Classifying wastes into groups that pose similar risks to the environment and human health facilitates their management and appropriate disposal.

Six waste classes are used:

• Special waste
• Liquid waste
• Hazardous waste
• Restricted solid waste
• General solid waste (putrescible)
• General solid waste (non-putrescible)

Classification of wastes helps those involved in the management, treatment and disposal of waste to ensure the environmental and human health risks associated with it are managed appropriately.

Schedule 1 of the Protection of the Environment and Operations Act 1997 defines waste virgin excavated natural material (VENM) as:

Virgin excavated natural material (eg clay, gravel, sand, soil and rock) that::

• is not mixed with any other waste;
• has been excavated from areas that are not contaminated, as the result of industrial, commercial, mining or agricultural activities, with manufactured chemicals;
• does not contain suphidic ores or soils; or
• consists of excavated natural materials that meet such criteria as may be approved by the EPA.