Is fly ash a hazardous waste?
NO. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classifies fly ash as non-hazardous. Fly ash deserves such a classification for good reasons, one of which is that numerous scientific studies have found that fly ash does not cause water pollution and air pollution. Because fly ash is usually basic rather than acidic, it does not leach out pollutants (heavy metals) when immersed in water. Furthermore, fly ash has been used for more than a century in many countries; yet it has not generated any public health problem or even occupational health problem for those using and handling fly ash. In spite of that, it is not healthy to ingest or inhale fly ash, just as it is not healthy to ingest or inhale street dust. Eye contact with fly ash should also be avoided just as you should avoid street dust from entering your eyes. Finally, fly ash must be disposed of carefully to avoid spills, which could cause damage to environment, as demonstrated by the fly ash dam failure in Kingston, Tennessee
