FAQs

Treatment for chemical waste disposal is accomplished by one of four processes: Biological, Chemical, Physical or Thermal. Chemical treatment methods include ion exchange, precipitation, oxidation and reduction, and neutralization, however the most common type of thermal treatment method is incineration.

"Handling and Disposal requirements are different for hazardous and extremely hazardous chemical waste.
Check the list of Known Hazardous and Extremely Hazardous Wastes for your material here: ucsd.edu/safety/research-lab/hazardous-waste/disposal-guidance/extremely

Is Chemical waste always considered hazardous?
Chemical waste is largely composed of harmful chemicals. This does not mean, however, that it is classified as hazardous.

For it to be considered hazardous, it must have an ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity or toxicity characteristic, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

A turnkey lab pack service (which is what MCF offers) typically involves the following:

• Identification of all materials within the lab.
• Inventory creation of those materials.
• All DOT-certified containers.
• Necessary paperwork (profiles, shipping manifest, labels, placards, and so on).
• All labor associated with the pack.
• All travel expenses associated with transport.

Before packing any chemical containers into the lab pack, a qualified individual must create an inventory of every expired, damaged, or out-of-date chemical to be disposed of. This inventory should accurately detail everything that’s going into the pack in order to properly – and safely – dispose of chemicals that are no longer needed.

To load the lab pack (drum), small vials and containers (anywhere from one-quarter ounce to gallon jugs) are packed together into the larger container which must be packed according to waste type, so the waste segregation process is vital. For example, flammable items should be packed with other flammable items. Corrosive waste should be packed with similar corrosive waste. You should never mix flammable, corrosive, or reactive materials within one large container.

Common materials that would be transported in a lab pack include toxic, flammable, corrosive, pyrophoric or explosive materials, acids, aerosols and compressed gas, solvents, oxidizers, chemical reagents, cleaning and disinfecting agents, radioactive materials, organic peroxides, paints, paint thinners, varnish strippers and reactive materials from metals.

Lab packs are typically used by universities, laboratories , dry cleaners or other industries that produce chemical waste. When disposing of multiple chemicals with different hazardous properties, lab packs are a convenient and cost-effective option for shipping hazardous chemicals off-site. The large lab pack container gets filled with various smaller-quantity containers of materials or chemicals that are similar to each other, such as acids, flammables and oxidizers. The container is then marked with its assigned shipping name for easy sorting.

Lab packing is the process in which chemicals are placed into a DOT approved container and transported to a permitted waste disposal facility. Because many of these substances are hazardous and even more dangerous when accumulated with other chemicals, it is important that only an individual who has expertise in lab packing operations performs them. A trained lab packing technician will have knowledge of how to handle and segregate chemical substances in a way that is safe and regulation compliant.

Only transportation companies permitted under the U.S. DOT hazardous materials regulations and the U.S. EPA's hazardous waste regulations can transport hazardous waste. It is the responsibility of the waste generator to confirm that their nominated transporter is fully permitted, being aware that some service providers outsource transportation to a third party. Using a third party can add an additional layer of risk when considering lab pack disposal.

It is the responsibility of the "Lab Packer" to identify and properly segregate each substance based on the US Department of Transportation’s regulations. Many flammable substances cannot be packaged with other chemicals because they are in different hazard classes, for example, picric acid is one chemical that becomes explosive with age and must be handled with extreme caution and expertise. It is therefore imperative, whether for a Chemist or a Hazardous Waste partner, that the person responsible for lab packing has knowledge of the substances they are working with.

Chemicals should be designated for Lab Pack disposal if they meet the following criteria:

Within six months of expiration (this should be captured on the label of the chemical container). Best practice irrespective of expiration date is to not keep hazardous chemicals for longer than five years.
When the condition of the chemical’s storage has been compromised, for example if the chemical was stored in an unsuitable temperature or without being properly sealed.
If you do not need or use the chemical regularly or it poses an unsuitable hazard risk.

Chemistry laboratories in educational institutions (including but not limited to community colleges, high schools and universities) store many toxic, corrosive, flammable, reactive, and poisonous chemicals that are used in class demonstrations and training. With a clear shelf life, these chemicals must be disposed of at the end of each semester or school year. Lab packing is both the safest and most compliant means of packaging and transporting hundreds of different lab chemicals at once.

Lab packs that contain highly dangerous chemicals such as cyanide or arsenic and/or container toxic heavy metals are subject to special treatment requirements. Generators are not required to determine underlying hazardous constituents (UHCs) when using the alternative treatment standard for lab packs.

The US DOT regulations at 49 CFR 173.12(b), (d), and (f) include special requirements for transporting lab packs. Firstly, the materials shipped in the lab packs must be of the same DOT hazard and must be compatible. Outer packaging must be UN-performance packaging, typically open-head drums of steel, plastic, other metal, or fiberboard. Each inner container cannot exceed 20 liters capacity, and the total weight of the lab pack cannot exceed 205 kilograms.

