidizing ability, and that pose hazards to human beings, facilities, and the environment. Hazardous waste: refers to solid waste that is included in the **List of Hazardous Wastes**, or that is identified as having hazardous properties in accordance with the established criteria and methods for identifying hazardous waste. Its hazardous properties include corrosivity, toxicity, flammability, reactivity, and infectivity. 2. Different management requirements for hazardous chemicals: In accordance with the Regulations on the Safety Management of Hazardous Chemicals, entities that produce or store hazardous chemicals must install clear safety warning signs in their workplaces as well as on their safety facilities and equipment. Hazardous chemicals should be stored in dedicated warehouses, specialized sites, or special storage rooms, and managed by designated personnel. Highly toxic chemicals, as well as other hazardous chemicals whose storage quantities pose a significant risk, shall be stored separately in dedicated warehouses, with a system of two persons responsible for receipt and issuance, and two persons in charge of storage. Hazardous waste: In accordance with the Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Prevention and Control of Environmental Pollution by Solid Wastes, entities that generate hazardous waste must store, utilize, and dispose of such waste in compliance with relevant regulations and environmental protection standards; they are not allowed to dump or pile it up without authorization. Hazardous waste containers and packaging, as well as facilities and sites for the collection, storage, transportation, utilization, and disposal of hazardous waste, shall be equipped with hazard waste identification marks in accordance with regulations. 3. Hazardous chemicals with different competent authorities: Competent authority – Ministry of Emergency Management. Hazardous waste: Competent authority – the environmental protection department.
This post was last edited by Zhizhi Ming on 2025-1-10 at 15:19. 4. Different management priorities: For hazardous chemicals, the focus of management is on safety during production, operation, use, and storage, in order to prevent accidents such as fires, explosions, and poisoning. Therefore, warehouses for hazardous chemicals must meet strict building design requirements, including explosion protection, fire prevention, and good ventilation. At the same time, strict control is needed over the entry and exit of such chemicals to ensure their safe use. Hazardous waste: The focus of managing hazardous waste is on overseeing the entire process, from its generation to its final disposal, in order to prevent it from causing harm to the environment and human health. Especially in the aspects of collection, storage, transportation, utilization, and disposal of hazardous waste, storage sites for such waste must have strict measures to protect against rain, sunlight, and leaks, in order to prevent hazardous waste from leaking into the environment. 5. Different regulatory requirements: Hazardous chemicals are those that meet the criteria specified in the “Catalogue of Hazardous Chemicals”. These standards are consistent with the United Nations’ Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals, and classify the hazards of chemicals into three categories: physical hazards, health hazards, and environmental hazards. Hazardous waste: Managed in accordance with the **List of Hazardous Wastes** and the **List of Wastes Excluded from Hazardous Waste Management**. Discarded hazardous chemicals are considered hazardous waste and must be managed as such. 6. **Different lists exist: there are lists for both hazardous waste and hazardous chemicals.** Hazardous chemicals: On October 13, 2022, the Ministry of Emergency Management, in conjunction with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the National Health Commission, the State Administration for Market Regulation, the Railway Administration, and the Civil Aviation Administration, revised the \"Catalogue of Hazardous Chemicals (2015 edition)\", changing \"1674 Diesel\" to another designation. Hazardous waste: On November 8, 2024, the **List of Hazardous Wastes (2025 Edition)** was approved at the 5th ministerial meeting held by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment in 2024. With the consent of the **National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Transport, and the **National Health Commission, it is now published and will come into effect on January 1, 2025.