Environmental Health and Safety
Hazardous Waste Management
Alvin Shoemaker, 619-594-6098 <shoemake@mail.sdsu.edu>
Charles Adkins, 619-594-2857 <cadkins@mail.sdsu.edu>
SDSU Hazardous Waste Guidelines
The proper handling and disposal of hazardous materials and waste is everyone's responsibility. Users are required to minimize waste generation by substituting less toxic materials and using less materials, i.e., source reduction.
Proper handling is needed to prevent unnecessary exposure. Knowledge of the regulations is needed for prudent handling of hazardous wastes. The following are guidelines to be followed when disposing of hazardous waste:
I. IDENTIFICATION
Identification refers both to the proper labeling and general awareness of the hazardous properties of specific materials. Regulations, as well as common sense, require that all hazardous substances and wastes be properly labeled. Materials which are not labeled must be treated as “unknowns,” assumed to be hazardous and must be chemically categorized before they can be disposed. It is the responsibility of the Principal Investigator to properly identify and label hazardous materials and wastes.
A. HAZARDOUS MATERIALS shall (minimally) be labeled with the following information written in English:
1. Specific chemical name(s) or trade name.
2. Specific hazard category, such as corrosive, poison, flammable, reactive, explosive, etc.
3. Personal protective equipment required for safe handling.
4. Special hazard warnings.
B. HAZARDOUS WASTES, defined as materials which are no longer of use, shall be labeled with the following information:
1. Identified with the term “Hazardous Waste.”
2. Chemical name(s) or trade name, including constituent chemicals and their percent by weight or quantity by volume.
3. Generator information, name, building and room number, and telephone number.
4. Hazard category or categories.
5. Date accumulation began. Waste shall not be accumulated in a lab for longer than 9 months or when the container is full.
II. STORAGE AND HANDLING
Hazardous materials and wastes should be handled and stored in a manner consistent with information on the label, on the MSDS, and prudent practices. The following storage and handling guidelines are recommended:
A. Whenever possible, hazardous materials are to be stored in their original container with labeling intact.
B. If the material is dispensed or transferred into another container, it must be of suitable material and labeled in accordance with Item I above.
C. Chemical compatibility is required. Incompatible materials must be separated by distance or a physical barrier to preclude inadvertent contact. Secondary containers are required for some materials and recommended for all.
D. There should be no more than 10 gallons of flammable liquids stored in a lab. Flammables should be stored in safety cans or in approved flammable storage cabinets. Adequate ventilation must be provided for the removal of vapors.
E. Hazardous waste and material containers must be securely capped and kept only in well ventilated areas.
F. MSDS for each hazardous chemical or trade name product must be on hand and available. Each employee shall know where the MSDS are maintained and how to obtain and understand the information. MSDS are available from EH&S and on computer via Gopher. Call 619-594-6778 for information.
G. Waste must be accumulated in a laboratory for a period of no long than 9 months, if all the above criteria are met.
III. SELECTION OF WASTE CONTAINERS
Whenever possible, hazardous waste should be stored in the same container in which that material was originally received. However, the original label should be removed or defaced and replaced with a hazardous waste label, as described. If the original container is not available, use the following guidelines:
A. Use a container which is constructed of the same material as the original, and which is properly sized for the volume of waste collected. Use the hazardous waste label as described above.
B. Empty food containers (e.g., wine jugs or soft drink bottles) are not to be used as hazardous waste containers.
C. When in doubt, call EH&S Hazardous Waste Management Program at 619-594-2853 for assistance.
IV. WASTE REMOVAL
Strict regulations governing the disposal of hazardous wastes have been promulgated by the Environmental Protection Agency, Cal/EPA and San Diego County Department of Health. Infractions of these regulations can lead to civil and criminal prosecution of the University and individual employees. Therefore, it is imperative that these materials be disposed of in a controlled manner. Hazardous wastes — either byproducts or chemical stock no longer in use — will be collected by EH&S for disposal, provided they are properly packaged and labeled. EH&S will then assure that the wasted are disposed in an approved manner and that the documentation of the disposal is maintained. Follow these procedures when preparing wastes for collection:
A. Enter an inventory of all waste to be removed on the SDSU HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE REMOVAL REQUEST form provided by EH&S.
B. Segregate the hazardous waste from other collected waste, attach the HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE REMOVAL REQUEST to the inventoried waste.
C. Ensure that individual containers are labeled in accordance with the identification requirements.
D. Call EH&S at 619-594-2853 or 619-594-6778 for hazardous waste pickup and removal.
This page last updated March 10, 2008
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