Lab packing is a chemical collection and transport method that utilizes smaller inner containers inside a larger outer container for packing and shipping. This process enables cost and space efficiency in transport when shipping "like" materials while ensuring that no incompatible chemicals are mixed together. If you have small containers intact and contained within their own primary container, then these items could be placed into a drum that is equal or lesser than 55 gallons and “lab packed” together with inert packing material (typically packed in vermiculite or another compatible absorbent). It should be noted however that there are specific requirements for the amount of packing material required in each specific size drum per D.O.T regulations, and combining bottles of chemicals in the same outer container can be dangerous if not done correctly.

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) set the regulations for the collection, treatment, and disposal of biohazardous waste. In addition, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) provides additional guidelines for the management and disposal of biohazardous waste. Finally, state and local authorities, as well as universities and individual facilities, may impose their own specific standards and practices as well.

First and most important, HIPAA is in place in order to protect the privacy of your patients and ensure their total safety. If their PHI was stolen or revealed due to your negligence, you have compromised the integrity of your facility and the safety of one of your patients. Additionally, you are looking at potential financial ramifications.

Patients will be less likely to trust you and your ability to keep their information safe, meaning your patient numbers could go down.
If you underwent an OSHA audit and were found to be noncompliant, you could be subject to any number of OSHA fines.
The patient whose information was compromised could take legal action against your facility.

HIPAA is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. Congress passed this legislation in 1996, and it largely has to do with measures and protocols to protect private and sensitive patient information. This can include general information, such as name, date of birth, and social security number, but it also entails medically related information, such as any conditions you have, treatments you’ve undergone, and so on.

The law and various regulations dictate many facets of privacy in the medical arena, and mandatory HIPAA compliance is a large piece of that.

As a pharmacy or primary care facility, part of your job is to keep your patients’ protected health information (PHI) secure and private. This helps ensure you are in full HIPAA compliance. If you are disposing of pill bottles in any capacity, all sensitive patient information (including prescription number) must be adequately obscured or removed. This can involve scratching the numbers or information off, blacking it out with permanent marker, or covering it with duct tape. Following these practices means your practice is not vulnerable to the fines or other punitive actions associated with HIPAA violations.

Under HIPAA, covered entities must follow a set of regulations designed to safeguard PHI. These regulations were put in place to limit incidental and prohibited exposure of PHI, including when that information is set for disposal. Certain policies and procedures must be followed to guarantee PHI are properly destroyed, including:

• Shredding, burning, pulping, or pulverizing the records so PHI becomes unreadable, indecipherable, & cannot be reconstructed.
• Maintaining labeled prescription bottles and other PHI in opaque bags in a secure area
• Using a disposal vendor as a business associate to pick up and shred or otherwise destroy the PHI.
• Overwriting PHI stored on electronic media with non-sensitive data
• Using a strong magnetic field to disrupt recorded magnetic domains urging
• Destroying the electronic media used to store PHI through disintegration, pulverization, melting, incinerating, or shredding

to ensure safe and compliant management of Industrial Waste, the EPA suggests the following these steps:

• Identify all hazardous waste you generate
• Measure the amount of hazardous waste you produce
• Obtain your EPA Identification Number
• Prepare your waste for shipment by properly packaging and label your waste containers
• Follow the required timeline for waste storage on-site
• Engage a qualified waste transport provider to handle any waste treated offsite
• Maintain accurate, detailed records and provide regular biennial reports of your waste management activities

A contingency plan will vary slightly for every company, depending on the type and amount of hazardous waste you produce. Whether you’re a small quantity generator or a large quantity generator, you must adhere to the following guidelines:

Assign one or more people to be the emergency coordinator. Include the contact information for this person (or people) within the plan.
Include the location of both emergency equipment and emergency telephones.
Ensure all employees know this plan exists and are familiar with the procedures. (Obviously, an emergency situation is never planned or expected and can arise at any moment. Therefore, all employees need to be prepared and equipped to respond quickly and accurately to minimize safety hazards.)

Firstly, you will not be informed or alerted before a compliance-based inspection. The person leading that inspection will simply show up, ask for the person in charge of your facility, and commence the audit. This can happen at any time.

Because these kinds of inspections can happen without warning, you must be absolutely certain that you comply with all relevant regulations and rules—at all times. Never wing it. Have a thorough, researched hazardous waste management plan, and be diligent about ensuring all employees follow that plan. From using the right hazardous waste label to ensuring you’re using the proper containers, this plan should cover every possible contingency.

Whether your generated waste is hazardous or nonhazardous, it’s the responsibility of the waste generator to create the actual profile. It requires a signature from a qualified and trained representative of the business (whether a manufacturer, a hospital or a laboratory) to confirm what’s in the shipment. The paperwork is then sent to the Treatment and Disposal facility, where it’s reviewed to confirm that facility can accept whatever is going to be in that shipment.

Often, the facility requires some form of proof to confirm they are able to accept the shipment. This frequently comes in the form of analytical work or an SDS (Safety Data) sheet in order to confirm the content of the given shipment. This helps the receiving facility ensure they are clear to accept the shipment, and it provides insurance to that facility in case there are ever any discrepancies between what was stated on the profile and what was actually shipped.

