Hazardous Waste
Management & Waste
Minimization Training
April Case
Sr. Environmental Specialist
Environmental Health and Safety
Phone #: 974-5084
acase3@utk.edu
Learning Objectives

Individuals who
generate or handle
hazardous waste will
be able to:
1. Identify hazardous
waste
2. Ensure it is
properly managed
Training Requirements



The US Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) and the Tennessee Department of
Environment and Conservation (TDEC)
require documented training for individuals
who handle and/or generate hazardous
waste.
There is initial training, followed by annual
refresher training.
Please contact EHS for training information.
Proper Waste Management

Proper Waste management is Essential:
◦ Maintain Healthy Work Environment
◦ Ensure compliance
◦ Reduced costs (proper I.D., generation
reduction, and disposal procedures)
◦ Promotes efficiency in research
◦ Sets good example for community
Definition: Hazardous Waste

Hazardous Waste is
defined by the EPA as:
 A material that no longer
has an intended value.
Exhibits properties that
make it dangerous or
potentially harmful to
human health or the
environment.
Can be in the form of
liquid, solid, gas or sludge.
Definition: Hazardous Waste

Hazardous Waste can
be the by-products of
manufacturing processes
or simply discarded
commercial products,
like cleaning fluids or
pesticides.
Sources of Hazardous Waste in
Laboratories:
Spent solvents and non-empty solvent
containers.
 Testing Samples
 Unused Reagents
 Reaction Products
 Absorbents and spill cleanup
 Contaminated materials (i.e. glassware,
gloves; pipet tips)
 Used Chromatography vials
 Gas Cylinders

Hazardous Waste Exclusions

The following categories of
waste are not considered
hazardous waste for this
program:
1. Sewage
2. Regular trash
3. Universal waste (fluorescent
bulbs, batteries)
4. Radioactive and biohazard
Improper Disposal Methods
Hazardous waste must not be
discarded by:
•
Sanitary Sewer
•
Storm Sewer
•
Regular Trash
•
Mixed with Biohazard
•
Evaporation (a container
without a lid implies
evaporation for volatile
substances)
•
Mixing With Nonhazardous Waste
Waste is Hazardous if…
It is listed as a hazardous waste
in the Title 40 Code of Federal
Regulations (CFR), which is
enforced by the EPA.
 It exhibits one or more of the
characteristics described on the
next slide.

4 Categories of Hazardous
Waste:




Corrosive (pH less than
2.0 or greater than 12.5)
Ignitable – also known
as flammable; oxidizers
Reactive (i.e. shock
sensitive, water reactive)
Toxic – very broad
category; includes metals
(Mercury), organics
(Methylene Chloride)
4 Categories of Hazardous
Waste: Corrosives
Corrosive (pH less
than 2.0 or greater
than 12.5)
 Examples include:
Hydrochloric acid,
Sulfuric Acid, Sodium
Hydroxide

4 Categories of Hazardous
Waste: Ignitables



Ignitable – also known
as flammables; Examples
include: Acetone,
Toluene, Xylene
Any waste material with a
flashpoint < 140° F.
Includes oxidizers
(Sodium nitrate,
potassium
permanganate)
4 Categories of Hazardous
Waste: Reactives

Reactive: Includes shock
sensitive (lithium and
sodium, water reactive
(calcium carbide,
spontaneously
combustible, peroxideforming (ethyl ether) and
potentially explosive
chemicals (dry picric
acid).
4 Categories of Hazardous
Waste: Toxics
Toxic – very broad category;
Includes metals, such as
mercury, lead and compounds
such as Methylene Chloride,
Chloroform.
 Includes acutely toxic chemicals,
which are very dangerous (i.e.
Sodium Azide, arsenic and
cyanide compounds. See EHS
web-site for list of acutely toxic
hazardous waste chemicals.


How do you know if a material is
considered a hazardous waste?





The burden of proof is on the
generator, not the disposal contractor.
The material safety data sheet
(MSDS) or original container labeling
are good starting points.
Unlabeled containers present a
number of problems
When in doubt, assume worst case
and manage as a hazardous waste.
Contact EHS for guidance.
Proper Labeling
Containers must be labeled to include all
hazardous components, as soon as waste
is added to the container.
 Labels are available from EHS. Tags are
also available for small containers.
 Do not complete the accumulation
start date section of the label – this
will be done when the waste is
brought to the waste room.

