University of Louisville. Physical Plant Waste Disposal Guide

Transcription

1 University f Luisville Physical Plant Waste Dispsal Guide

2 Chapter 1 - INTRODUCTION The University f Luisville is cmmitted t maintaining a safe and healthful wrk envirnment fr its faculty, staff and students. This manual cntains prcedures fr reducing r eliminating accidental illness, injury, death r envirnmental damage which can result frm the imprper management and dispsal f wastes prduced by the University. This Dispsal Guide has been develped t assist University persnnel in the prper handling and dispsal f chemicals, r chemical prducts in the labratry and ther University wrk areas. Althugh the guide was specifically written t utline prcedures fr chemical wastes, it als cntains valuable infrmatin n many ther types f wastes (i.e., radiactive, infectius, asbests, PCB's, gas cylinders, empty cntainers, cntrlled drugs, and waste ils). Each persn in a supervisry r management capacity is respnsible fr prviding and maintaining prper waste management in his r her respective area and fr ensuring that all authrized and applicable guidelines cntained in this manual are fllwed. It is f prime imprtance that all supervisry persnnel understand and accept this respnsibility, and take an active rle in wrking with faculty and staff t prvide necessary training, and by setting an example fr them t fllw. Ultimately, it is individual faculty and staff wh are respnsible fr implementing this Dispsal Guide, s take persnal respnsibility fr yur area. Yur attitude, knwledge, and actins will determine the success f ur envirnmental Prgrams. LEGAL OBLIGATIONS Increased public cncern ver envirnmental issues led t a majr expansin f the federal and state envirnmental laws in past years. Aggressive enfrcement f these laws by regulatry agencies has als increased. The numerus envirnmental laws enacted have been dcumented in thusands f pages f regulatins, creating an extremely cmplex scheme. Despite this cmplexity, liability fr nncmpliance with envirnmental regulatins is nt limited t majr, intentinal ffenses that cause significant harm t public health r the envirnment. In fact, sizable penalties have been impsed fr relatively minr, inadvertent vilatins. Regulatry agencies and the curts assume that persns wrking with chemicals tday are knwledgeable f the ptential hazards invlved with their wrk. Therefre, civil and criminal penalties can be impsed n institutins fr nn-cmpliance. Further, this liability can extend beynd the institutin t individuals, based n the reasning that all respnsible persnnel, frm a lab instructr t a cllege president, share in the duty f ensuring cmpliance with the envirnmental laws. It is quite clear that the University f Luisville and its emplyees need t meet the challenges psed by the envirnmental laws and regulatins. This Dispsal Guide cntains the infrmatin that will enable University persnnel t meet their respnsibility fr envirnmental cmpliance.

3 Chapter 2 - JUST THE FACTS This Chapter is designed t give users just the basics they need t knw t manage Hazardus, Radiactive, and Infectius Wastes at the University f Luisville. It is fr quick reference nly and is by n means cmprehensive. Users shuld read all the applicable prtins f this Dispsal Guide fr full explanatin f the waste dispsal prcedures at the University. Hw t Cmply with the Hazardus Waste Regulatins Except fr tw areas cntrlled slely by the Department f Envirnmental Health and Safety (DEHS), all areas where hazardus waste are managed at the University f Luisville are cnsidered satellite accumulatin areas. This is a regulatry designatin which allws generatrs in these areas t perate under the minimum f regulatry versight. As such, the fllwing five pints are all that generatrs need t knw t perate in cmpliance with the law. It is critical that generatrs knw and understand these pints and that they manage their waste in accrdance with them. Hazardus Waste Satellite Accumulatin Requirements The cntainer hlding the hazardus waste must be marked with the wrds "Hazardus Waste". N variatin f these wrds is permissible. The cntainer hlding the hazardus waste must be in gd cnditin. This means n cracks, n rust, and n leaks. The cntainer hlding the hazardus waste must be cmpatible with the waste and any waste mixtures in that cntainer must als be cmpatible. The cntainer hlding the hazardus waste must be clsed at ALL TIMES. The nly exceptin t this is when waste is being added t r remved frm the cntainer. Accumulatin f hazardus waste in any satellite accumulatin area cannt exceed 55 gallns at any time. If the area accumulates acutely hazardus waste, ne quart is the maximum amunt allwed t be accumulated. A list f the acutely hazardus wastes is available in Chapter 3 - CHEMICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. Hw t get Hazardus and Chemical Waste Picked Up Step 1 Cmplete and affix Cntainer Labels t each f the cntainers f waste which yu want picked up. Use nly ne label fr each cntainer and use chemical names nly. N trade names, chemical frmulas r chemical structures are allwed. Cntainer labels are available thrugh DEHS by calling Step 2 Cmplete the Chemical Pickup Request Frm. Yu have the ptin f ding this via the Internet n the DEHS HmePage, r n a paper frm. Pick-up frms are available thrugh DEHS, and yu can btain them by calling Cmplete infrmatin is required r waste cannt be picked up. Use the label numbers that crrespnd t the cntainer labels yu have affixed t yur cntainers. Please list the cntact persn wh knws first hand abut the waste being picked-up.

4 Step 3 Submit the frm electrnically r mail it t DEHS. Yur waste will usually be picked up within tw weeks f DEHS' receipt f prperly cmpleted frms. DEHS must have access t the area where the waste is lcated t pick it up. If special arrangements fr gaining access need t be made, please nte this n the cmments sectin f the request frm.