A contingency plan is basically the entire "backup process" you have in place in the event of an accident involving your generated hazardous material. This encompasses both the business-specific system your company has devised, as well as the subsequent written document for training and informing your employees about that protocol.

Everyone who generates hazardous waste is legally obligated to create a Hazardous Waste Contingency Plan irrespective of your EPA generator status and what state the waste is generated (this is a federal mandate)

Like the CWA, the Clean Air Act (CAA) also regulates pollution, only it focuses on national emissions standards. The CAA regulates the discharge of hazardous air pollutants (HAP), including perc. To remain compliant with the CAA, dry cleaners who use perc must follow several specific prevention steps. CAA compliance requires regular inspection of dry cleaning equipment, leak detection and repair logs, good housekeeping practices, and a record of the total perc amount purchased over the last 12 months. You can contact your local Air Pollution Control District or Air Quality board for additional CAA compliance information.

The Clean Water Act (CWA) was created to protect the nation’s surface water, including lakes, streams, ponds, and oceans. The CWA controls both direct discharges to surface waters as well as storm water runoff and indirect discharge in the public sewer system. The portion of the CWA most pertinent to dry cleaners involves the statute’s regulation of perc, trichloroethane, and CFC-113, as well as NPDES. Your state water authority, regional EPA office, or local POTW can provide you with additional guidance regarding CWA compliance.

The EPA has mandated that all existing dental practices have amalgam separators installed on dental engines by July 14, 2020 with all new dental practices installing them prior to seeing patients. Liability for mercury amalgam waste rests on the dental practice that generates the waste until you receive documentation from a licensed hazardous waste removal company that certifies it was disposed of properly.

Pathological waste (sometimes known as as anatomical waste) refers to the waste disposal of any human or animal body parts. This can include organs, tissues, surgical specimens and bodily fluids removed during surgery or autopsy. All pathological waste must be properly disposed of in an approved and correctly labelled pathological waste container.

Biohazard remediation is the process of thorough cleaning, sanitization, and deodorizing a site where a fatal accident has occurred. It is a category of hazardous waste management that requires the handling of human blood, body fluids, and feces; rendering workers potentially exposed to staph, hepatitis, HIV, and other communicable diseases.

Regulated Medical waste is classified within the packaging group PG II. Its correct shipping name is Regulated Medical Waste, n.o.s and it belongs in the Hazard Class 6, Division 6.2. A Division 6.2 infectious substance (which includes regulated medical waste) is a hazardous material that is subject to regulation under the Hazardous Materials Regulation (HMR). All employees involved in its transportation (including loading, unloading, handling and preparing or reviewing shipping papers) must be trained HazMat employees.

A medical waste generator is typically a person or business involved in the following activities:

• The diagnosis, treatment, or immunization of human beings or animals.
• Research pertaining to the activities specified above.
• The production and testing of biological agents.

Infectious medical waste is waste generated in the diagnosis, treatment or immunization of human beings or animals which has been or is likely to have been contaminated by an organism capable of causing disease in healthy humans. While waste generators must follow CDC isolation precautions, most discarded biological waste products or materials that are potentially infectious infectious can be disposed of as regulated medical waste.

Sharps waste is a stream of regulated medical waste composed of used "sharps", aka any device or object used to puncture or lacerate the skin. Common items typically categorized as sharps include hypodermic needles, disposable scalpels and blades, lancets, broken capillary tubes, and culture slides. All used sharps must be disposed of in an approved sharps disposal container.

Interchangeably known as biohazardous, biomedical waste or biowaste, this waste stream includes:

• Cultures of infectious diseases and/or agents
• Sharps (E.g., needles, scalpels, and lancets)
• Anything soaked in blood, like gloves, gauze, and gowns
• Human body tissues
• Animal body tissues
• Human body fluids
• Wastes from rooms of patients having communicable diseases
• Something containing environmentally-restricted molecules or organisms
• Multi-hazardous substances, so-called because they contain some combination of noxious elements wherein neutralizing one can make the other more dangerous (E.g. tissue samples preserved in formalin).

Any waste stream that contains blood, body fluids, or other potentially infectious materials is considered an RMW, also known as “biomedical” or “infectious medical” waste.

Sole active ingredient means the ingredient (that potentially may be a P or U listed hazardous waste) is the only chemically active component in the pharmaceutical that performs the function of the pharmaceutical.

Hazardous industrial waste is a stream regulated under RCRA Subtitle C. Hazardous Industrial Waste is defined as waste that is not regulated under RCRA Subtitle D (for non-hazardous solid waste), it includes sewage, radioactive waste, shredded circuit boards, and spent sulfuric acid, among many others.

Industrial waste can also be toxic or hazardous waste. If not managed properly, this type of industrial waste can cause harm to humans, animals and the environment by contaminating fresh waterways with a flow-on effect to animals and food cultivation.