Proper Labeling
When labeling, do not use abbreviations
Do not use general terms or
nomenclature such as:
◦ Waste
◦ Solvent
◦ Formula
◦ Trade names
 Containers must be labeled to
include all hazardous components.


Example of Completed UT
Hazardous Waste Label:
Bad Example:


Do not use
formulas, or
draw
molecular
structure of
the chemical.
Make sure the
label is legible
and easy to
read.
Bad Example:


When labeling, do
not use chemical
formulas.
Write out the
chemical name in
its entirety on the
label.
Hazardous Waste
Hazardous Waste
Hazardous Waste
HPLC Waste Bottles


Several TDEC violations were cited for HPLC
bottles as “open containers” on campus.
Make sure to use secondary containment.
Unknowns:
Unknowns cost up to
10x more to dispose
than the original
purchase price of the
chemical.
 In 2001, UT Knoxville
spent over $70,000 to
identify unknowns
(does not include
disposal costs).

Containers
Contents must be
compatible with
container material
 Problems:

◦ Certain solvents
placed in plastic
containers
◦ Hydrofluoric acid in
glass containers
Containers-Adding Waste



When adding hazardous waste to
a container, only add the
constituents that are specifically
listed on the waste label.
Be careful not to mix
incompatibles
Minimize void space in containers
by assuring that collection
containers should be filled to
capacity (with a little head room
for expansion) before requesting
disposal or combining two
containers of identical material
into one.
29
Containers
For container selection
- look at original
container material
 The container must be
closed
 Must be in good
condition (no cracks or
rust)
 Clean on outside
 Must be leakproof

Containers
Maximum amount that can accumulate
in the lab is 55 gallons of hazardous
waste or 1 kilogram of acutely toxic
waste.
 If you accumulate more than the
maximum amount, the waste needs to
be removed from your lab no later than
3 days after these maximum amounts
are reached.

PROBLEM:
◦ Open Waste
Container.
◦ Waste stored in
readily recognizable
food container.
◦ No UT hazardous
waste label.
SOLUTION:
◦ Place in appropriate
waste container
that is closed and
properly labeled.
Dry Solids




Bags are ok for dry solids, as
long as the bags are sealed
closed and labeled properly and
there are no free-flowing liquids.
Sharps (needles) must go in
puncture-resistant containers.
Do not place dry solids cont.
with chemicals in red or orange
biohaz bags.
If the waste is both chemically
and biologically contaminated,
please contact EHS or Office of
Biosafety with questions.
Bad Example:
Make sure dry waste
is stored in a closed
waste container.
 This was discovered
by TDEC and was
written as an NOV
(Notice of Violation).

Waste Sharps
 Two Types of Sharps:
◦ Biohazard
◦ Chemical
 Biohazard sharps:
◦ You must supply your
own containers (red
boxes)
◦ Bring Containers to
Waste Room for
collection
Waste Sharps
Chemical sharps:
◦ No biohazard symbols or red
boxes for these sharps, or
biohazard bags
◦ All hazardous waste labeling
requirements are applicable for
the chemicals contaminating
these sharps (keep compatible)
Good Example:

These chemically
contaminated
sharps are labeled
properly and being
stored in an
appropriate waste
container.
Ethidium Bromide Gels
EPA does not consider ethidium
bromide hazardous waste, but UTK
handles as special waste.
 UTK requires Ethidium Bromide waste
to be labeled with UT waste label.
 Ethidium Bromide waste can be stored
in bags as long as there are no free
flowing liquids.
 You can dry gels in fume hood before
bringing to waste room.

