Hazardous waste poses a risk to health, the air or water, is explosive or combustible. It is mainly produced in industrial and commercial production processes and is also designated special waste.
Its disposal is subject to a special requirement for proof. In Baden-Württemberg there are central state facilities for its disposal (the special waste depot at Billigheim or the special waste incineration plants of HIM Hessen or GSB Bayern). Private waste disposal services in Baden-Württemberg have set up special facilities for pretreatment and recycling of hazardous waste, primarily chemical-physical treatment plants.
Small quantities of hazardous waste also comes from households, for example residual chemicals and solvents, wood preservers or pesticides. Hazardous waste must be collected separately and disposed of in an environmentally-sound manner. To this end, the town and district waste management services offer special collection and disposal infrastructure, such as the hazardous goods mobile collection truck.