Toxic waste is generally a byproduct of other materials generated at factories, hospitals and manufacturing facilities. Requirements for handling and disposal differ by state.

Industrial wastes result from (or are incidental to) operations of industry, manufacturing, mining, or agriculture. Examples include wastes from manufacturing facilities, power generation plants, and research laboratories serving an industry. Nonindustrial wastes, by comparison, come from sources such as universities, hospitals, churches, dry cleaners, most service stations, and laboratories serving the public.

There are three types of waste that fall into the category ' Industrial Waste'. These include:

Chemical Waste. Chemical waste is typically generated by factories, processing centers, warehouses, and plants. ...
Solid Waste. In industrial services, solid waste includes a variety of different materials, including paper, cardboard, plastics, packaging materials, wood, and scrap metal. ...
Toxic and Hazardous Waste.

Universal wastes are hazardous wastes that are generated across multiple sectors of society, these materials contain harmful chemicals which, if put in the trash may harm people or the environment. Universal wastes include:

• Common Batteries
• Fluorescent Tubes and Bulbs and Other Mercury-Containing Lamps
• Thermostats
• Electronic Devices. These devices often contain heavy metals like lead, cadmium, copper, and chromium.
• Electrical Switches and Relays
• Pilot Light Sensors. Mercury-containing switches are found in some gas appliances
• Mercury Gauges – Some gauges, such as barometers, manometers, blood pressure, and vacuum gauges
• Mercury Thermometers
• Non-Empty Aerosol Cans that Contain Hazardous Materials

Finally, CESQGs include any operation that generates 100 kilograms or less of hazardous waste per month, or 1 kilogram or less per month of acutely hazardous (highly toxic) waste. Unlike SQGs and LQGs, CESQGs cannot accumulate above 1,000 kilograms of waste over any period of time. In addition, CESQGs must always identify all hazardous waste at their facility. Finally, CESQGs must ensure that any hazardous waste sent off-premises is delivered to a third-party company, landfill, or treatment, storage, and disposal facility (TSDF) has the proper permits and licensing authorizing them to handle and dispose of hazardous materials.

For SQGs, typical hazardous waste generation tends to stay between 100 kilograms and 1,000 kilograms per month. For SQGs, the onsite waste accumulation cannot exceed 6,000 kilograms, though accumulated waste without a permit can be maintained onsite for 180 days or 270 days if shipping of the hazardous waste would require transport over 200 miles. Like LQGs, SQGs must also have at least one employee acting as an emergency coordinator who is available at all times in case of an emergency. SQGs must also provide written contingency plans with detailed response measures available before an emergency transpires.

LQGs typically generate 1,000 kilograms (approx. 2,200lbs) of hazardous waste per month or more than 1 kilogram (approx. 2.2lbs) of highly-toxic or acutely toxic hazardous waste per month. There is no limit to the amount of hazardous waste an LQG can accumulate on site, though any accumulated waste must be transported or disposed of within 90 days (some exceptions apply). Biennial hazardous waste reports must be submitted by LQGs in order to maintain compliance. Finally, any LQG operation must designate at least one employee as an acting emergency coordinator in case of emergency, and written contingency plans with detailed response measure must be prepared beforehand and be readily accessible to staff and inspectors.

The EPA prescribes three different “emptiness” standards that are necessary and sufficient to avoid hazardous material removal regulations. One is simply for “hazardous waste,” another for “acute hazardous waste,” and a third for “compressed gas hazardous waste.” Part of the challenge with deeming a container "empty" is that you must determine whether removal of the original waste (or its subsequent management) doesn’t in itself produce a hazardous waste. An example might be the residual mixture of waste and cleaning solvent (aka rinsate) left from a triple-wash regimen.

Intended for businesses that don't typically generate hazardous waste. A provisional identification number is for locations that need to dispose of hazardous waste right away due to an emergency. Anything, if deemed an environmental hazard, a spill or other kind of emergency, can set into motion the regulatory enforcement of the EPA and require your business to comply with hazardous waste requirements.

• When categorizing hazardous waste, the EPA breaks it down by four characteristics
• Ignitability, or something flammable.
• Corrosivity, or something that can rust or decompose.
• Reactivity, or something explosive
• Toxicity, or something poisonous.

Listed hazardous wastes don’t have such intrinsically noxious “characteristics” in and of themselves. Instead, they require hazardous waste disposal because they’re offshoots of manufacturing practices that typically produce a hazardous waste. The EPA keeps two lists of these chemicals, all of them considered a hazardous waste in both their pure and commercial-grade formulations. These are the “P” and “U” lists and contain such everyday meds as warfarin, cyclophosphamide, and lindane.

Characteristic hazardous wastes possess noxious “characteristics” such as:

• Flammability—they catch fire under certain conditions, posing obvious transport & storage dangers
• Corrosiveness—they can disintegrate metals and therefore require storage vessels constructed of (or lined with) anticorrosive materials
• Instability—they’re prone to explode under heat or pressure; or produce toxic fumes, gasses, or vapors
• Toxicity—they are harmful or fatal to humans and/or local biota when ingested or absorbed, or can leach into soil or groundwater
• Reactivity—otherwise benign chemicals might become flammable, corrosive, unstable, or toxic when mixed with others

We request that you remove all documentation and paperwork from metal-ring binders and plastic covers. Paper clips, staples, wiring, and any other metal materials holding your paper together are permitted.