Ethidium Bromide Gels
•Best container for storage
and disposal of Ethidium
Bromide gel waste:
Sealable plastic containers
•Next best option:
Large mouth containers
Ethidium Bromide Liquids



Dilute aqueous solutions containing <0.5
mg/ml ethidium bromide can be filtered or
deactivated using either charcoal filtration
(EHS preferred method), or chemical
deactivation. Please see EHS web-site for
more guidance.
Concentrated solutions (>0.5 mg/ml) should
be collected for disposal as hazardous waste.
Any solutions that also contain heavy metals,
organics, cyanides or sulfides should be
collected and disposed of as hazardous waste.
Waste Segregation

Segregate by Hazard Categories:
◦ Flammables
◦ Oxidizers
◦ Acids
◦ Bases
◦ Toxic
◦ Combination (i.e. Nitric Acid;
Glacial Acetic Acid)
Waste Segregation: Common
Examples






Cyanide salts and acid
◦ Hydrogen Cyanide and Sulfuric Acid
Flammables and Oxidizers:
◦ Acetone and Sodium Nitrate
Acids and Bases
◦ Hydrochloric Acid and Sodium Hydroxide
Mercury and mercury compounds
Unstable just from long shelf life
◦ Ethers, Sodium Azide, Picric Acid
Check EHS web-site for partial list of incompatible
hazardous chemicals.
Waste Segregation:

Segregate
◦ Use Cabinets
 This is ideal-flammable
and corrosive waste.
◦ Use Dish pans or Tubs
 Space is premium, so in
the event of spills this
prevents reaction and
allows time to clean it
Waste Segregation:

What NOT to do:
◦ Separate by shelf one on
top of the other
◦ Opposite side of fume hood
without catch basin
◦ Alphabetical chemical
storage systems
◦ It is best to segregate,
then alphabetize.
Items of Concern:

What NOT to do:
◦ Separate by shelf one on top of the
other
◦ Opposite side of fume hood without
catch basin
◦ Alphabetical chemical storage systems
 Segregate then alphabetize
Ether
All Ethers MUST be dated when opened
Use within 1 year
•
•
Ether is one of the “dirty
dozen” responsible for
more than it’s share of
accidents, due to extreme
flammability.
Handle in fume hood, and
pay attention to heat and
flame sources.
List of Chemicals with Peroxide
Hazards
Peroxide Hazard on Storage Discard After Three (3) Months
Isopropyl ether
Divinyl acetylene
Vinylidene chloride
Potassium metal
Sodium amide
Peroxide Hazard on Concentration Discard After One (1) Year
Ethyl ether
Tetrahydrofuran
Dioxane
Acetal
Methyl isobutyl ketone (glyme)
Ethylene glycol dimethyl ether
Vinyl ethers
Dicyclopentadiene
Diacetylene
Metal acetylene
Cumene
Tetrahydronaphthalene
Cyclohexane
t-Butyl alcohol
Hazardous to Peroxide Initiation of Polymerization Discard After One (1) Year
Styrene
Butadiene
Tetrafluoroethylene
Chlorotrifluoroethylene
Vinyl acetylene
Vinyl acetate
Vinyl chloride
Vinyl pyridine
Chlorobutadiene (Chloroprene)
9,10-Dihydroanthracene
Indene
Dibenzocyclopentadiene
Definition of Empty Container:

An empty container is defined by
the EPA as one where:
◦ All product has been emptied
using common practice
◦ No more than 1 inch of product
residue remains in container
◦ No more than 3% by weight of
the product remains
(containers <110 gallons)
Empty Containers


Empty containers (bottles, cans, jars, bags,
etc) that once held a hazardous substance
may be discarded in the regular trash and
are not considered hazardous waste
Exception – Empty Containers that held
acutely hazardous materials are regulated as
hazardous waste, unless they are triplerinsed (see EHS web-site for list of acutely
hazardous chemicals). Examples include:
sodium azide, cyanides, arsenic compounds,
some pesticides, and acrolein.
Empty Containers

Make sure you
deface any
markings,
such as DOT
diamonds, and
labels from
empty
containers.
Broken Glass

Place Broken Glass
into a box, seal it, and
discard it into a
dumpster
◦ This ensures that
housekeeping or
anyone else
downstream does not
get hurt.
Satellite Accumulation Area
Satellite Accumulation
Area: area in the lab
where waste chemicals
are stored.
 Must be designated
with signs – available
from EHS

Sign to Identify Hazardous
Storage Area:
Criteria for SAA:
Away from heat and sparks
Close to waste generation area
Away from incompatible materials
Doesn’t interfere with use of fume
hood
 Out of the way, so won’t get
knocked over
 Easily cleaned and or secondary
containment




Transporting Chemicals
Safely on Campus
Be aware of the chemical’s hazards.
 Hazardous chemicals must be
attended at all times during
transport.
 Wear appropriate PPE.
 Use Secondary Containment.
 Avoid using passenger elevators.
 Use a cart if needed.
 Avoid transporting chemicals in
vehicles.