5 Chapter 3 - CHEMICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM POLICY AND GOALS The University f Luisville recgnizes and accepts its respnsibility t prvide prper hazardus waste management fr University peratins such as its research, teaching and supprt functins that generate chemical waste. In meeting this respnsibility, the University has charged the Department f Envirnmental Health and Safety (DEHS) with the primary respnsibility fr crdinating the hazardus waste management prgram. Hazardus waste management is nt the exclusive respnsibility f any ne individual. Every persn emplyed by the University must assume and demnstrate by their actin primary respnsibility fr his r her wn chemical waste. Each emplyee is persnally respnsible fr cmplying with the requirements cntained in this Dispsal Guide. Emplyees generating chemical waste have mral and legal bligatins t see that the waste is handled and dispsed f in ways that minimize bth shrt-term and lng-term harm t human health and the envirnment. DEHS has defined five main gals fr the University t fulfill this respnsibility. Manage and dispse f hazardus waste in a manner which prevents harm t human health and the envirnment and prtects the faculty, staff, and students Manage and dispse f hazardus wastes in the mst respnsible, envirnmentally sund, and csteffective manner Reduce the quantity f hazardus waste generated by the University by encuraging prudent purchase f chemicals and training the University cmmunity in respnsible wrk practices Prvide safe strage f hazardus waste pending dispsitin Cmply with all gvernment regulatins regarding hazardus waste management PROGRAM OVERVIEW The primary gal in handling and dispsal f hazardus waste is t d s in a manner which prevents harm t human health and the envirnment. Extensive federal, state, and lcal regulatins gvern hazardus waste management. The University is cvered by these regulatins, which are beynd the scpe f this guide but, in general, they regulate the handling, transprtatin, strage, and dispsal f waste. The regulatins als require extensive recrd keeping and a "cradle t grave" tracking system which tracks hazardus wastes frm their pint f generatin thrugh dispsal. This allws all waste t be accunted fr at any stage between generatin and dispsal. DEHS will cllect hazardus wastes frm each generating lcatin at the University upn receipt f a prperly cmpleted Chemical Pickup Request Frm frm the generatrs f this waste. The wastes are transprted by DEHS via a truck designed fr transprtatin f hazardus materials t the University's Envirnmental Prtectin Services Center (EPSC). This facility has a hazardus waste permit and is engineered t meet building safety and fire cdes. It is inspected annually by the Kentucky Department fr Envirnmental Prtectin and the United States EPA t ensure cmpliance with applicable regulatins. The generating lcatin, type, and quantity f each chemical is dcumented as wastes are shipped t the EPSC and this infrmatin is maintained by DEHS in a cmputer database. The wastes are then segregated accrding t cmpatibility grups and placed in the EPSC. Sme wastes are treated t remve their hazardus waste designatin and many liquid wastes such as slvents are cnslidated with cmpatible

6 liquids in larger cntainers. The wastes are stred in the EPSC and scheduled fr remval and dispsal t a permitted hazardus waste facility within ne year f pick up. WHERE IS HAZARDOUS WASTE GENERATED? Mst clleges and universities generate hazardus waste and therefre are regulated as hazardus waste generatrs. Chemical use in labratries results in the need fr dispsal f mixed slvents, reagents, reactin prducts, and excess chemicals f all types. In additin, a number f ther fairly cmmn activities at clleges and universities may result in the generatin f hazardus waste. Examples include an electrical shp that uses batteries that cntain heavy metals and phtgraphy lab dispsing f develping slutins that cntain silver cmpunds. Listed belw are sme cmmn pints f generatin at the University f Luisville. SOURCE Research and Teaching Labs Electrical Maintenance Paint Shp Phtgraphic Labs Buildings and Grunds Services Art Wrk WASTE GENERATED Waste slvents, reagents, experimentatin residues, equipment mercury Used light ballasts and batteries Waste slvents and ld paint Used develpers and fixers Pesticides, rdenticides, herbicides, fertilizers Used slvents, thinners, pigments, inks, acids, dyes and phtgraphic slutins WHAT IS A HAZARDOUS WASTE? In general hazardus waste is either: Listed in ne f fur lists that the EPA has generated, r; Exhibits a characteristic that the EPA has identified as making it a hazardus waste. The initial step tward prper chemical and hazardus waste management is t determine whether the waste is hazardus. This determinatin is imprtant t meet envirnmental regulatins and t prperly cmplete the Chemical Pickup Request Frm. A brief descriptin f the prcess generating the waste is als required n the DEHS frms. This helps DEHS and the generatr make the determinatin f whether the waste is a hazardus waste. EPA has listed specific chemicals which are hazardus and must be handled in accrdance with the hazardus waste regulatins. They als identified certain chemical characteristics which can cause a waste t be designated as hazardus. This chapter discusses these lists and characteristics. Fr the purpse f this prgram, chemicals that shuld be cnsidered waste are thse which are cntaminated r are spent and can n lnger be used. Outdated chemicals, and chemicals in pr cntainers are als t be cnsidered waste. Chemicals which have nt exceeded their shelf life, are in gd cntainers, and culd be used by smene else are nt classified as a waste. These chemicals shuld be cllected by DEHS fr placement in the redistributin prgram.

