Introduction to Managing Hazardous Waste

1
Introduction to ManagingHazardous Waste

• Presented by Steven Shaffer, CHMM
• Industrial Hygienist

2
Objectives

• Describe the major components of the Resource
  Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
• Explain how to identify, and accumulate,
  hazardous waste in accordance with RCRA
• Describe how to properly label and prepare
  hazardous waste for disposal
• Introduce generator status requirements

3
I. What is the Resource Conservation Recovery
Act (RCRA)?
4
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
The mission of the U.S.E.P.A. is to protect human
health and to safeguard the natural environment
-- air, water, land, upon which life depends.
- 1999 EPA strategic plan -
5
Resource Conservation Recovery Act (RCRA)

• Enacted in 1976 by EPA as an amendment to the
  Solid Waste Disposal Act (SWDA)
• Main objectives
• Protect human health the environment
• conserve valuable material energy resources
• Established "Cradle-to-grave" management and
  tracking of hazardous waste
• EPA inspectors have same authority as FBI/ATF

6
RCRA Administration

• EPA administers RCRA
• States may be authorized by the EPA
• Iowa does not administer state program
• RCRA program in Iowa is administered directly by
  the EPA Region VII, in Kansas City, Kansas

7
USEPA Regions
8
II. Identification of Chemical Hazardous Waste
9
Two Steps of Hazardous Waste Management

• 1. What is hazardous waste?
• 2. How do I collect my hazardous waste?

10
What is Hazardous Waste?

• Used Chemicals
• Expired chemicals
• Old chemicals without expiration dates
• Waste test
• What is this chemical?
• How do I use it?
• How often is it used?
• Is the material still suitable for its intended
  use?

11
Criteria for Determining Hazardous Waste

• Listed (EPA activity)
• Characteristics (generator activity)

12
Listed Waste

• Unused or off-specification materials
• U-List, Toxic and other
• P-List, Acutely toxic materials
• Used material or mixture of solvents
• F-list, Hazardous waste from nonspecific sources,
  spent solvents
• D-list, toxic materials

13
Characteristic Waste

• Ignitable
• Flammable liquids, flashpoint lt 60 C (140 F)
• Oxidizers, Organic Peroxides, Flammable
  compressed gasses
• Any material, other than a liquid, that is
  capable of spontaneous and sustained combustion
  under standard temperature and pressure.
• Corrosive
• Aqueous liquids with a pH lt 2 or pH gt 12
• Inorganic acids, Organic acids, Bases

14
Characteristic Waste Cont.

• Reactive
• Materials which can react violently or create
  toxic fumes.
• Sulfides,Cyanides, Peroxide formers, Alkali
  metals, Dinitro, Trinitro compounds, Carbonyl
  compounds, isocyanates, and perchlorate crystal
  formers
• Toxic
• This includes 8 heavy metals, 10 pesticides, and
  21 organic compounds.
• D-list

15
III. PackagingHazardous Waste
16
Packaging Your Waste for Disposal

• Compatible containers
• Lids
• Screw-cap containers are best
• Labeled

17
Labeling

• Label all chemical waste containers with the word
  Hazardous Waste",
• e.g., Hazardous Waste, Acetone"
• Permanent labels
• Utilize proper chemical name or common names
• Do not use formulas, symbols or structural
  configurations
• State active ingredients when using trade names

18
Waste Segregation

• Compatible
• Inorganic vs. organic
• Halogenated vs. non-halogenated
• Pump oil
• Compressed gas cylinders
  
• Sharps in puncture-proof containers (needles,
  syringes, razor blades)

19
Unknown Chemicals

• Unknowns are serious EPA violations
• Prevention of Unknowns
• Maintain legible labels
• Review and rotate chemical stock
• Keep proper inventory records

20
Empty Containers

• A container is empty if all wastes have been
  removed using common practices for the type of
  container.
• Triple rinse P-listed waste containers and handle
  rensate as hazardous waste.
• Remove label.
• Dispose of empty containers in the normal refuse.

21
(No Transcript)
22
(No Transcript)
23
IV. GeneratorStatus
24
Generator Status

• Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generator
• Small Quantity Generator
• Large Quantity Generator

25
Generator Requirements Cont.

• Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generator
  (CESQG)
• Identify all Hazardous Waste generated
• Send all hazardous waste to a permitted hazardous
  waste management facility.

26
Generator Status Cont.

• Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generator
  (CESQG)
• Generate lt 100 Kg Hazardous Waste and lt 1 Kg P -
  list in a calendar month
• Accumulate no more than 1,000 Kg of Hazardous
  Waste at any time

27
Generator Requirements Cont.

• Small Quantity Generator (SQG)
• Register, obtain EPA ID number
• Comply with Hazardous Waste container
  requirements in 40 CFR 265.
• Meet requirements of Satellite Accumulation
  Areas, (SAA)
• Provide an Emergency Response Coordinator
• Post the name and phone number of emergency
  response coordinator, location of spill kit, fire
  alarm, fire extinguisher, and fire department
  number near phone

28
SQG Requirements Cont.

• Ensure employees know how to respond to
  emergencies and how to handle hazardous waste
• Establish record keeping on
• Procedures for waste characterization
• Documentation on generator status
• Registration
• Manifests
• Container inspection
• Land Disposal Restrictions (LDR)
• Correspondence with local emergency responders

29
Generator Requirements

• Large Quantity Generator (LQG)
• Register, obtain EPA ID number
• Comply with Hazardous Waste container
  requirements in 40 CFR 265.
• Meet requirements of Satellite Accumulation
  Areas, (SAA) and accumulation areas
• Prepare a Contingency Plan
• Develop and implement a formal training program
• Maintain record keeping as a SQG and include
  training records, contingency planning, and
  biannual reporting.

30
Summary of Generator Status
31
How do I dispose of my waste?

• If you are LQG or SQG you must use an
  Environmental Services company.
• If you are CESQG you can use the Household
  Hazardous Materials Regional Collection Centers
• Iowa waste exchange program

32
HHM Regional Collection Centers
33
Resources

• Iowa Waste Reduction Center
• www.iwrc.org/index.htm
• Iowa Waste Exchange
• www.iowadnr.com/waste/iwe/index.html
• Iowa DNR
• www.iowadnr.com
• Regional Collection Centers
• www.iowadnr.com/waste/hhm/index.html
• EPA Region 7
• www.era.gov/Region7

34
Questions???