K171 RCRA waste code Used catalyst pellets from refinery hydrotreating units.

Free, no account
Based on 40 CFR 261.32 and EPA hazardous-waste rules
Nothing is stored

K-listed waste
Spent hydrotreating catalyst from a petroleum refinery

Industry: Petroleum refining.

Ignitable & toxic K-listed waste from petroleum refining. Spent hydrotreating catalyst, including desulfurizing guard beds.

Is K171 hazardous waste?

Yes. K171 is a nonacute K-listed hazardous waste when the waste comes from the named process and stream. The federal table gives it hazard code (I,T), meaning ignitability and toxicity.

Source decides a K listing, not a concentration test. A test can add a characteristic code, but it doesn't remove the K171 listing.

On a required hazardous waste manifest, put K171 in Item 13. See VSQG exemptions and empty-container rules.

What does K171 cover?

Spent hydrotreating catalyst from petroleum refining, including guard beds that desulfurize feeds to other catalytic reactors. Inert support media are not included.

Hazard code: (I,T), ignitability and toxicity
Industry: Petroleum refining
Rule: 40 CFR 261.32

Is spent hydrotreating catalyst always K171?

Code	When it fits
K171	Spent Hydrotreating catalyst from petroleum refining operations, including guard beds used to desulfurize feeds to other catalytic reactors.
K172	Spent Hydrorefining catalyst from petroleum refining operations, including guard beds used to desulfurize feeds to other catalytic reactors.

The industry, production step and waste form tell these K listings apart, not the chemicals alone. The rows show nearby listed streams, not every code that could fit. Add any characteristic or other listing that also fits, because one waste can carry more than 1 federal code.

When does the old-disposal exception affect K171?

Under 261.4(b)(15), landfill leachate or gas condensate from K171 waste disposed of before February 8, 1999 is excluded only if it has no hazardous waste characteristic, comes from no other listed hazardous waste, and its discharge is regulated under Clean Water Act section 307(b) or 402. From February 13, 2001, holding it in a surface impoundment before discharge ends the exclusion. The one exception is temporary emergency storage in a double-lined impoundment, followed by compliant management.

Which wastes take K171?

Waste	When it’s K171
Spent hydrotreating catalyst	Spent hydrotreating catalyst from petroleum refining, including guard beds that desulfurize feeds. Inert support media are excluded.