Spills & Emergencies



For minor spills, call EHS at
974-5084 if you feel you
cannot handle the situation
(during regular work hours).
For major spills and other
safety emergencies after
hours, please call 974-9586
(Safety on-call number) or
911 if needed.
Remember that any waste
generated from a spill
cleanup of a hazardous
waste or chemical must be
managed as a hazardous
waste.
59
Shipping Hazardous
Materials
If you need to ship
hazardous materials
(dangerous goods) by
land sea, or air (i.e. Fedex or UPS), please
contact EHS.
 You must be IATA
trained before shipping
hazardous material.

Waste can be brought to the
following locations:
Walters Waste Room (WLS)
Room M-209
Wednesdays 1:00-2:00 p.m.
 SERF Waste Room @ loading
dock on 2nd Floor:
Wednesdays 2:00-3:00 p.m.
 EHS does not accept DEA
Controlled Substances.
 Do not leave waste
unattended!!!!

Hazardous Waste Violations



Violation of hazardous
waste regulations can
result in substantial fines
to the university
Waste generators can be
fined as much as
$50,000/violation/day,
depending on the
violation.
TDEC and EPA conduct
unannounced inspections
on campus.
Top Hazardous Waste Violations
found on campus by TDEC:
Open Containers – lid not in place
Hazardous Waste Labels – missing,
or incomplete
3. Hazardous Waste Determination –
waste has not been characterized
4. Personnel Training – no
documentation
5. Satellite Accumulation Area –no
sign
1.
2.
UTK’s Hazardous Waste Reduction
and Waste Minimization Policy
State regulations require the university
write and implement a hazardous waste
reduction and waste minimization plan.
 In 2007, UT Knoxville disposed of
approximately 60,000 pounds of
hazardous waste at a cost of
$230,042.05.

Why should we reduce
hazardous waste generation?






Lowers waste disposal costs and
compliance costs
Reduces long term liability for disposal
Reduces costs of chemical purchases
Reduces health hazards
Promotes environmental awareness
Prevents pollution and conserves
resources
Hazardous Waste Reduction
Ideas




Substitution with a non-hazardous
substance
◦ Water-based solvents
◦ Alcohol thermometers instead of
mercury-containing
◦ Detergent glass cleaner instead
of chromic acid
Microchemistry or reduced volumes
Avoid mixing or contamination with
non-hazardous substances
Distillation of solvents
More Hazardous Waste
Reduction Ideas….


Elementary neutralization –
acid/base
Administrative Controls
◦ inventory management
◦ spill prevention

Phase separation (example one liquid floats and won’t
readily mix with another in the
same vessel)
Chemical Exchange
◦ No longer needed by the user
◦ Still usable or has value
◦ Often in their original containers and
unused
◦ The chemical has not expired and has
factory seal in place
◦ Has no visible signs of degradation
◦ UT Chemical Exchange is found at:
http://www.pp.utk.edu
Hazardous Waste Reduction
Activities:
Contact EHS (x5084) to discuss
hazardous waste reduction activities
– even activities that have occurred
in the past
 We need to demonstrate and
document hazardous waste
reduction for compliance purposes.
 UTK’s Hazardous waste minimization
plan can be found on the EHS website in the Safety Manual.

Summary




Hazardous waste containers must be kept
closed, properly labeled, in good condition,
acceptable for the contents and properly
stored.
Labels and regulatory guidance are available
from EHS (x5084)
Strive for hazardous waste reduction and
waste minimization
If you have any questions, please contact
EHS, or check the EHS web-site.
Quiz Time
To complete the Staying Safe in the Laboratory Module, please
click here for the quiz