40 CFR § 261.22 - Characteristic of corrosivity.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t40/s261.22"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "40 CFR § 261.22 - Characteristic of corrosivity."
title_number: 40
title_name: "Protection of Environment"
section_number: "261.22"
section_name: "Characteristic of corrosivity."
chapter_name: "ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY"
subchapter_number: "I"
subchapter_name: "SOLID WASTES"
part_number: "261"
part_name: "IDENTIFICATION AND LISTING OF HAZARDOUS WASTE"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "42 U.S.C. 6905, 6912(a), 6921, 6922, 6924(y) and 6938."
regulatory_source: "45 FR 33119, May 19, 1980, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "261"
---


# 261.22 Characteristic of corrosivity.

(a) A solid waste exhibits the characteristic of corrosivity if a representative sample of the waste has either of the following properties:

(1) It is aqueous and has a pH less than or equal to 2 or greater than or equal to 12.5, as determined by a pH meter using Method 9040C in “Test Methods for Evaluating Solid Waste, Physical/Chemical Methods,” EPA Publication SW-846, as incorporated by reference in § 260.11 of this chapter.

(2) It is a liquid and corrodes steel (SAE 1020) at a rate greater than 6.35 mm (0.250 inch) per year at a test temperature of 55 °C (130 °F) as determined by Method 1110A in “Test Methods for Evaluating Solid Waste, Physical/Chemical Methods,” EPA Publication SW-846, and as incorporated by reference in § 260.11 of this chapter.

(b) A solid waste that exhibits the characteristic of corrosivity has the EPA Hazardous Waste Number of D002.

[45 FR 33119, May 19, 1980, as amended at 46 FR 35247, July 7, 1981; 55 FR 22684, June 1, 1990; 58 FR 46049, Aug. 31, 1993; 70 FR 34561, June 14, 2005]