7 LISTED HAZARDOUS WASTES EPA has develped several lists f substances which have been shwn t have txic, carcingenic, mutagenic, r teratgenic effects n humans r ther life frms. Chemicals with physical characteristics such as ignitability, crrsivity, r reactivity are als listed. Because there are ver 700 chemicals n these lists and the regulatry principles are nt intuitive, determinatin whether r nt a waste is hazardus using EPA lists is a cmplex task which requires sme degree f familiarity with the regulatins. Many chemicals which are at least mderately txic, mderately crrsive r cmbustible d nt appear n these lists. Therefre, any chemical suspected f having any txic r hazardus prperties shuld be handled by DEHS. Refer t the material safety data sheet, cntainer label, r a reference bk such as Merck Index t make determinatins n txicity. When in dubt abut whether a material is hazardus, handle it as if it is r cntact DEHS at fr assistance. CHARACTERISTIC HAZARDOUS WASTES Certain wastes which are nt specifically listed are regulated as hazardus because they exhibit ne r mre f the fllwing characteristics: ignitability, reactivity, crrsivity, r txicity. If wastes exhibit any f these characteristics, they are regulated as hazardus, and arrangements fr dispsal must be made with DEHS. Material safety data sheets (MSDS), cntainer labels, and reference manuals can be used t identify these characteristics. A. IGNITABLE WASTES Any liquid waste having a flashpint f less than 140 degrees F. is cnsidered an ignitable hazardus waste. A flashpint can generally be determined by reference t the cntainer label, a material safety data sheet, a chemical reference manual, r testing. The fllwing are examples f ignitable wastes: ethyl ether, methanl, ethanl, acetne, tluene, benzene, pentane, hexane, and xylene. Slids are als regulated as ignitable waste if the material is capable f ignitin thrugh frictin, misture absrptin, r spntaneus chemical changes and burns s vigrusly and persistently as t create a hazard. Many cmmercial prducts may als exhibit the characteristic f ignitability. Oxidizers are als cnsidered ignitable hazardus wastes. B. CORROSIVE WASTES Any waste with a ph less than 2.0 r greater than 12.5 r which crrdes steel at a rate greater than 6 mm per year is regulated as a crrsive waste. Wastes in this categry include many acids and bases. The fllwing are examples f crrsive wastes: sulfuric acid, ammnium hydrxide, nitric acid, sdium hydrxide, and hydrfluric acid. C. REACTIVE WASTES Any waste that is shck-sensitive, vilently unstable, reacts vilently with air r water, r generates cyanide r sulfide gases is regulated as a reactive waste. Sme cmmn chemicals which are classified reactive are: picric acid and ther plynitrarmatics, ld ethers and ther perxide frming rganics, rganic perxides, ammnium perchlrate and metal perchlrates, and metal amides and azides. D. TCLP TOXIC WASTES Any waste which equals r exceeds a designated cncentratin f certain txic cmpunds is regulated as a characteristically txic hazardus waste. The test t determine these cncentratins is knwn as the TCLP (Txicity Characteristic Leaching Prcedure). It determines the amunt f the txic cmpund that leaches frm the waste, simulating what culd leach int the envirnment frm an imprperly dispsed waste. The extractin prcedure is a standardized labratry test that requires specialized equipment. Therefre wastes with any f the TCLP cmpunds are assumed t

8 be txic. These cmpunds include the heavy metals such as lead, chrmium, and barium as well as many rganic materials and a grup f pesticides. Sme cmmercial prducts may exhibit the characteristic f txicity thrugh the TCLP testing prcedure. NON-REGULATED WASTES Many chemicals are nt cnsidered hazardus waste using the "Listed Waste" r "Characteristic Waste" criteria described abve. Hwever, these chemicals may be at least mderately txic, mderately crrsive r cmbustible and shuld be cllected by DEHS t ensure safe handling and dispsal. N chemical r chemical mixture shuld be pured dwn the drain r thrwn in the trash unless the user is sure that the material is inert r inncuus and has attained apprval fr the dispsal frm DEHS. Materials with strng dr must nt be dispsed f via the sewer but shuld be maintained in sealed cntainers and cllected by DEHS. Only slids that are inert r inncuus may be dispsed f in the trash. Any cntainers placed in the trash must have all labels cmpletely defaced. If the cntainers are damaged and are likely t break during trash cllectin, they shuld be bxed t prtect custdians and labeled as trash. The determinatin n whether a material is inert r inncuus shuld be verified by cnsulting the material safety data sheet, cntainer label r a reference manual. DEHS will dispse f ther nn-regulated materials via the sewer r trash after careful review. This will allw the University t ensure cmpliance with the stringent sewer regulatins, as well as the landfill. UNIDENTIFIED WASTES All wastes t be picked up by DEHS must be accurately described r they cannt be prperly segregated. This greatly affects the safety hazards invlved with handling and strage f these materials. Frm a regulatry standpint, DEHS is prhibited frm accepting unidentified wastes fr transprtatin r strage. When an unidentified material r waste is discvered, an attempt t identify its cntents shuld be immediately undertaken. Usually the cntents can be identified by cnsulting individuals wh wrk in the area where the unidentified material was fund. If this fails, the material will have t be analyzed with the cst f analysis being brne by the department in which the material was fund. Sme cmmn analysis perfrmed t identify chemicals are: ph, flashpint, reactivity screen (mix small amunt f chemical with water t see if reactin ccurs), specific gravity. Thrugh maintenance f labels n chemical cntainers reduces the ccurrence f unidentified chemicals. Peridic review f chemical stck and careful recrdkeeping reduces the chance f discvering cntainers with missing labels. The University's Summary and Cmpliance Manual fr Hazard Cmmunicatin Standard als has specific requirements and guidelines fr labeling chemical cntainers that must be fllwed by all University persnnel. CHEMICAL WASTE HANDLING AND DISPOSAL Hw t Cmply with the Hazardus Waste Regulatins Except fr tw areas cntrlled slely by the Department f Envirnmental Health and Safety (DEHS), all areas where hazardus wastes are managed at the University f Luisville are cnsidered satellite accumulatin areas. This is a regulatry designatin which allws generatrs in these areas t perate under the minimum f regulatry versight. As such, the fllwing five pints are all that generatrs need t knw t perate in cmpliance with the law. It is critical that generatrs knw and understand these pints and that they manage their waste in accrdance with them.

