Hazardous materials can often be identified by certain characteristics that they possess such as being corrosive, flammable, reactive or toxic. Hazardous materials are used at most federal facilities in the Atlantic Region for activities as ordinary as cleaning to highly specialized work with radioactive materials. Most materials are consumed during use. Some hazardous materials, however, may no longer be required, such as laboratory chemicals, some may have reached the end of their lifespan, such as batteries and used oil, and some may have been found to be a health or environmental concern, such as leaded paint and asbestos. These hazardous materials, and sometimes their containers, become waste and must be disposed of safely.

Environment Canada has a mandated responsibility to provide advice on hazardous waste disposal to other federal departments and crown agencies. This mandate is set out in The Government Organization Act, Treasury Board Guidelines on Real Property Management, the Fisheries Act and Environment Canada's Toxic Substance Management Policy. However, as soon as the waste leaves the federal property, it is subject to the applicable provincial disposal regulations. These regulations may specify what landfills are licensed to receive particular wastes and what facilities are licensed to handle hazardous wastes.

Within the year, Federal Hazardous Waste Regulations, are expected to be in place. These Regulations will apply to the management of hazardous waste on federal lands and to federal works and undertakings. These Regulations will place limits on gaseous releases to the air, effluent releases and leachate releases from solids.

There is a hierarchy of options when choosing a disposal option for material that is waste at a particular site,

1. Re-use or return. If the material can't be re-used at the facility where it is waste, it may be useful at a nearby federal facility. Alternatively, the manufacturer may accept return of unused product.
2. Recycle. Can the waste be returned to the manufacturers for recycle?
3. Reject. Waste may be properly disposed of at provincially licensed landfills or by licensed haulers at licensed waste facilities.

A series of "handling and disposal advice" sheets are being developed to recommend alternatives for disposal of hazardous and other waste from federal facilities in Atlantic Canada. These sheets will not tell you how to manage your site to create less waste. These sheets will not tell you how to ship hazardous wastes, health and safety requirements or labour regulations. These sheets will recommend a disposal practice.

• Ammonia Developer
• Asbestos

Any person responsible for the disposal of wastes should become familiar with:

• Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act
• Treasury Board Directive of Occupational Health and Safety
• Canada Labour Code, Part 2 and Its Regulations

Addition information on Hazardous Waste