Approximately 880 million pounds of hazardous waste are generated in Missouri annually, or 150 pounds for each Missourian. Likewise, large amounts of solid waste are generated, approximately 2,800 pounds per Missourian. A multitude of laws and regulations have been created to ensure that these wastes are managed appropriately. Modern management methods help keep accidents, ignorance of the law, and willful violations to a minimum. However, sites containing hazardous and solid waste deposited before these laws and regulations existed are common. Solid wastes include demolition waste, household and municipal waste, special waste, and infectious waste. Hazardous wastes are regulated more strictly because of their toxicity to humans or the environment or other characteristics such as ignitability, corrosivity, or reactivity. Correct characterization of wastes is essential to proper management. Hazardous and solid wastes are frequently encountered on properties acquired for rights-of-way for all types of transportation projects. Early identification and planning allow avoidance of properties with extensive contamination and legal liabilities. MoDOT strives to minimize costs of waste remediation when sites are unavoidable. Following the steps of property screening, site assessment, and site investigation, as well as coordination with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and the Environmental Protection Agency, enables MoDOT to select feasible alternatives with cleanup costs that are incidental to the transportation project costs.