9 Hazardus Waste Satellite Accumulatin Requirements The cntainer hlding the hazardus waste must be marked with the wrds "Hazardus Waste". N variatin f these wrds is permissible. The cntainer hlding the hazardus waste must be in gd cnditin. This means n cracks, n rust, and n leaks. The cntainer hlding the hazardus waste must be cmpatible with the waste and any waste mixtures in that cntainer must als be cmpatible. The cntainer hlding the hazardus waste must be clsed at ALL TIMES. The nly exceptin t this is when waste is being added t r remved frm the cntainer. Accumulatin f hazardus waste in any satellite accumulatin area cannt exceed 55 gallns at any time. If the area accumulates acutely hazardus waste, ne quart is the maximum amunt allwed t be accumulated. A list f the acutely hazardus wastes is available in Chapter 3 - CHEMICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. Hw t get Hazardus and Chemical Waste Picked Up Step 1 Cmplete and affix Cntainer Labels t each f the cntainers f waste which yu want picked up. Use nly ne label fr each cntainer and use chemical names nly. N trade names, chemical frmulas r chemical structures are allwed. Cntainer labels are available thrugh DEHS by calling Step 2 Cmplete the Chemical Pickup Request Frm. Yu have the ptin f ding this via the Internet n r n a paper frm. Paper versins f Chemical Pickup Request frms are available by calling Cmplete infrmatin is required r waste cannt be picked up. Use the label numbers that crrespnd t the cntainer labels yu have affixed t yur cntainers. Please list the cntact persn wh knws first hand abut the waste being picked-up. Step 3 Submit the frm electrnically r mail it t DEHS. Yur waste will usually be picked up within tw weeks f DEHS' receipt f prperly cmpleted frms. DEHS must have access t the area where the waste is lcated. If special arrangements fr gaining access need t be made, please nte this n the cmments sectin f the request frm. DISPOSAL CONTAINERS Cntainers hlding hazardus waste must be in gd cnditin, have prper fitting lids, and be cmpatible with the waste stred. A gd practice is t use the same cntainer in which the chemical was purchased as a pure prduct. The cntainer must always be clsed during strage. Hazardus waste must nt be placed in an unwashed cntainer that previusly held an incmpatible material. All cntainers must be thrughly washed and allwed t dry befre being used fr waste strage. If a cntainer hlding hazardus waste is nt in gd cnditin, r if it begins t leak, the material must be transferred t a new cntainer r placed inside a larger cntainer that meets all the necessary criteria.

10 Five-galln high-density plyethylene cntainers fr accumulating waste slvents and ther high vlume liquid wastes are available frm DEHS at n cst t University departments. These cntainers are distributed based n waste type and vlume. Cntact DEHS at t btain these cntainers fr high vlume liquid wastes. Waste Slvents Waste slvents which are accumulated fr cllectin by DEHS are t be segregated int halgenated and nn-halgenated categries. Halgenated slvents cntain a halgen cmpund such as chlrine r flurine t reduce flammability. Nn-halgenated slvents d nt cntain a halgen cmpund and are generally mre flammable. The 5-galln cntainers prvided by DEHS fr accumulatin f slvents shuld be clearly marked "HALOGENATED" r "NON-HALOGENATED" and strictly limited t thse types f slvents. These tw categries f slvents are segregated fr increased safety and efficiency. New Research, Abandned Labs, and High Waste Vlumes If a new research prject that will generate large quantities f waste is ging t begin, cntact DEHS ahead f time t plan waste management. If an investigatr r ther persn is leaving their emplyment with the University, the department chair shuld cntact DEHS prir t that persn's departure. Labratries shuld nt be abandned with chemical wastes present. If any activity that will generate large vlumes f any type waste handled by DEHS (chemical, radiactive, infectius) will be cmmencing, cntact DEHS prir t that activity's start up s that prper planning fr waste dispsal can be accmplished. WASTE MINIMIZATION Effective hazardus waste management requires nt nly safe, sund practices, but als requires extensive effrts t reduce the vlume and txicity f hazardus wastes. The University's waste minimizatin effrts must als be reprted annually t the Kentucky Divisin f Waste Management. Waste minimizatin effrts reduce dispsal and the hazards and envirnmental impact assciated with chemical wastes. The success in minimizing hazardus wastes depends n a cnscientius effrt by each individual at the University. These are sme cmmn waste minimizatin strategies: REDUCING CHEMICAL PURCHASES A substantial prtin f hazardus waste prduced at the University cnsists f unused, utdated chemicals. Careful planning f quantities f chemicals required can reduce csts t the labratry and reduce waste vlumes. Many chemicals may als degrade ver time, s careful cnsideratin f quantities purchased. Als, risk f accident and expsure t the chemical and space needs are less when handling the smaller cntainer. Althugh it may seem less expensive t buy chemicals in larger quantities, it is in fact mre expensive if the cst fr dispsal is taken int cnsideratin. Sme chemical manufacturers sell chemicals in smaller cntainers t help labratries reduce the excess purchase f chemicals. When dispsal cst are cnsidered, it is mre ecnmical t purchase nly the quantities f chemicals that will be used.