In short, yes. However doing so comes with some risk as well as a cost consideration. When document shredding is done in-house, there are some hidden costs. Firstly, staff members have to set aside work hours to separate paper, remove paper clips and staples and actually carry out the shredding. Secondly, using office strip-cut shredders makes it easy for confidential documents to be pieced back together, therefore rendering the business exposed to a data breach that could end up costing the business thousands of dollars.

Under the RCRA guidelines, an SQG must ensure that all employees are educated in the proper waste handling and emergency procedures relevant to their responsibilities. Large quantity generators (LQG), on the other hand, must have a formal personnel training program in place in accordance with the requirements in 265.16 and 262.34(a)(4). This requires initial training and annual review that teaches proper waste management and familiarizes them with procedures, equipment, and systems to effectively respond to emergencies.

Proper preparation of your hazardous waste is crucial for safe and efficient pickup. Here’s how you can prepare your waste:

• Segregate Waste: Separate different types of hazardous waste according to their classification (e.g., chemical, biological, electronic).
• Labeling: Clearly label all containers with the contents and any hazard symbols as required by regulations.
• Packaging: Use appropriate containers for the type of waste. Ensure they are sealed, leak-proof, and in good condition.
• Documentation: Complete any required paperwork, such as waste manifests, which detail the type and quantity of waste.
• Storage: Store the waste in a secure area, away from incompatible materials, and ensure it is accessible for pickup.
• Notify Us: Inform our team if there are any special handling requirements or if the waste includes particularly hazardous materials that need extra precautions.

By following these guidelines, you help ensure a smooth and compliant waste pickup process. If you have any questions or need specific instructions, our team is always here to assist you.

At MCF Environmental, safety is our top priority. We adhere to strict protocols to ensure the safe handling, transportation, and disposal of hazardous waste:

• Training: Our team undergoes extensive training in hazardous waste management and emergency response.
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): We equip our staff with the necessary PPE to protect them from exposure to hazardous materials.
• Compliance: We comply with all federal, state, and local regulations governing hazardous waste disposal.
• Transportation: Our vehicles are specially designed and equipped to safely transport hazardous waste. We follow strict routing and handling procedures to minimize risk.
• Documentation: We maintain comprehensive records and manifests to track the waste from the point of collection to its final disposal.
• Emergency Response: We have contingency plans in place to respond quickly to any incidents during the disposal process, ensuring minimal impact on the environment and public health.

To get a quote, you can follow these steps:

1. Visit our Quote Request form: Go to the Quote Request page on our website.
2. Fill Out the Form: Provide detailed information about the type and quantity of waste you need to dispose of. Include any relevant photos or documents that can help us assess your needs more accurately.
3. Submit Your Request: Once you submit the form, our team of experts will review your information.
4. Follow-Up Contact: We will reach out to you promptly to discuss your requirements, provide an estimate, and answer any questions you might have. You can also contact us directly via phone (866) 315-8116.

Hazardous waste includes any materials that pose a significant risk to public health or the environment when not properly managed. This can encompass a wide range of substances, including but not limited to:

• Chemical wastes from laboratories and industrial processes
• Heavy metals like mercury and lead
• Pesticides and herbicides
• Solvents and paint thinners
• Batteries and electronic waste
• Fluorescent bulbs and other items containing mercury
• Medical waste and pharmaceuticals

These materials are classified as hazardous due to their toxicity, reactivity, corrosivity, or ignitability. It is essential to handle and dispose of them following strict regulatory guidelines to prevent harm.

Between 5% to 10% of pharmaceutical products are correctly classified as hazardous waste. There are four questions that must be answered to determine if a pharmaceutical product is regulated by the EPA as a hazardous waste:
1) Is it a solid waste?
2) Does it qualify for an exemption?
3) Is it a characteristic waste?
4) Is it a listed waste?

You can only if your state has adopted the SubPart P amendment and the nicotine is in the form of patches, gums or lozenges.

Hazardous wastes may only be deposited in "secure landfills", which provide at least 3 meters (10 feet) of separation between the bottom of the landfill and the underlying bedrock or groundwater table. A secure hazardous-waste landfill must have two impermeable liners and leachate collection systems that prevents the accumulation of leachate trapped in the fill and prevents environmental damage. To further reinforce against environmental contamination, an impermeable cap or cover is placed over a finished landfill.

Hazardous waste can be treated by chemical, thermal, biological, and physical methods. Chemical methods include ion exchange, oxidation and reduction, precipitation and neutralization. Among thermal methods is high-temperature incineration, which not only can detoxify certain organic wastes but also can destroy them. Specific types of thermal equipment are used for burning waste in either solid, liquid, or sludge form, including the rotary kiln, liquid-injection incinerator and fluidized-bed incinerator.

