Hazardous Waste Procedures. Faculty of Science University of Ottawa

Transcription

1 Hazardous Waste Procedures University of Ottawa

2 Contents Hazardous Materials Waste Overview:... 3 Regulations:... 3 General requirements related to packaging waste:... 4 Table 1: List of Appropriate Waste Containers for Disposal of Hazardous Materials... 5 Labeling Requirements:... 6 Characteristics of Hazardous Waste... 7 Unknown Chemical Waste... 7 Pickup Schedule:... 8 Drop-off Schedule:... 8 Hazardous Materials Waste Streams:... 9 Liquid Chemical Wastes Organic Waste Aqueous Waste Oil Waste Photo Processing Waste Highly Toxic Inorganic Liquid Compounds Pyrophoric Waste... 9 Solid Hazardous Wastes Hazardous Solid Waste - Silica, Tips, Tubes, Stain & Contaminated Articles Broken Glass Highly Toxic Waste Ethidium Bromide Gels Small Gas Cylinder Waste Pyrophoric Waste Chemical Sharp Waste Battery Recycling Biological Waste Autoclave Waste Biological Sharps Cadaver waste Radioactive Waste References:

3 Hazardous Materials Waste Overview: Laboratory research generates hazardous waste. This waste includes a variety of materials such as the by-products of chemical synthesis, biomedical wastes, pump oil and contaminated objects. These wastes require special handling to reduce harmful effects to human health and the environment. At a university, the disposal of a large variety of hazardous wastes can be both difficult and expensive. For all questions regarding hazardous waste in the please consult the Health, Safety and Risk Management Team. Effective chemical management begins with the decision to purchase laboratory chemicals and the regular maintenance of a chemical inventory. At the University of Ottawa our chemical inventory is the Vertére Inventory Management System. Reducing the quantity of materials purchased or finding environmentally safer alternatives to purchase for your research are some of the best ways to reduce the generation of hazardous waste. All chemicals required in research, teaching or support services, must be acquired through the Science Store at the. The Science Store places all orders to ensure regulatory compliance related to acquisition, storage, use and disposal. Any products purchased by the Science Store will be added directly into the Vertére chemical inventory system and a proper barcode will be provided with every product. The Faculty Health, Safety and Risk Management Team can provide assistance in ordering safer and less toxic alternative chemicals if available or to find a chemical that you may be able to borrow in another faculty of science laboratory. Regulations: The disposal of any toxic or hazardous material must be done in accordance with federal, provincial and municipal regulations. Ontario has a comprehensive legislative and regulatory framework to ensure that hazardous wastes are managed in an environmentally safe manner. Through the Environmental Protection Act and accompanying regulations, the Ministry of the Environment has established a cradle to grave management system. This system controls collection, storage, transportation, treatment, recovery and disposal of hazardous waste. By regularly using the Vertére inventory system, you will help to ensure that your lab adheres to the applicable regulations. 3

4 General requirements related to packaging waste: 1. All materials must be collected in a suitable waste storage container. The appropriate containers are available for either purchase or free of charge from the Science Store located in the basement of D Iorio hall. The Science Risk Management team can help you determine which containers are appropriate for your specific waste (see Table 1 below for more information). 2. Each container must be properly labelled to reduce the possibility of mixing incompatible materials. Please see the section on page 4 for Labeling Requirements. 3. Incompatible, highly reactive and highly toxic materials must always be packaged separately. This is done to minimize fire and explosion hazards and to ensure the proper handling procedures by the Hazardous Materials Technician. (see Hazardous Waste Streams beginning on page 7). 4. Each waste container must only have one type of waste material inside. Chemical, biohazardous and radioactive wastes are handled differently and cannot be stored together. 5. All 20 Liter containers are to be placed inside a larger secondary container to prevent spillage. The maximum fill line on the secondary containers must be respected to prevent leaking of hazardous waste. 4

5 Table 1: List of Appropriate Waste Containers for Disposal of Hazardous Materials Application Description Size a. Amber glass bottle Reused 1 1L Liquid Waste b. Amber glass bottle Reused 1 4L c. White plastic carboy 20L d. Plastic waste drum 2 200L e. Black reusable plastic pail 10L Solid Waste f. White single use plastic pail 20L g. Metal waste drum 2 200L h. Chemical Sharps Container 1L The items in the above table can be either purchased or received for free from the Science Store. 1. These containers are reused from liquid chemicals bought in either 1L or 4L glass containers. 2. These containers are available upon special request and approval of the Hazardous Materials Technician. a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. 5

6 Labeling Requirements: Hazardous Waste Labels are required to communicate the contents of all waste containers to laboratory researchers and facility services. Pre-printed labels are available free of charge from the Science Store and are typically attached to the waste container. The following procedure ensures proper labeling, safe handling and collection of hazardous waste: 1. Once you begin to collect waste in a new container, immediately attach a Déchet Dangereux /Hazardous Waste label to the container. 2. As ingredients are added to the container, record the chemical name under the heading Contenu / Contents. 3. Collect inorganic substances separately and do not mix solids with liquids (See hazardous Materials Waste Streams). An example of a Hazardous Waste Label is shown below: 6