11 SUBSTITUTION A nn-hazardus chemical can ften be used in place f a hazardus chemical. Fr example, sme academic labratry prcedures still specify benzene r carbn tetrachlride as reagents r slvents. These cmpunds ften can be replaced by less hazardus materials. This results nt nly in safer prcedures, but als in wastes that may be hazardus in sme respects. Additinally, many cmmercial, nn-hazardus glass cleaners are available in lieu f txic and crrsive chrmic acid. Similarly, different prcedures may be available which d nt require the use f hazardus chemicals. LABEL CONTAINERS Keeping all f the cntainers in yur lab labeled with their cntents will result in safer wrk practices as well as remving the need t dispse f unidentified chemicals. CHEMICAL EXCHANGE/REDISTRIBUTION Chemical purchases can ften be reduced by brrwing and sharing chemicals between labratries. Departments are encuraged t exchange chemicals whenever pssible and utilize the DEHS Chemical Redistributin Prgram as much as pssible. Nt all the chemicals picked up by DEHS are a waste. Many are nly partially used and have nt exceeded their shelf life r been altered in anyway. Others are unused and still in the riginal sealed cntainer. In sme cases, these chemicals can be used by smene else at the University. Reusable chemicals cllected by DEHS are brught t the central accumulatin area, recrded, segregated, and held fr redistributin instead f dispsal. The redistributin prgram can mean a real cst savings fr the University in tw ways. First, utilizing chemicals frm the redistributin prgram decreases the amunt f new chemicals purchased. Secndly, chemicals which are redistributed d nt require dispsal, aviding the extremely high cst assciated with that service. Each chemical may be reviewed prir t acceptance. The persn wh receives the chemical is respnsible t determine the suitability f the chemical fr their use. LESS IS BETTER PUBLICATION DEHS has a publicatin prepared by the American Chemical Sciety entitled "Less is Better" which cntains mre detailed infrmatin n the chemical waste minimizatin strategies utlined in this sectin. Cpies f that publicatin are available (at n cst t department) upn request at

12 Chapter 4- RADIOACTIVE WASTES Radiactive Waste Dispsal Prcedures: A. Respnsibility All use f radiactive material must be authrized by the University Radiatin Safety Cmmittee and mnitred by the University Radiatin Safety Office (URSO). Prper dispsal f radiactive waste is mandatry. Recrd the date and dispsal activity f all radinuclides n the Radiactive Material Usage Recrd frm, (see Appendix D f Radiactive material User Guide). Cpies f this recrd must be sent t URSO mnthly if material is used. The fllwing infrmatin utlines general dispsal instructins. Fr further clarificatin r specific instructins, cntact URSO ( ). B. Dispsal Slid Waste Dry slid waste (glves, plastic, glassware, and paper) can be classified as lng half-life (greater than 120 days), shrt half-life (less than r equal t 120 days) r deminimis. Deminimus waste, as stated in 902 KAR 100:021-2, is: (A) 0.05 micrcurie r less f H-3, C-14, r I-125 per gram used fr liquid scintillatin cunting r in vitr clinical r in in viv labratry testing; and (B) 0.05 micrcurie r less f H-3, C-14, r I-125 per gram f animal tissue averaged ver the weight f the entire animal. Due t the high cst f waste dispsal, it is imperative users f radiactive material establish and practice prcedures t minimize radiactive slid waste. The fllwing page cntains sme suggested practices t use t minimize waste prductin, if pssible. Sme suggested waste reductins methds: Recycle r reclaim Surce reductin--substitute shrt-lived material Mdify prcess t reduce waste Keep dwn cntaminatin Clean cntaminated items and dispse f as clean Cncentrate by in exchange r charcal absrptin Cmpact cmmercial waste Assistant Radiatin Safety Officer r call at fr mre infrmatin cncerning waste reductin methds. Dispsal summary fr slid and deminimus waste Slid waste will cnsist f glves pipette tips, bench paper, etc. Slid waste cntainers will be clearly marked with the yellw RADIOACTIVE WASTE stickers and radiatin symbl n each side f the cntainer. Waste will be in a shielded cntainer if necessary. All waste must have any radiatin symbls defaced befre it is put int the prper waste cntainer All waste must be in clear plastic bags, and different nuclides must be stred separately.