Waste containers come in a variety of materials, and some are simply incompatible with certain waste types. For example, corrosive waste can’t go into a metal drum or container. It can eat through that metal and cause minor or severe leaking. Plastic containers are the safer, more suitable option for anything corrosive. Similarly, flammable waste is best contained to steel drums or pails. Whether you’re dealing with hazardous materials or non-hazardous waste, you must use a UN-rated container. You’ll know it’s UN rated because it will have the specific UN number on the bottom. If you choose the incorrect container, and it leaks or has a massive structural collapse, you are absolutely liable to pay for any damages or cleanup associated with that spill. It doesn’t matter if it wasn’t leaking when it went on the truck; it doesn’t matter if you didn’t realize you couldn’t use that type of container; the liability rests with you.

Administered by the EPA, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), generators of hazardous waste must ensure complete compliance in the handling and disposal of RCRA hazardous waste. A partial list of potential infraction includes:

• Dumping a hazardous waste down the drain.
• Missing or incomplete hazardous waste manifests
• Failing to train employees in hazmat generation, handling, transport, and emergency preparedness.
• Missing or non-compliant labels
• Uncovered hazmat containers
• Improper waste consolidation

Before you can properly dispose of your hazardous glass waste, you must first ensure all your disposal items have been adequately identified. The most common types of laboratory glass waste include pipettes, slides, plastic ware, syringe bodies, and any broken containers. Hazardous glass and plastic waste should never be placed directly into the trashcan or other garbage receptacles. Because of the high risk of contamination, specially designed containers should be used. Plastic-lined cardboard boxes that are sturdy and leak proof are the best options.

Legal requirements for shipping frequency depends on your generator status:

• Conditionally exempt: no limits or restrictions
• Small quantity: 180 days or less; 270 days or less when transporting more than two hundred miles
• Large quantity: 90 days or less

Failure to comply with these shipping times could result in an EPA fine being handed down to your place of business.

A facility must determine the amount of hazardous waste it generates within a calendar month by adding together the volumes of hazardous wastes and the volumes of acutely hazardous wastes generated by each department located on-site. Off-site facilities must separately determine the amount of hazardous waste they generate. The hazardous waste rules are site-specific therefore each hazardous waste generator, by site, must account for the hazardous wastes generated at their facility.

RCRA requires that SQGs and LQG generators of hazardous waste inspect containers in storage (not in satellite accumulation areas) at least weekly for signs of corrosion, leaks, or other deterioration; such inspections are required to be recorded in a log and must include the date and time of inspection, the name of the inspector, documented observations made, and the date and nature of any repairs or other remedial actions.

Up to 55 gallons of non-acute hazardous waste or one quart of acute hazardous waste can be collected in a Satellite Accumulation area at any one time. When these quantity limits are reached, the containers must be dated so that the generator can move the hazardous waste to the main hazardous waste storage area, or ship the waste off-site within 3 days of the limit being reached.

A satellite accumulation area is an area at or near the point of hazardous waste generation that is under the control of the operator of the process generating the waste. In this area, wastes are permitted to be temporarily stored for 3 days before being moved to the main hazardous waste storage area.

The duration of time that hazardous waste can be stored on-site at a facility varies depending on the facility's generator status:

• There are no time limits placed on a CE-SQG for the storage of hazardous waste.
• [Although there is a limit on how much hazardous waste a conditionally-exempt small quantity generator (CE-SQG) can accumulate on site.
• Small quantity generators (SQG) can only keep their waste on–site for 180 days or 270 days if their treatment, storage, and disposal facility is more than 270 miles away.
• Large quantity generators (LQG) can only store their waste for 90 days without obtaining a permit as a storage facility.

Both conditionally-exempt small quantity generators (CE-SQG) and small quantity generators (SQG) have limits on how much hazardous waste they can store at their facility at the one time. If you go above these prescribed limits, you will need to comply with the requirements of the next higher generator category.

For non-acute hazardous waste, this limit is 1000 kg or 2,200 lbs for a CE-SQG and 6000 kg or 13,200 lbs for a SQG.

For acute hazardous waste, the limit is the same for both: 1 kg for an acute hazardous waste or 100 kg for spill residue from an acute hazardous waste. Thus, if your hospital accumulates just 1 kg of a p-listed waste on site, you will need to comply with all the RCRA Subtitle C requirements since you will be treated as a large quantity generator (LQG).

An LQG can store as much hazardous waste as it wants on site. There is no quantity limitation.

• Select an area that is:
• Close to where the waste is generated and easily accessible
• Under the control of lab personnel
• Removed from normal laboratory activities
• Labeled with a “Danger – Haz Waste” sign.

A Hazardous Waste Profile, formerly known as a “waste characterization profile,” requires you to list all chemical properties of the particular type of waste you intend to dispose of or transport. The hazardous waste profile must be presented to the treatment & disposal facility prior to its arrival, otherwise it’s illegal for the disposal facility to accept receipt of your hazardous waste.