7 Characteristics of Hazardous Waste Hazardous waste is unwanted material which no longer has research value and poses potential threats to public health or the environment. This waste generally exhibits one or more of the following characteristics: 1. Flammable materials can rapidly vaporise and burn in air. Examples: Liquids that have a flash point less than 37.8 C. Solids that can cause fire through adsorption of moisture and will burn vigorously and persistently causing a hazard. Flammable compressed gases whose vapours ignite easily and rapidly. 2. Oxidizing materials stimulate combustion of organic materials. Examples: Gases fluorine, chlorine, ozone, nitrous oxide, and oxygen Liquids hydrogen peroxide, nitric acid, perchloric acid, and bromine 3. Corrosive liquids have a ph of 0-2 or Most common acids or bases are corrosive. Corrosives can generate corrosive vapours; ensure that the bottles are tightly sealed when transporting them to the waste room. Please never mix strong acids with strong bases! 4. Toxic materials can cause damage or death to living organisms. Toxicity of different types of hazardous waste can vary. Examples of toxic substances are compounds containing cyanides or mercury, and pesticides. Acute Toxicity is a material that has adverse effects from a single exposure. Chronic Toxicity is a material that has adverse effects from repeated exposures. Unknown Chemical Waste Please make every effort to identify all waste before submitting an unknown for disposal. This information may greatly reduce the hazards involved in handling and classifying the material. Include the name of the research group, telephone number, type of research, storage method, approximate age of the container and all relevant information (i.e. organic, acid, air reactive, ph, oxidizer etc.) 1. 7

8 Pickup Schedule: The following schedule is in effect for hazardous waste as a result of daily operation performed in the s buildings (not including biological and radiological waste). Building Schedule D Iorio Hall Sept-April 3 rd and 4 th floor alternate biweekly May-Aug 3 rd and 4 th floor every week Other Floors 1 st 2 nd floor every 4-6 weeks as needed MRN Hall Sept-April Chemistry Teaching Labs 2-3 times per week as needed May-Aug Chemistry Teaching Labs monthly Other Floors Every 4 weeks MCD Hall All labs Every 4 weeks CAREG Varies depending on research Once every 4-6 weeks to twice weekly Biosciences Once every 3 weeks All labs can directly contact Faculty Risk Management team to arrange for a pick-up. Specialty hazardous waste pickups must be arranged with the Faculty Risk Management team. Some examples are; laboratory clean-up, a potentially high risk material, unknown materials, used hazardous spill bags, etc. For a biological waste pickup, please contact the Biosafety Office at the Office of Risk Management. For a radioactive waste pickup, please contact the Radiation Safety Office at the Office of Risk Management. Drop-off Schedule: Alternatively, you can drop-off your laboratory s hazardous waste at D Iorio room 129 while the university s hazardous materials technician is working in the hazardous waste room. The most current schedule for hazardous waste drop off is located on the door to room D Iorio 129. Current Schedule (As of November 2013): Tuesday Thursday 1-2pm 1-2pm 8

9 Hazardous Materials Waste Streams: The s hazardous material waste streams are determined by the contract the Office of Risk Management has negotiated with an external waste provider. The Faculty Risk Management Team then coordinates with the faculty to ensure the proper classification, packaging and disposal of laboratory waste. Liquid Chemical Wastes 1. Organic Waste Purely organic solvents Halogenated solvents Organic compounds Basic compounds 2. Aqueous Waste Oxidizing Acid Waste Inorganic Acidic Waste Halogenated solvents High concentration of water liquid waste Some forms of heavy metals 3. Oil Waste Vacuum pump oil waste Motor oil waste 4. Photo Processing Waste Photo developer waste Photo fixer waste Silver containing compound waste 5. Highly Toxic Inorganic Liquid Compounds Dimethyl mercury Nitric acid and Heavy Metal waste 6. Pyrophoric Waste Must be in sealed container. Original container is accepted; under certain conditions an appropriate secondary container may be accepted. 9

10 Solid Hazardous Wastes 1. Hazardous Solid Waste - Silica, Tips, Tubes, Stain & Contaminated Articles Amorphous Silica waste Gloves Paper Tissue Non highly toxic Organic and Inorganic compounds Inorganic salts RNA kit waste Contaminated Gel plates 2. Broken Glass Ensure that all glass is rinsed before placing in the broken glass cardboard box. Once the box is full, seal the box and label it broken glass and place it in the hallway for overnight pickup. A new empty box lined with a plastic bag will be placed in your laboratory. 3. Highly Toxic Waste Inorganic compounds (Thallium, Mercury, Chromium, etc.) 4. Ethidium Bromide Gels Ethidium Bromide Contaminated Ethidium Bromide articles 5. Small Gas Cylinder Waste Lecture bottles High purity pyrophoric containers 6. Pyrophoric Waste Must be in sealed container. Original container is accepted; under certain conditions an appropriate secondary container may be accepted. 7. Chemical Sharp Waste Must be in appropriate sealed sharps container. 8. Battery Recycling To be placed in the white collection container on the side of the recycling stations throughout the campus. 10

11 Biological Waste 1. Autoclave Waste Please arrange with the Faculty Biotech Office for the appropriate procedures for autoclave waste. 2. Biological Sharps Biohazardous Sharp containers are available free of charge in the Science Store. 3. Cadaver waste Please arrange with the Biosafety Office for the appropriate procedures for Stericycle waste. Radioactive Waste Please arrange with the Radiation Safety Office for the appropriate procedures for radioactive waste. References: 1. C. Donaldson, J. Green, C. Busch, Hazardous Materials Disposal Guide (2007). 2. M-A. Armour, Hazardous Laboratory Chemicals Disposal Guide (1996). 3. Office of Risk Management, A Guide For Hazardous Waste Room Use (2004). 4. Office of Risk Management, Sewer Use Guidelines (2004). 11