Toxic waste is a waste which is toxic for a variety of reasons. It originates with industry in most cases, particularly chemical and plastics manufacturing. As with many pollution problems, toxic waste began to be a significant issue during the industrial revolution. Toxic waste can pollute the environment and contaminate groundwater. Love Canal is a famous incident in which homes and schools were built near an area where toxic waste had been dumped, resulting in serious disease.

See also: waste management