A business requires an RCRA permit if it generates, treats, or stores hazardous materials or is involved with hazardous waste removal. Applying for this permit requires you to create a Waste Analysis Plan (WAP). A Waste Analysis Plan is essentially a step-by-step guide for treating, storing, and disposing hazardous wastes including corrosives, flammables, explosives, gasses, poisons, etc. In developing the guide, you need to outline by what methods you determined the materials to be hazardous, how you defined its specific nature and how you determined that the hazardous material must be handled.

Whoever designs your Waste Analysis Plan must be trained in RCRA regulatory requirements and highly knowledgeable about waste characterization and hazardous waste disposal.

An EPA identification number is only applicable if you're generating hazardous waste, furthermore it depends on the following criteria:

• Your location (specifically what state or district)
• Whether the waste is hazardous or not
• How much of the hazardous material needs to be shipped

It is only If you generate less than 220 pounds per month of hazardous materials, that your facility is considered a conditionally exempt small quantity waste generator, and you don’t need an EPA ID number. If you generate over 2,200 pounds of hazardous waste every month, you are a large quantity generator and (like small quantity generators that accumulate in excess of 220 pounds), you need an EPA ID number to legally ship that waste irrespective of what state your business is based in.

You must retain hazardous waste manifests for three years. In addition, the following records must also be retained for that timeframe:

• All notices and documentation associated with Land Disposal Restrictions
• Biennial Reports
• Exception Reports
• Any test results, waste analyzes, or similar information related to the waste shipped off-site
• Your inspection schedule and reports. (Specific inspection requirements are found in 40 CFR 265.15.)

A hazardous waste manifest must accompany all hazardous waste that is shipped off site. Designed as a multipart form, a hazardous waste manifest is designed to track hazardous waste from generation to disposal (i.e. from when it leaves your facility to the point it arrives at its intended destination)

An MSDS (or, now, SDS - Safety Data Sheet) comes directly from the manufacturer of that product. If you need to secure materials safety data sheets for the products you’re using, one approach is to contact the manufacturer directly.

MSDS stands for Material Safety Data sheets; paperwork that essentially identifies the type of chemical you’re using and how to safely handle that chemical. It can include information such as:

• The exact chemical constituents of the material.
• The proper protocol if spilled.
• The proper protocol if that chemical is ingested, gets in one’s eyes, or gets on one’s skin.
• Whether the chemical constitutes hazardous material.
• The concentration of the chemicals.
• Proper waste disposal methods for that product.

In the field of hazardous waste management, a waste manifest is a piece of paperwork required by the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Transportation (DOT) in order to legally transport hazardous waste materials.

A bill of lading, on the other hand, is used to transport other materials such as biomedical waste. This waste is also known as regulated waste, regulated medical waste, or even red bag waste. These documents can also be used to transport empty containers or containers or boxes of documents for destruction. Essentially, a bill of lading in this industry is simply paperwork that often accompanies waste that is not deemed hazardous.

Yes! A large quantity generator has to ship all hazardous material every ninety days. Therefore, the label must include that important accumulation start date. If you’re ever inspected or audited, this number must not only be present on the label but be accurate. Failure to comply with regulations can bring financial consequences or even stricter penalties, depending on the severity of the offense and if this is your first violation versus being a persistent problem.

Every drum filled with hazardous materials requires a yellow hazardous waste label that includes, 1. The words “hazardous waste.”, 2. Your generator information, 3. Any relevant EPA hazardous waste code, 4. Proper DOT shipping name and the Hazardous Waste Accumulation start date.

Similar to a shop vacuum, a vacuum truck is fitted with a holding tank from which air is removed by a powerful pump to create a vacuum inside. When primary and secondary shutoff valves from suction hoses are opened, the tank is forced to equalize the pressure inside, thereby enabling the truck to suck up liquids and sludges.

Otherwise known as a 'vacuum tanker', vacuum trucks are commonly used to handle large-scale liquid and sludge clean up, one example being sewer and septic system maintenance. Vacuum trucks can be used in industrial and municipal settings to suction water and debris left from hydro-excavation or drilling jobs and to clear mud to free up utility lines or prevent sewer system overloads.

industrial waste transportation services depend on the waste being transported. Industrial waste can be transported via tankers, dewatering boxes, air movers, or even simpler roll-off boxes. Talk to your industrial waste removal professionals if you are unsure of how to transport a specific type of material.

In order to fulfill the EPA’s hazardous waste disposal regulations, most industrial waste generators must first obtain an EPA identification number. Though waste can be stored onsite for 90 to 180 days (depending on the amount of waste generated), in some cases, an extension of the onsite storage period can be granted if the waste must be transported more than 200 miles for treatment and disposal. Severe penalties exist for storing waste on-site past the allowable time period, including potential fines of up to $50,000 per day. Additionally, jail time can be triggered if on site waste treatment is deemed unacceptable.