13 Each bag must have a Radiactive Waste Card attached with the Authrized user name, date, nuclide, chemical frm, and amunt f nuclide. Deminimus waste is defined as H-3, C-14, r I-125 that is calculated t cntain less than 0.05 uci/gm Fr waste pickup, fllw the prcedure listed at the end f this chapter. Liquid Waste Liquid waste cnsists f stck slutin and liquid scintillatin vials. Relatively small vlumes (a few ml s) f aqueus liquid may be transferred nt absrbent material and dispsed f per the slid waste prcedures. Recrd the date and activity f all dispsals f liquid in the apprpriate clumn n the Radiactive Material Usage Recrd frm. When material is dispsed, cpies f this frm must be sent t URSO mnthly. In sme instances it may be necessary t dispse f radiactive material r wash cntaminated items in a designated dispsal sink. The dispsal must be accurately recrded n yur usage recrd. The water must be run fr a half hur and the sink surveyed and wipe tested fr residual cntaminatin. Dispsal summary fr liquid waste Stck slutin must be stred in separate cntainers per nuclide and the cntainer must be cmpatible with the waste stred. Liquid scintillatin vials must be stred separately accrding t nuclide, and packaged in easily mvable cntainers (i.e. the plastic, blue tubs). Each bttle r cntainer f liquid scintillatin vials must have a Radiactive Waste Card attached with the authrized user name, date, nuclide, chemical frm, and amunt f nuclide. All liquid must als be labeled as bidegradable r rganic material. Any liquid cntaining the rganic material must be stred in plastic tubs labeled that are labeled as hazardus material. Each bttle f stck slutin r cntainer f liquid scintillatin vials must have a Radiacitive Waste Card attached with the authrized user name, date, nuclide, chemical frm, and amunt f nuclide. Fr waste pickup, fllw the prcedure listed at the end f this chapter. Animal Carcasses When using radiactivity in animals r animal tissues, the Authrized User must prvide an auxilliary prtcl. This prtcl must detail the kind and quantity f radiactivity t be used, methds f dispsal, and cntaminatin cntrl. An Animal Use Prpsal Clearance Frm (see Appendix U) will be prvided by Research Resurces, r can be btained frm Radiatin Safety. Befre this prtcl is presented t Research Resurces it must be apprved by the University Radiatin Safety Office. All animals which have been given radiactive material shuld be islated frm animals that d nt cntain radiactive material. The cages which huse the animals cntaining radiactive materials must be labeled with an apprpriate radiactive materials warning sign. The cages must be lcked, r therwise secured unless attended. Surveys and cntaminatin checks must be perfrmed f the area which includes the bedding and animal husing. All cntaminated items must be handled per the Radiactive Material Users Guide.

14 Dispsal summary fr animal carcasses Animals receiving deminimus levels f radiactive material must be prepared fr dispsal as infectius waste and then brught t Radiatin Safety fr dispsal. If the material in animals has a half life greater than 90 days, the animals must be prepared fr dispsal as infectius waste, then brught t Radiatin Safety t be dispsed. If the material in the animals has a half life less than r equal t 90 days, the animal must be stred in the lab in an apprpriate area fr 10 half lives, labelled as infectius waste, then brught t Radiatin Safety t be dispsed. A yellw Radiactive Waste Card must accmpany all bags that will be taken by Radiatin Safety. PICK-UP REQUEST When cntainers becme full and need t be picked up by Radiatin Safety, cmplete the Radiactive Waste Pick-up Request Frm either On-Line r n paper send the white cpy t Radiatin Safety. Upn receipt f the pick-up request frm, Radiatin Safety will cntact the lab t set up a time fr pick-up. A Radiactive Waste Card must be attached t each bag r cntainer befre Radiatin Safety will pick-up the waste. Waste will nt be picked up by URSO persnnel if any f the fllwing situatins ccur: a. The waste is nt prperly identified n the waste receipt frm. b. Area was lcked r n ne was present t identify the waste t be taken. c. The liquids cntains rganic material and an apprved cntainer is nt available t use fr transprt.

15 Chapter 5 - MISCELLANEOUS WASTE Infectius Waste Management Prgram Regulatins impsed by lcal, state, and federal agencies dictate that infectius waste must be segregated, packaged, and dispsed f in a specific manner. The primary purpse f the regulatins is t limit n-the-jb expsure t bld and ther ptentially infectius materials. The fllwing guidelines were implemented by the University during Nvember 1988 and revised in July, All wastes listed in this sectin must be segregated frm ther wastes, packaged, and dispsed f in accrdance DEHS prcedures. DEHS requires infectius waste t be classified as ne f three types f waste: 31. Medical Waste Micrbilgical waste - i.e., stcks and/r cultures f etilgical r infectius agents, including culture plates, test tubes, swabs, etc. cntaminated with these agents Human bld and bld prducts - i.e., all liquid bld, serum and plasma Ptentially Infectius Medical/labratry glassware including slides, pipettes, bld tubes and vials, and cntaminated brken glass Transgenic Plant Material - plant's genetic material that has been altered by the intrductin f genes frm anther rganism. 32. Sharps Syringes Needles Scalpel blades Glass and plastic pipettes and vials All needles, scalpels, syringes r ther sharps, regardless f their use are t be managed as Sharps. 33. Pathlgical Waste Human rgans, bdy parts and surgical specimens r bdy parts remved during surgery r invasive prcedures i.e. bstetrical, autpsy and labratry prcedures. Cntaminated animal parts/tissues, and carcasses. Chemtherapy waste Infectius Waste Segregatin At the pint f generatin, infectius waste is t be segregated by type and placed int separate cntainers fr shipment. Labratries and ther infectius waste generatrs areas will separate each infectius waste stream int 32-galln red cntainers lined with an apprved bihazard bag. It will be the respnsibility f all University emplyees r students that generate infectius waste t segregate the waste accrdingly. Infectius waste that has nt been segregated apprpriately will remain in the labratry r treatment area and an "Incmplete Wrk Ntice" will be issued thrugh Custdial Services. Fr mre infrmatin please cntact Medical Waste and Sharps Segregatin Medical waste cnsisting f micrbilgical waste, human bld and bld prducts, ptentially infectius medical/labratry glassware, transgenic plant material and sharps will be managed in the fllwing manner:

16 Medical waste will be placed in 32-galln red infectius waste cntainers lined with an apprved bihazard bag. All sharps must be placed in an apprved sharps cntainer. When the sharps cntainer is full, it must be placed int a 32-galln red infectius waste cntainer lined with an apprved bihazard bag. When the 32-galln red cntainer is full, labratry r clinical staff will tie the bag shut. Custdial staff will pick up the waste whenever they find the bag has been tied shut. There is n need t ntify Custdial Services t have infectius waste picked-up as custdians rutinely cllect infectius waste each evening. Infectius waste must be prperly secured fr cllectin by the custdians. "Prperly secured" is defined as all bihazard (red r range) bags tied, fastened r secured in the mst efficient manner prir t custdians remving the cntainer frm a wrk area. If the bags are nt clsed, custdians are required t leave the bag/cntainer where it was left and issue an "Incmplete Wrk Ntice". Pathlgical Waste Pathlgical waste cnsisting f human rgans, bdy parts, surgical specimens, cntaminated animal parts/tissues and carcasses, and chemtherapy waste will be managed in the fllwing manner: Pathlgical waste will be placed in 40 pund, square, fiberbard, DOT apprved shipping cntainers lined with an apprved bihazard bag. Custdial staff will pick up the waste whenever they find the bag has been tied shut, and the bxes taped clsed. The generating lcatin must be n the bx. There is n need t ntify Custdial Services t have infectius waste picked-up as custdians rutinely cllect infectius waste each evening. Infectius waste must be prperly secured fr cllectin. If the bxes are nt clsed, custdians are required t leave the bxes and issue an "Incmplete Wrk Ntice". All bihazard bags are t be kept in cntainers designated fr infectius waste nly. These cntainers are supplied by the University's infectius waste cntractr and are made available thrugh Custdial Services (Ex. 7174). Any bihazard bag fund in a regular trash cntainer will be left in the wrk area where it was discvered. Nte: Waste minimizatin shuld be encuraged t reduce the amunt f infectius waste that must be treated and dispsed. Nrmal refuse that is nt cntaminated shuld be placed in the trash can. Brken Glassware Other wastes nt cvered in this guideline may require special handling r dispsal as fllws: Pipettes, brken glassware, micrscpe slides, and cver slips nt cnsidered infectius under this guide shuld be regarded as injurius materials because they present a physical hazard t custdians if placed in the regular trash. Additinally, plastic vials, pipettes etc are als defined as injurius and shuld be handled as such in the same manner indicated. These items shuld be bxed, sealed, and labeled "Brken glassware dispsal". Please insure the bx selected fr shipping brken glass is suitable, sturdy and is taped cmpletely clsed fr shipping. Bxes needed t insure prper shipping f brken glass and plastic can be rdered thrugh Fisher Scientific ( ) r Lab Safety Supply ( ). Glass that is nt brken may be placed in regular trash receptacles prvided that it is nt dne s in a manner that can reasnably be expected t lead t its breakage. Fr mre details n unbrken glass, see the Empty Cntainer sectin fund later in this Dispsal Guide.

