Proper containment, tagging, collection and disposal are essential to the success of the Hazardous Waste Program. The following sections discuss these areas.
Most commercial products or lab chemicals must be managed as chemical waste
Federal, state, and local hazardous waste identification procedures are found at http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~ehs/wasteid.htm or contact EHS to make the waste determination.
Hazardous waste collection containers must be in good condition, must not leak, must have a "dangerous Waste" label attached, and must be compatible with their hazardous contents (e.g., do not use metal containers for corrosive waste or plastic containers for organic solvents). All containers must have suitable screw caps or other secure means of closure.
If you are reusing a container to accumulate waste, destroy the original product label. EPA regulations require that waste containers be labeled with the accumulation start date, the identity of the contents, and the words "Dangerous Waste". USE A NEW LABEL TO IDENTIFY THE HAZARDOUS WASTE.
IMPORTANT:
Never overfill hazardous waste containers. Expansion and excess weight can lead to spills, explosion, and extensive environmental exposure.
Hazardous waste containers for liquids are generally rated by volume capacity. Allow extra room in liquid containers to allow for expansion of contents.
Do not fill jugs or bottles past the shoulder of the container. The shoulder of the container is the place where the container slopes in towards the neck.
Fill containers for solids no closer than two inches from the closure.
Keep all waste collection containers closed except when adding or removing material.
When a container is ready for disposal, complete a waste tag (available from the STOREROOM-FULMER 23) and attach it to the container. A waste disposal tag must be attached to each waste container before disposal.
Follow these guidelines for completing hazardous waste tags:
>Use full chemical names or common names. CHEMICAL FORMULAS OR ABBREVIATIONS ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE.
List all chemical components in the waste container, including water. Long lists may be continued on a separate label attached to the container. The chemical must be named, no abbreviations, nor chemical notation (i.e. water not H2O, ethanol not ETOH, Tetrahydrofuran, not THF...)
Indicate the percent concentration. You have the best knowledge of the contents of the container, and an estimate done by you is much better than anyone else. The percents must total to 100%.
Indicate the major hazard by checking the appropriate hazard on the label. Check that a date is on the bottle.
Place additional hazard information on a separate label.
Print research lab name/building and room number and a contact phone number on the tag.
To make calculating percent concentration easier, a list placed by the container may be used to list the additions, and the percent concentration calculated when the container is full. It is preferable to use weight percent if at all possible.
If feasible, separate halogenated solvents from non-halogenated, but this is not required by our current contractor.
Containers with improper caps, leaks, outside contamination, or improper labeling will not be accepted until these problems have been corrected.
Improper disposal methods for hazardous chemical waste include the following:
Disposal down the drain.
Intentional evaporation in a fume hood.
Disposal in the regular trash.
What do I do with empty chemical containers? How do I get rid of them? Can they be placed in the trash dumpster? These are questions frequently asked by department personnel. The answer is fairly simple but very important.
EPA regulations stipulate that empty containers must meet the following requirements:
Containers must be triple rinsed.(For Acutely Hazardous chemicals (list found in the SPPM Sections S70.42.5-8) this rinsate must be disposed of as dangerous waste-contact Gary about what chemicals are on this restricted list.)
Product labels must be defaced or removed.
Container lids or caps must be removed.
However empty containers, with lids, may be returned to the store room once they have been rinsed. These containers are useful for waste disposal by others.
Punch holes in the bottom of metal containers and plastic jugs before disposing of them in the dumpster. It is not necessary to break empty glass containers. Dispose of empty glass containers in the recycling barrels on the basement level.
Containers that do not meet the requirements mentioned here must be treated as hazardous waste.