Not unless there are warranted exceptions. Linens are reused and therefore do not enter the waste stream. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Although soiled linen may harbor large numbers of pathogenic microorganisms, the risk of actual disease transmission from soiled linen is negligible…common-sense hygienic practices for processing and storage of linen are recommended." (From www.cdc.gov/HAI/prevent/laundry.html):

Medical waste autoclaves are used specifically for regulated medical waste, which involves anything contaminated by blood, bodily fluids, or other potentially infectious materials. That includes:

• Used medical sharps and sharps containers.
• Bloody bandages or gauze.
• Masks or gowns (worn by doctors or patients).

An autoclaving machine is a device that sterilizes regulated medical waste. It uses steam heated to approximately 300 degrees Fahrenheit to achieve this sterilization.

Certain operating specifics about this machine vary from state to state. For example, some states require the sterilized waste to also be shredded before being landfilled. Other states do not require this extra step. The amount of time the biohazardous waste needs to be in the actual machine also varies from state to state.

Any entity that transports toxic material must be properly “permitted” and licensed to do so. For the vast majority of hospitals & clinics, this means contracting a reputable company to transit RMW offsite to a treatment, storage, or disposal facility. Such waste must be accompanied by a specialized bill of lading, called a hazardous waste manifest. Other paperwork might be required, such as a land disposal restriction form. If required documentation is inaccurate or missing, legal culpability lies with your hospital or clinic, not with the transporter, therefore it's extremely important to understand who you're partnering with and have full knowledge of any subhaulers or third parties.

Medical waste should be contained separately from other waste at the point of origin. All regulated medical waste must be placed in a red bag or designated medical waste container (rigid, leakproof and leak-resistant with a tight fitting lid) labeled with the words "Biohazardous Waste" or with the international biohazard symbol and the word "BIOHAZARD."

Sharps containers should never be filled more than the manufacturer’s recommended fill level. If the manufacturer has not specified a fill level, up to ¾ full is the maximum recommended level to fill the sharps container before replacing.

As glass is something that could potentially puncture skin, it is considered a sharp and should be disposed of into a safety-grade sharps container.

Once they are full and sealed, single-use sharps containers can be disposed of in the regulated medical waste stream. This is typically a cardboard box or container correctly labelled and designated for Regulated Medical Waste (red bag waste).

Sharps containers are designed to contain needles, syringes, lancets, scalpels and other sharp objects contaminated with blood or bodily fluids; gauze pads or other absorbent material that when squeezed would drip bodily fluids.

Per federal regulation, medical waste generators are responsible for packaging and preparing their waste for collection. The process of preparing these wastes for collection is as follows:

Step 1: Line your container with a properly marked biohazard bag prior to use.
Step 2: Tie the bag when the container is full. Each bag must be hand-tied by gathering and twisting the neck of the bag.
Step 3: Secure the lid on the container. Make sure all closure and/or locking mechanisms are engaged. Red bags must not be visible once the container is closed.
Step 4: Check the containers markings. Ensure that federal markings (biohazard symbol, this-side-up-arrows, regulated medical waste, N.O.S., and UN number) are present. Ensure you’re complying with your individual state regulations.

Pathological waste differs from most medical waste in that it has a higher moisture content. Human anatomical waste is 70 to 90 percent water. Most pathological waste is incinerated but it does depend on the type of waste generated and the state guidelines within the state in which the waste was generated.

Drugs and medications, broadly classified as Pharmaceuticals, are defined by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) as hazardous waste when deemed nonviable (returned, expired or damaged). The volume and type of listing can dictate pharmaceutical volumes permitted to be stored, the generator status, and the packaging requirements for disposal.

Due to its reactivity, i.e. explosive properties, Nitroglycerin was listed as a hazardous waste. However, medicinal nitroglycerin does not exhibit the characteristic of reactivity and therefore, is not classified as listed hazardous waste P075, however it may exhibit another hazardous waste characteristic.

Medication remaining in an IV bag (or other container) is unused for the purposes of hazardous waste categorization. This is true even if a portion of the medication was administered (i.e., used) and the remaining medication is prohibited from being administered to another patient. The P and U hazardous waste listings only apply to unused commercial chemical products. So, if medication remaining in a container is discarded, that portion is unused and must be evaluated to determine if it is a listed or characteristic hazardous waste.

A solid waste is considered hazardous waste if it meets a listing or exhibits a characteristic described in title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations (40 CFR) Part 261.

A waste handler may accumulate universal waste for no longer than one year from the date the waste was generated or received from another handler. If for the purpose of accumulating quantities to facilitate proper recovery, treatment, or disposal (40 CFR 273.15 and 273.35), handlers may accumulate universal waste for longer than one year.

The universal waste regulations can vary between states and states can add different types of wastes. EPA compiled a list of which universal wastes which universal wastes states have adopted and which materials some states have added to their universal waste program. Link here https://www.epa.gov/hw/state-universal-waste-programs-united-states#additions. You should check with your state to be sure which materials are currently universal wastes in your state.

A complete list of universal waste products, and information about disposal and recycling options, is available on the DTSC Web site at https://dtsc.ca.gov/universalwaste/