Laboratory Regulations: Waste Disposal
Hazardous material should only be used by appropriately
trained individuals while under the supervision of qualified personnel.
These laboratory regulations are only intended for use by students,
faculty and staff at Humboldt State University.
From Chem Lower
Level Laboratory Safety Regulations
G. Waste and Clean-up
1. Excess chemicals must be disposed of; they generally cannot
be recycled. Therefore, do not take more of a chemical than is
needed for an experiment. You may obtain more later if you find
that you have underestimated your needs.
2. All chemicals should be disposed of in an approved manner.
Do not put any chemical down the sink unless specifically told
to do so. If you are not certain of the proper disposal technique,
check with your laboratory instructor or the stockroom/lab manager.
3. Never put solids down the drain, they will clog it. Put solids
in the appropriate trash containers.
4. In the event of a chemical spill, large or small, consult your
laboratory instructor or the stockroom/lab manager as to the appropriate
method of clean-up.
5. When metallic mercury is spilled, watch closely to see where
the droplets go. Then, avoid stepping on them, and notify the
laboratory instructor immediately so that proper decontamination
procedures can be instituted.
6. Each day, before you leave your lab bench, clean off the bench
surface. Remove matches and papers, and wipe down the surface
with water and paper towels.
7. Dispose of broken glass in the appropriate, designated, wastebasket.
Use a dustpan and broom to sweep up pieces of broken glass. Do
not pick them up with your hands.
WASTE LABELS
In addition to reagent label requirements,
waste labels must include:
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What is Waste?
Any of the following:
Definition of a waste Waste - (Health and Safety Code 25122)
- Any material for which no use or reuse is
intended and which is to be discarded.
- Any recyclable material.
- Any material that poses a threat to public
health or the environment, and which meets either or both of
the following:
- Is mislabeled or not adequately labeled,
unless the material is correctly labeled or adequately labeled
within 10 days after the material is discovered to be mislabeled
or inadequately labeled.
- Is packaged in deteriorated or damaged containers,
unless the, material is contained in sound or undamaged containers
within 96 hours after the containers are discovered to be deteriorated
of damaged.
Definition of a waste Waste - (Health and
Safety Code 25117 (a) and (b)
A waste or combination of wastes which,
because of its quantity, concentration, or physical, chemical
or infectious characteristics, is capable of any of the following:
- causing or significantly contributing to
an increase in mortality or an increase in serious irreversible,
or incapacitating reversible, illness;
- poseing a substantial present or potential
hazard to human health or the environment when improperly treated,
stored, transported or disposed of, or otherwise managed.
Criteria for Identification of a California
Hazardous Waste
- The waste is a listed waste in CCR Title
22, 66261.31, 66261.32, or 66261.33.
- The waste is ignitable. [22 CCR 66261.21]
- A liquid (other than an aqueous solution
containing less than 24% alcohol by volume) with a flash point
equal to or less than 140°F (60°C).
- A non-liquid, capable under standard temperature
and pressure of causing fire by means of friction, absorption
of moisture, or spontaneous chemical changes and which, when
ignited, burns so vigorously and persistently that it creates
a hazard.
- A flammable, compressed gas.
- An oxidizer.
- The waste is corrosive. [22 CCR 66261.22]
- It is aqueous and has a pH equal to or less
than 2, or equal to or greater than 12.5, or by mixture with
an equivalent weight of water it produces a solution with those
pH characteristics.
- It is a liquid (or when mixed with an equivalent
weight of water it produces a liquid) and corrodes steel (SAE
20) at a rate greater than 0.250 inch (6.35 millimeters) per
year.
- The waste is reactive. [22 CCR 66261.23]
- Is normally unstable and readily undergoes
violent change without detonating.
- Reacts violently with water.
- Forms potentially explosive mixture with
water.
- Generates toxic gases, vapors or fumes when
mixed with water and does so in a quantity sufficient to present
a danger to human health or the environment.
- Is a cyanide- or sulfide-bearing waste which,
when exposed to pH conditions between 2 and 12.5 can generate
toxic gases, vapors or fumes.
- Is capable of detonation, explosive reaction
or explosive decomposition.
- The waste is toxic. [22 CCR 66261.24]
- Is a waste that, when analyzed by a state
certified laboratory, is determined to exceed the regulatory
levels established for the inorganic or organic chemicals found
in Table II or Table III of 22 CCR 66261.24(a)(2)
- Is a waste that contains the California listed
carcinogenic substances in single or combined concentration of
0.001% by weight by testing or other information available.
- It is determined by biological tests to be
more toxic than any of the following: an oral Singe Dose of less
than 5,000 mg/Kg which ,on the basis of laboratory tests, is
expected to kill 50% of the test species; a Singe Dose applied
to the skin of less than 4,300 mg/Kg which, on the basis of laboratory
tests, is expected to kill 50% of thetest species; a single exposure
(usually of 1 to 4 hours) with a concentration in air of less
than 10,000 ppm which , on the basis of laboratory tests, is
expected to kill 50% of the test species ; a single 96 hours
exposure with a concentration in air of less than 500 mg/L which
,on the basis of laboratory tests, is expected to kill 50% of
the test species ; OR it can cause illness or death if
inhaled, swallowed or absorbed through the skin.
Time limits
- 90 days for campus.
- Starts when first drop hits the bottom of
the barrel.
- Satellite accumulation is not allowed at
HSU because of regulatory restrictions.
- 30 days for individual generators. This insures
that waste will not exceed the 90 day limit because waste pickups
occur every 60 days. If material is turned on day 31 the day
after a pickup the material will be 91 days old when the next
occurs.
- The fine for time violations is $25,000 per
day for each offense.
© R A Paselk
Last modified 15 August 2002
