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LABORATORY HAZARDOUS
WASTE MANAGEMENT AT
UNC-CH
To demonstrate the proper methods of
laboratory hazardous waste management for
compliance with state and federal regulations.
Training Goal
Hazardous Waste
Waste that poses a threat to the environment or
human health if not handled or disposed of
properly
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
passed in 1975
Called for the establishment of regulations
Directed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
to regulate proper management of hazardous wastes
Hazardous Waste Characteristics
Under RCRA a waste can be hazardous if it has
certain characteristics
Ignitability: if waste is a liquid with a flashpoint of
<140°F
Corrosivity: if waste has a pH below 2 and above 12.5
Reactivity: if waste reacts violently with air or water
Toxicity: if waste contains more than a certain level of
some toxic materials (as defined in 40 CFR 261.24)
“Cradle to Grave”
EPA’s comprehensive system of regulations
From the “cradle” (point of conception) to the “grave” (point of disposal)
Governs the following hazardous waste management activities:
Generation
Transportation
Treatment
Storage
Disposal
Responsibilities of UNC-CH
EPA views UNC as a hazardous waste generator
Generators are responsible for:
properly identifying hazardous waste
proper management of hazardous waste
Use
Storage
Disposal
EPA Fines for Non-compliance
The EPA does impose fines against universities and
colleges
Examples include:
Boston University - $800,000
Penn State - $1 million
UC Berkeley - $1 million
Stanford University - $1 million
Most Common EPA Violations
Most commonly cited EPA violations of hazardous
waste regulations are:
Open containers or lids not screwed on tight
Improper labels/identification
Lack of secondary containment for leaks
Hazardous waste storage location (point of
generation)
The 4L’s – Lids, Leaks, Labels and Location
Lids
Are all containers labeled as hazardous waste closed and secured with proper lids?
Lids/caps must be securely in-place except when material is being removed or added to the container
A funnel resting on the mouth of a bottle does not constitute a lid
Lids/caps on waste containers must be on tight (Note: Be sure that gas producing reactions have worked to completion before transferring the material to a hazardous waste container)
A closed container, when tipped over, won’t leak!
Example – Open Containers
A funnel is not a lid!
Lid open when not in use
Leaks
Are containers labeled as hazardous waste stored in secondary containment?
Secondary containment is to be used to minimize the potential for breakage, spillage and the comingling of incompatible materials (i.e. acids and bases)
Plastic trays, pans or tubs can be used
Without exception, secondary containment is required for the following: All glass containers of liquid hazardous waste stored on the floor
All containers with capacity ≤4 liters of liquid hazardous waste, regardless of storage location
Hazardous materials are to be segregated by hazard class and stored in separate cabinets, trays or pans
Example - Leaks
Potential spill contained by
plastic tub (secondary containment)
Labels
Are all containers labeled as hazardous waste
properly labeled?
Regulations require that the name of the chemical be
clearly identified on the label
Chemical formulas and abbreviations such as H2SO4,
HCl and EtBr are not accepted by the EPA
Hazardous waste regulations require the words
“Hazardous Waste”, or words which clearly identify the
contents such as “Acetone Waste”, be on each waste
container
Example - Labels
Chemical formulas are not allowed
If you re-use a container for collecting
waste you must deface the original label
Location
Are all containers labeled as hazardous waste
stored at or near the point of generation?
Hazardous waste regulations require that the generator
accumulate hazardous waste in containers at or near
the point of generation where waste initially
accumulates, and which is under the control of the
operator who generated the waste
Under no circumstances can waste be stored down the
hall and/or out of your control
Hazardous Waste Containers
Each laboratory must supply their own containers
The original container the chemical came in is usually the best
All containers must have securely fitting lids/caps
All containers must be compatible with their contents
For liquid waste, EHS prefers the amber 4 liter solvent bottles because they are non-recyclable and are compatible with most types of waste
For mixed hazardous waste a log of contents, quantities, dates added and initials of depositor should be located on or near the container
Liquid Hazardous Waste Containers
Leave 10% headspace (volume left at top of
container) in case of expansion due to temperature
Do not pour hot liquids into waste bottles
Do not comingle incompatible wastes (i.e. acids and
bases)
Provide secondary containment
Any containers with capacity of ≤4 liters must have
secondary containment
Solid Hazardous Waste Containers
If original containers are not available
double-bag the material
place in a sturdy cardboard box for support
Bags used should be trash bags
Absolutely no Biohazard or Radiation bags!
Gas Cylinders
Consider buying refillable returnable cylinders
Contact the supplier and make sure they will accept
the cylinder when you are finished with it
Don’t call it “empty” unless it is
Lecture bottles can not be thrown in the trash when
empty
To be considered empty, an aerosol can must
contain NO propellant and NO product, and must
be at atmospheric pressure. UNC regulates all partially empty spray cans as
Hazardous Waste because they may still contain ignitable propellants, chlorinated
solvents, flammable material, or toxic substances.
Do Not discard partially empty spray cans in the trash.
Do Not puncture any aerosol cans.
Store used Aerosol cans in a Closed container labeled as “Aerosol Cans”.
Return spray cans that malfunction (for example, the tip breaks off) to the
manufacturer or dispose of them as Hazardous Waste.
Request a pick-up of your aerosol cans by filling out the form found here at
https://itsapps.unc.edu/HazMat_Pickup/.
Contact UNC EHS at 962-5723 for questions or assistance with disposal of aerosol
cans.
Managing Aerosol
Cans
UNC-CH Hazardous Waste Disposal
Procedures
EHS has established an online chemical waste pick-up form (e510) for laboratory personnel https://itsapps.unc.edu/HazMat_Pickup/
All personnel registered as working in a lab can request waste pick-up for his/her Principal Investigator by accessing online form with ONYEN
You must have a Laboratory Worker Registration form on file at EHS and have completed the General Laboratory Environment training to be able to access the chemical waste disposal form
UNC-CH Hazardous Waste Disposal
Procedures
After completion of the online request form (e510),
it is submitted electronically to EHS for approval
If all information is correct and complete, EHS will
send the approved form back via email
This approval form must be printed out and
attached to the waste container for pickup
Example – Waste Pickup Form
Waste Pickup
Form (e510)
Bulk Laboratory Clean-out or Close-out
If you have a large
amount of chemicals in
your lab for disposal,
contact Steve Parker
EHS can set up a direct
shipment straight from
your lab without filling
out an online e510 form
for each chemical
Unknown Chemicals
Check with all lab
personnel and try to
make a waste
determination
Contact EHS to assist with
pickup (Steve Parker,
Reactive Chemicals
Old or expired reactive chemicals can be
potentially dangerous
Peroxide formers such as ether should not be
handled
Notify EHS immediately if found in your lab (Steve
Parker, [email protected])
Hazardous Waste Minimization
In order to minimize the waste generated on
campus, labs should do the following:
Practice inventory control using the EHS online chemical
inventory system (https://itsapps.unc.edu/ChemInventory/)
Practice good housekeeping and safe handling
Only order the amount you intend to use
Explore the use of non-hazardous alternatives
Training Post-test
You have completed the Laboratory Hazardous
Waste Management at UNC-CH training module
If you have any questions regarding this training
please contact EHS at (919)-962-5507
In order to receive credit for this training, you must
complete the post-test
