Managing Hazardous Chemical Waste

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Managing Hazardous Chemical Waste
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What is Hazardous Waste

• EPA Definition
• A material is a hazardous waste if due to its
  quantity, concentration, physical, chemical or
  infectious characteristics it possesses a
  substantial present, or potential hazard to human
  health and the environment and has no known use.

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What chemical waste must be managed?

• Wastes that meet any of the following
  characteristics.
• Ignitable Flashpoint of 140F
• Corrosive pH 2 or 12.5
• Toxic LD-50 lt 5000 mg/kg
• Reactive Reacts with anything

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Hazardous waste must not be disposed of on site.
This includes Storm or Sewer Drains
The Trash Can
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Hazardous waste must not be disposed of on site.

• Especially

Through Waste Treatment!!
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Satellite Accumulation

• These are areas on Campus that generate small
  quantities of Hazardous Waste. This would include
  laboratories.
• Definition An Area that within 9 months
  accumulates-
• No more than 55 gallons of any hazardous waste
  stream.
• No more than 1 quart of any acutely or extremely
  hazardous waste stream.

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Hazardous Waste Storage
This open waste containers needs a cap Poor waste
labeling here as well
A funnel is not a cap
Good Secondary Containment
Waste containers must be kept closed/capped
unless waste is being added or removed!
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Hazardous Waste Storage

• Containers must have closable/sealable lids or
  covers.
• Containers must be in good condition no holes,
  creases, cracks, rust.
• They must be compatible to the waste stored in
  it.

Container open with no label
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Hazardous Waste Storage

• No Food or Beverage Containers is to ever to be
  used!

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Waste Labeling

• Label must have the words
• Hazardous Waste
• The name and address of the generator (SDSU)
• The waste composition and physical state
• Percent volume
• Type of Hazard, ie. Flammable, Corrosive, Toxic
• The accumulation start date (Month, Day, Year)

Incomplete waste label -Component label
smeared -No percent volume -No hazards checked
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Waste Labeling

• In other words, fill out the entire hazardous
  waste label!!

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Empty Containers

• gt 5 gallons in size which previously held
  hazardous materials must be managed.
• lt 5 gallons dont need to be managed as hazardous
  waste.
• Empty containers that previously held Highly
  toxic materials must be handled as hazardous
  waste, ie. Sodium azide.

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California Empty

• Collect
• Collect in a safe location
• Invert to dry
• Invert bottle over paper towels and shake to dry.
  (Do not air dry in fume hoods or by leaving the
  lid off)
• Deface
• Thoroughly deface the chemical label and mark as
  empty
• Dispose
• To dispose of the bottle call EHS

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Waste Minimization

• Key methods for waste minimization
• Reduce
• Purchase only what you need
• Set up experiments so that less solvent or
  chemicals are needed
• Reuse
• Reuse empty containers to collect waste
• Reuse a solvents if purity is not an issue
• Recycle
• Some waste oils can be recycled
• Some metal cables and tubing can be recycled

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Waste Container Removal

• Call EHS Department at x46778 or x46098.
• Never allow more than the maximum amounts to be
  accumulated.
• Satellite containers will be removed within seven
  working days.

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Chemical Spills

• Have a Spill Kit Ready
• Set-up kit for your specific needs
• Take inventory of the kit frequently
• Quickly replace used of missing items

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Spill Response

• For Small Spills
• Spills one gallon or less, clean the spill using
  the material in your spill kit.
• Don your proper protective equipment (PPE).
• Place contaminated material into your spill bag,
  seal, and attach a hazardous waste label.
• Request a waste pick up of the material from
  EHS.

Rats
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Spill Response

• For Larger Spills
• Contain the spill if possible, notify others in
  the area, and evacuate the area.
• Notify your safety officer or EHS and the
  supervisor of the area.
• If after business hours, notify Public Safety
  (X41991/911 for campus phones).
• Do not call Off-campus emergency services. This
  can lead to longer response time!!

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Finally, If All Else Fails

• Consult the Hazardous Materials and Hazardous
  Waste Management Practices Booklet provided by
  EHS.

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Frequently Asked Questions

• Q How do I know if my waste product is actually
  hazardous?
• A Other than going though a long and costly
  waste determination process, give the material to
  EHS and let them make that determination.

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Frequently Asked Questions

• Q How do I know if a chemical is acutely
  hazardous waste?
• A Acutely hazardous waste is given something
  called a P-code by the EPA and can be found at
  the following link
• http//www.epa.gov/osw/hazwaste.htm and click on
  The P-list and the U-list.
• Or go to 40 CFR 261.33(e)

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Frequently Asked Questions

• Q Do I need the exact percentage on the
  hazardous waste label?
• A No, they can be done in percent ranges like
  10-30. If there are too many components and
  there is not enough room to list them, then list
  the three major components or any acute hazardous
  waste, no matter the amount.

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The End