Hazardous Waste Management Refresher

Training

Environmental Stewardship

It is the responsibility of all employees to manage chemical waste in a reasonable manner.

Failure to do so can result in harm to other employees and/or destruction of work areas due to fires, explosions, or spills.

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)

• RCRA govern handling and disposal procedures of certain laboratory wastes that are categorized as hazardous.

• USPSNL is considered a small quantity generator of hazardous waste, which means less than 100 kg or 22 pounds of hazardous waste is produced per month.

Section IWaste Determination

Solid Waste vs. Hazardous Waste

Solid Waste: A solid, semi-solid, liquid, sludge, or contained gas, that is no longer needed, to be discarded, or has served its useful purpose.

Hazardous Waste: A solid waste that is listed by the EPA or exhibits one or more of four characteristics.

Ignitable Corrosive Reactive Toxic

Hazardous Waste is only a small portion of the waste

generated in the workplace, but by far the most harmful

to the nature and the environment.

Listed Hazardous Waste

Complete lists of hazardous waste

are located in your Chemical Hygiene Manual and with

the Cluster Environmental

Protection Specialists.

Hazardous Waste Determination

• A chemical waste may also be classified as hazardous if it exhibits one or more of the following characteristics: Ignitability Corrosivity Reactivity Toxicity

Characteristic Hazardous Waste

Ignitable Wastes

Is a liquid with a flashpoint of 140°F or below (alcohols containing less than 24% alcohol by volume

are not considered ignitable); or,

Is a flammable or ignitable compressed gas

Characteristic Hazardous Waste

Corrosive Wastes

Is an aqueous solution (a solution having more than 50% water) with a pH less than or equal to 2.0 or greater than or equal to 12.5; or,

A solid waste capable of corroding steel at specified conditions.

Characteristic Hazardous Waste

Reactive Wastes

Is normally unstable and readily undergoes violent change without detonating; or,

Reacts violently with water

Characteristic Hazardous Waste

Toxic Wastes

Using the Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure the concentration of contaminants are equal to or greater than the regulatory levels identified in 40 CFR 261.24, Table 1. (or you can get the list from Kathie Moh)

Section II

Waste Minimization

What is Waste Minimization?

• Waste minimization includes: source reduction practices that reduce or eliminate waste generation at the source; and environmentally sound recycling practices, where source reduction is not economically practical.

Source Reduction

• includes any practice that reduces the

quantity and/or toxicity of pollutants

entering a waste stream prior to recycling,

treatment, or disposal. 

Examples of Source Reduction

• equipment or technology modifications,

• reformulation or redesign of products,

• substitution of less toxic raw materials,

• improvements in work practices,

• maintenance,

• better inventory control.

Recycling

• includes the use, reuse and/or reclamation

of waste residuals (that may be designated

as a hazardous waste) or materials in a

hazardous waste.

A material is

“used or reused”

• if it is used as an ingredient in a process to

make a product or, or if it is used as an

effective substitute for a commercial

product. 

A material is “reclaimed”

• if it is processed to recover a usable

product, or if it is regenerated. 

How Can “You” Minimize Waste?

• Plan ahead

• Order only the amount needed

• Avoid storing excess chemicals

• Share unneeded chemicals

• Keep chemicals properly labeled

Why Minimize Waste?

• Reduce costs

• Increase process efficiency and productivity

• Reduce present and future regulatory burdens

• Improve workplace safety

• Improve environmental quality

• Maintain or improve institutional image

Section III

How to Manage and Contain Waste

Satellite Accumulation Areas (SAA)

• All containers of hazardous waste must be stored in an area designated as a satellite accumulation area. Satellite accumulation areas must be established in the area where the waste was generated and under the direct control of the individual who generated the waste.

Accumulation Limits in SAA’s

• A SAA may accumulate: – 55 gallons of non-acute waste – Up to 1 quart of acutely hazardous waste

• There is no limit as to how long waste may be accumulated in each waste container in a SAA.

• However, once the container is full and/or the above stated limits are exceeded the waste must be removed from the work area within three working days.

Condition of Hazardous Waste Containers

• Containers must be in good condition,

• Have no rust, pinholes, dents, leaks, or chemical deposits on the outside,

• Container cap must be free of cracks and seals tightly – no corks, stoppers, foil, and parafilm,

• Container can not leak if inverted – no beakers, flasks, or coffee cans

Accumulation of Chemical Hazardous Waste

• Keep hazardous waste containers closed

All containers of chemical

hazardous waste must be

closed at all times except

when waste is being added

or removed from the container.

Section IV

How to Properly Dispose of Chemical Wastes

Predisposal Procedures

• Sorted by compatibility

• In approved containers

• Tighten caps

• Ensure contents are properly identified

Example of a properly completed label

These Cornell waste label forms are and only for chemical waste.

• Full names of the chemical components are listed along with the relative amounts

• Correct chemical type is checked

• All the contact information is complete

Disposal Procedures

• Move to a Satellite Accumulation Area (SAA)

• Once there are no more room in the SAA, move the waste to the storage cabinet in the shipping/receiving room, G-26.

• Give the copy of the Cornell waste label to Kathie Moh, or the CEPS or the CDSO officer

You’re Almost DoneMake sure you fill out the quiz and drop it off

in my mailbox for record keeping.

Remember: This is an annual requirement.

SEE YOU NEXT YEAR

Questions

Contact: Kathie Moh 255-8849

kcm25@cornell.edu