What defines a "hazardous material"?

A "hazardous material" is specifically defined as a substance that poses a risk to health, safety, or the environment. This recognition is vital for ensuring proper handling, storage, and disposal practices to safeguard human health and the ecosystem. Hazardous materials can include a wide variety of substances, such as chemicals, toxic agents, and radioactive materials, which can cause adverse effects if not managed correctly.

Defining hazardous materials in terms of their potential to cause harm underlines the importance of regulatory compliance and protective measures in various industries. Recognizing and identifying these substances is essential for developing safety protocols and risk assessments, which ultimately help in minimizing exposure and preventing incidents.

The other options describe characteristics that do not necessarily confer a hazard status. For instance, being non-biodegradable or having the potential to be recycled does not inherently indicate that a material is hazardous. Additionally, a product marketed at a high price does not correlate with its potential to be hazardous; price does not determine the safety or environmental impact of a substance. Thus, the focus on health, safety, or environmental risks as the primary criteria for identifying hazardous materials is fundamental to the field of environmental and safety compliance.