17 It is the respnsibility f every department, unit, r labratry generating infectius waste t prvide the apprpriate packaging materials (i.e., sharps cntainer and range r red infectius waste bags). Bihazard waste bags must be range r red and can be btained frm either Superir Paper ( ), Fisher Scientific ( ) r ther labratry supply cmpanies. ASBESTOS MATERIALS If the presence f asbests-cntaining materials is suspected, especially thse in pr cnditin, cntact DEHS at Asbests cntaining waste shuld be dispsed f thrugh the Chemical Pickup prcedure detailed in Chapter 3. PCB MATERIALS PCBs (Plychlrinated Biphenyls) are cmpunds that were widely used in the past in ils and dielectric fluids due t their excellent heat exchange and insulating prperties. Hwever, because f their persistence in the envirnment and eclgical damage frm water pllutin, their manufacture was discntinued in The handling, strage, transprtatin, and dispsal f PCBs are nw strictly regulated by the EPA. Sme examples f items which may cntain PCBs are: Electrical transfrmers Electrical capacitrs Flurescent light ballasts Hydraulic fluids Optical liquids Anyne generating these materials at the University must handle them as a chemical waste as utlined in Chapter 3. Items such as glves, clthing, r utensils/tls that becme cntaminated with PCBs shall als be handled as a chemical waste in accrdance with Chapter 3. Physical Plant emplyees wh repair r replace lighting fixtures thrughut the University must fllw the fllwing prcedures while handling the ballasts assciated with these fixtures. Manufacturers are nw required t label ballasts "Nn- PCB". Prir t handling any ballast, check t see if it is labeled "Nn-PCB". If the article is nt labeled "Nn-PCB", assume it cntains PCBs and precautins shuld be taken when handling these items. If the article is intact and nt leaking, wear a pair f rubber r plastic glves. Inexpensive surgical glves will suffice if nt wrn fr extended perids f time. If the article is leaking, als wear a pair f gggles. Cntact DEHS t crdinate any clean-up frm the flr r ther areas. D nt put leaking ballast in cntainers already hlding nn-leaking ballast. Leaking ballast must be segregated in a small cntainer and managed as a chemical waste as utlined in Chapter galln drums fr lighting ballast can be btained frm DEHS. Physical Plant must ntify DEHS f the lcatin f ballast drums t ensure that they are labeled apprpriately. Only lighting ballast shuld be placed in these drums, they shuld nt be used fr general trash r ther special wastes. Once the drums are full, fllw the prcedures in Chapter 4 t have DEHS pick them up.

18 GAS CYLINDERS Gas cylinders are widely used at the University in teaching and research labratries and in maintenance and cnstructin peratins. University persnnel using cylinders must make every attempt t return them t the supplier when finished. Suppliers will usually accept empty r partially full cylinders at n cst. The best apprach is t check with the supplier befre purchasing any cylinders t see if used cylinders will be picked up when new nes are delivered. If the supplier will nt, try t lcate ne that will. It is extremely difficult and expensive t have cylinders dispsed. If cylinders cannt be returned t a supplier, they can be handled thrugh the DEHS chemical waste prgram. Fllw the prcedures in Chapter 3 t have them picked up by DEHS. EMPTY CONTAINERS The imprper handling r management f empty cntainers nt nly creates an undesirable aesthetic situatin at the University but, due t their cntents, may als pse an envirnmental and human health hazard. The University is gverned by state and federal envirnmental agencies which regulate the management f these cntainers and their cntents. Imprper handling can result in fines r ther penalties impsed against the University. Empty cntainers, ranging frm small glass bttles t 55-galln drums, are defined as thse having all cntents remved by cmmnly emplyed practices (e.g., puring, pumping, scraping, etc.), with n slids r free-flwing liquids remaining in the cntainer. All chemical cntainers handled under these prcedures must be empty. That means that n material can be pured r practicably remved frm that cntainer. If any material can be pured frm the cntainer then it must be either used r managed under the Chemical Waste Management Prgram utlined in Chapter 3. If a cntainer held an acutely hazardus waste it must be managed as a hazardus waste thrugh the prcedures detailed in Chapter 3. Cntact DEHS fr a list f the acutely hazardus wastes. T handle empty cntainers Remve cmpletely r deface all labels n the cntainer and remve the lid. Thrughly rinse all cntainers and place upside dwn n paper twels until cmpletely dry. Place cntainers in regular trash fr cllectin by custdians. Any brken glass cntainers must be placed in a rigid bx that is marked as "brken glass". These bxes may be placed with (nt in) the regular trash fr cllectin by custdians. See Infectius Waste Dispsal Infrmatin fr further infrmatin n brken glass dispsal. Glass that is nt brken may be placed in regular trash receptacles prvided that it is dne in a manner that will nt lead t its breakage. Fr example, it is reasnable t assume that ne cntainer placed in a trash can will nt becme brken. Glass cntainers shuld nt be thrwn int trash cans and several glass cntainers shuld nt be placed in the same trash can. If yu are in dubt, place the glass cntainers in a rigid bx as utlined in the brken glass sectin abve.

19 PHARMACEUTICAL/CONTROLLED DRUGS Varius cntrlled substances are used at the University fr instructinal activities r cnducting research. Any persn engaged in activities with cntrlled substances must be registered with the Drug Enfrcement Administratin (DEA). T dispse f cntrlled substances, cntact the DEA fr authrity and instructins. The DEA will require certificates f destructin in many cases. The DEA will then authrize and instruct yu t dispse f the cntrlled substances in ne f the fllwing manners: By delivery t the lcal DEA By destructin in the presence f an agent f the DEA By such ther means as the DEA may determine t assure that the substance des nt becme available t unauthrized persns. The persn in pssessin f the substance is respnsible fr its dispsal in accrdance with the DEA regulatins. DEHS will nly pick up cntrlled substances n a case-by-case basis. WASTE OILS Waste ils frm maintenance shps, pumps, equipment, machinery, etc. shuld be cllected by DEHS using the Chemical Waste Management Prcedures utlined in Chapter 3. D nt mix any ther material with waste ils and d nt allw water t enter waste il cntainers. Waste ils can usually be transferred t a recycler at little r nt cst t the university. Hwever, waste il which has been mixed with water, slvents, heavy metals, txics, PCB's, r ther chemical substances may result in substantial csts t the university. Cntainers used fr accumulating waste ils must be clearly marked "USED OIL" will help prevent this prblem.