Hazardous Building Materials in Your Community · HW Generator Status. EPA Requirements

Hazardous Building Materials

in Your Community

John Pavitt, EPA

Jon Jones, EPA

How is Waste Regulated?

Federal or State Laws – can be regulated under more than one law

• RCRA – Hazardous Waste

• NESHAP – Asbestos

• FIFRA – pesticides

• TSCA – over 83,000 chemicals, including PCBs and Lead-based Paint

• Solid Waste

Responsibilities

•Residents

•City/Village Government

•Businesses

•Contractors

Community Responsibility

: Work with contractors early in project planning

: Know what materials may be Hazardous waste or contain Asbestos

: Confirm the waste composition

: Some waste requires contacting EPA

: Know that some waste requires special removal techniques

: Know if the waste is allowed in your landfill

• Building Survey for Asbestos• Identifies asbestos in a building or structure to be

demolished or renovated• Must be performed by a certified building inspector• Required for any demolition or renovation regulated

by EPA

• Remove Asbestos• prior to demolition • according to EPA Requirements

• Dispose of waste properly in a permitted landfill

Demolition Contractor Responsibility

Recognizing Asbestos

• A naturally occurring mineral.

• Used in many building materials.

• Breaks up into very fine, needle-like fibers.

• A known human carcinogen.

• About 3,500 materials are known to contain asbestos.

• Some products may still contain asbestos (most uses are not banned).

• Common examples: pipe insulation, ceiling texture, roofing asphalt, floor tile, cement pipes...


Air Cell Insulation (Paper)

Pipe Elbows


Cement Boards (Under Tank)

Cement Boards (On Building)


Molded Pipe Insulation

Textured Paint


Sprayed on Drywall Panels

On Ceilings



Sprayed on Tanks

Mortar and Concrete


Drywall & Joint Compound


Wall Patching & Caulk


• Only Lab Testing can confirm asbestos

• Labs use Polarized Light Microscopy (PLM) to find asbestos fibers in samples.

• Inspector Certification Required to Collect Samples

• AHERA “Asbestos Building Inspector”

• 24 Hour Course, Annual Refresher

Asbestos TestingEPA Requirements

Regulated Asbestos Containing Material (RACM)

“Friable” Asbestos


Non-RACMNon-Friable Roofing Asphalt


Asbestos Notification

Advance Notice is required for demolition or renovation

EPA Requirements

• Project Location

• Building Description

• How Much Asbestos is There?

• Starting/Ending Dates?

• Contractor Name

• Waste Hauler

• Landfill Location

Asbestos Notification

EPA Requirements

Asbestos Exemptions

EPA Regulations Do Not Apply to:

• Very Small Renovations

• Projects at Single Family Homes

• Residential Buildings with Less Than 5 Units

EPA Requirements

• Area - 160 Square Feet

• Length - 260 Linear Feet

• Volume - 35 Cubic Feet (1.3 cy)

10 ‘ X 16 ‘

Asbestos ExemptionsEPA Requirements

Three Ways to Measure

Regulated Amounts

•Worker Certification (32 Hr)

•Supervisor Certification (40 Hr)

Asbestos Abatement

EPA Requirements

Keep waste wet at all times.

Asbestos Abatement

EPA Requirements

Apply water before, during and after removing asbestos.

Asbestos Abatement

EPA Requirements

A “wetting agent” should be added to water.

Asbestos Abatement

EPA Requirements

You may have to bring your own water.

Asbestos Abatement

EPA Requirements

Don’t let asbestos fall to the ground.

Asbestos Abatement

EPA Requirements

Lower waste to the ground

Asbestos Abatement

EPA Requirements

Do not drop it

Remove asbestos prior to demolition

Asbestos Abatement

EPA Requirements

Barriers and signs prevent public access.

