本文报道了最近的AWWA研究基金会项目的结果，以确定用于水处理的活性炭是否可以被表征为危险废物。关于这类表征的担忧是基于一种理解，即活性炭用于水处理，因为它们会吸附，从而从源水中积累各种污染物。固体废物法规也对这些污染物进行了处理。这项研究所考察的问题是，这些碳是否会积累足够水平的受管制污染物，从而使材料随后被归类为危险固体废物。 由于许多公用事业正在考虑使用某种类型的碳，以帮助他们满足水质标准，重要的是考虑整个处理系统的成本——包括处理废碳的成本。如果废碳被列为危险品，那么处置成本可能会大幅增加。

This paper reports on the findings of a recent AWWA Research Foundation project that was undertaken to determine if activated carbons used in water treatment could become characterized as hazardous waste. Concern regarding this type of characterization is based on an understanding that activated carbons are used in water treatment because they adsorb, and so accumulate various contaminants from source waters. These same contaminants are addressed by solid waste regulations. The question examined by this research was whether sufficient levels of regulated contaminants could be accumulated by these carbons that the material would subsequently be classified as a hazardous solid waste. As many utilities are considering the use of some type of carbon in order to help them meet water quality standards, it is important to consider the cost of this entire treatment system--including the cost of disposal of the spent carbon. If the spent carbon is classified as hazardous, then the cost to dispose of it could increase dramatically.