Humboldt State University ® Department of Chemistry

Richard A. Paselk

Chem 438L

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 438L 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. Do not try to wash paper towels, rubber tubing, matches, boiling chips, broken glass, etc. down the drain--they will only clog the drain. Put such materials in the appropriate waste containers.

4. Broken glass must be put into the containers designated for that purpose.

5. 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.

L. Independent Study Student Responsibilities

5. You are required to determine proper and safe disposal and cleanup procedures for all chemical waste before conducting an experiment or using any chemical. Plan ahead and consult with faculty and/or staff on proper disposal and cleanup methods. Remember, if you are working outside of normal working hours and haven't determined, and arranged for, proper disposal/cleanup procedures, you cannot do the experiment!

WASTE LABELS In addition to reagent label requirements, waste labels must include:

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.
  

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Last modified 28 August 1999

© R. Paselk