Asbestos Abatement

EPA Requirements

Avoid breaking asbestos materials

Asbestos Abatement

EPA Requirements

Good Practices: Water Sprayed

Asbestos Abatement

EPA Requirements

Not So Good Practices: No Water

Asbestos Abatement

EPA Requirements

Asbestos Waste Disposal

Asbestos waste must be properly:

• Contained

• Labeled

• Disposed at a landfill operated in accordance with the asbestos NESHAP.

EPA Requirements

Packaging:Secure,

Leak Tight Containers

Asbestos Abatement

EPA Requirements

Glove Bags

Sealed Bags

Lined, Sealed Shipping Container

NO Loose Materials

NO Open Dumpsters

Asbestos AbatementEPA Requirements

No dust should be visible from the waste


EPA Requirements

Restricted Landfill Access & Signs


EPA Requirements

ADEC Disposal Requirements

Asbestos• All quantities

• Not allowed in Class III landfills

• Some Class I/II LFs will accept

• Asbestos monofills

• Ship out

Aerosol Cans

Recognizing Hazardous Waste


Sealants & Caulks


Paints and Coatings


Solvent Contaminated Rags


Unusual Markings


Unknown Containers


Collections of Chemicals

Hazardous Waste Identification

EPA Requirements

• Characteristic Hazardous Waste• Ignitable – Flash point < 140º• Corrosive – pH < 2 or > 12.5• Reactive – Water reactive, contents under

pressure• Toxic – Metals, solvents

Hazardous Waste Identification

EPA Requirements

Waste Determination• User/Process Knowledge

• MSDS/SDS• Product labeling

• Analytical Testing

Household Hazardous Waste

• Chemicals that would otherwise be characteristic hazardous waste

• Can harm human health or the environment

• Generated solely by a household

• Typically, cleaners, pesticides, paints, antifreeze, nail polish & removers, batteries, etc.

• Exempt from the management and disposal requirements

Managing Your HHW

• Reduce the amount you use – find less toxic chemicals

• Reuse left overs for their intended purpose – Community Reuse Facility

• Keep HHW out of unlined landfills –Backhaul Program

Household Hazardous Waste

For Businesses, City, Contractors, etc.

• Identify and track quantities• CANNOT DISPOSE IN A CLASS III

(village) LANDFILL• Can take to a HHW facility at a Class I or

Class II landfill if they are VSQG (less than 220#/month) *contact Landfill

• If more than 220#/month – TSDF• Contractors could be Co-generators

Hazardous Waste

HW Generator StatusEPA Requirements

• Large Quantity Generator (LQG)> 1,000 kg/month (2,200 lbs)

• Small Quantity Generator (SQG)> 100 but < 1,000 kg/month (220 - 2200 lbs.)

• Very Small Quantity Generator (VSQG)< 100 kg/month (220 lbs)

HW Notification Requirements

EPA Requirements

For SQG and LQG

• EPA ID Number

• Form 8700-12

• Site specific

• www.epa.gov/hw

ExemptionsEPA Requirements

Universal Waste• Batteries• Pesticides• Mercury Lamps• Mercury Containing Equipment

Used Oil

HW StorageEPA Requirements

• Central Accumulation Area (CAA)

• Inspections• Separated by

hazard class• Clearly labeled

HW StorageEPA Requirements

Accumulation limits:

TIME AMOUNT• VSQG None 1000 kg• SQG <270 d. 6000 kg• LQG <90 d. No qty limit

HW ShippingEPA Requirements

LQG’s & SQG’s

• Hazardous Waste Manifest

• Proper Packaging/Labeling

• Specific Requirements for Air/Ground

• HW Contractor Recommended

Hazardous Waste Disposal

EPA Requirements

NO Hazardous Waste Disposal Facilities in

ALASKAMust be shipped out!

John PavittEPA Air Quality(907) [email protected]/asbestos

Jon JonesEPA RCRA(907) [email protected]/hw

Documents

Hazardous Building Materials in Your Community · HW Generator Status. EPA Requirements