Definition

Noun: - Poisonous waste materials; can cause injury (especially by chemical means): Refers to discarded materials that contain substances in quantities or concentrations that are harmful to living organisms and the environment. These substances are often the byproducts of industrial, chemical, or manufacturing processes.

Usage

The term "toxic waste" is used to describe hazardous refuse that requires special handling and disposal to prevent contamination of soil, water, and air. It is a specific category of hazardous waste. - It is typically used as a non-count (mass) noun. - It often appears in contexts discussing environmental policy, public health, and industrial responsibility.

Examples

• The factory was fined for illegally dumping toxic waste into the river.
• Cleaning up the toxic waste from the old chemical plant will take years and cost millions.
• Strict regulations govern the transportation and disposal of toxic waste.

Advanced Usage

• "Toxic waste site": A location contaminated by the disposal of toxic waste.
  • The government has identified the old factory as a priority toxic waste site for cleanup.
• "Toxic waste dump": A place where toxic waste is deposited, often illegally or improperly.
  • Activists protested the creation of a new toxic waste dump near their community.

Variants and Related Words

• Toxic (adj): Poisonous.
  • The substance was found to be highly toxic to fish.
• Hazardous waste (n): A broader category of dangerous waste that includes toxic, flammable, corrosive, or reactive materials.
  • Batteries and paint are examples of household hazardous waste.
• Contaminant (n): A polluting or poisonous substance that makes something impure.
  • The tests revealed several dangerous contaminants in the water supply.

Synonyms

• Hazardous waste
• Poisonous waste
• Chemical waste (when specifying the origin)
• Industrial waste (when specifying the origin, though not all industrial waste is toxic)

Related Phrases

• Toxic waste disposal: The process of getting rid of toxic waste.
  • The company invested in safer methods of toxic waste disposal.
• Toxic waste cleanup: The process of removing toxic waste from a contaminated area.
  • The toxic waste cleanup project employed over a hundred workers.

Noun

1. poisonous waste materials; can cause injury (especially by chemical means)