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How to do it |
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Determine if you have hazardous or extremely hazardous material. |
Guidelines are different for "hazardous" and "extremely hazardous" chemical waste.
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Designate a hazardous waste storage area.
Hazardous waste sign |
- Select an area that is:
- Near where the waste is generated
- Under the control of lab personnel
- Out of the way of normal lab activities
- Label the area with a "Danger – Hazardous Waste" sign. Request signs from the EH&S Environmental Management Facility, (858) 534-2753.
- Make the area easily accessible and recognizable to EH&S waste technicians.
- Note: Fume hoods may be used to temporarily store small quantities of waste materials, but should not serve as designated waste storage areas.
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Select appropriate containers.
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- Chemical compatibility:
- Choose a container chemically compatible with the material it will hold. Chemicals must not react with, weaken, or dissolve the container or lid.
- Follow these basic compatibility guidelines:
- Acids or bases: Do not store in metal.
- Hydrofluoric acid: Do not store in glass.
- Gasoline (solvents): Do not store or transport in lightweight polyethylene containers such as milk jugs.
- Read Chemical Compatibility Guidelines for more detailed information.
- Caps and closure:
- Use waste containers with leak-proof, screw-on caps so contents can't leak if a container tips over. Corks, parafilm, and beakers are not acceptable.
- If necessary, transfer waste material to a container that can be securely closed. Label the new container.
- Keep waste containers closed except when adding waste.
- Wipe down containers prior to your scheduled collection date.
- Size:
- Choose appropriately sized containers. Store smaller quantities in smaller containers. It's not cost effective to dispose of 50 milliliters of material in a 4-liter container.
- Secondary containment:
- Always place your container in a secondary container to:
- Capture spills and leaks from the primary container
- Segregate incompatible hazardous wastes, such as acids and bases
- A secondary container must be chemically compatible and able to hold 110% of the volume of waste stored in the primary container(s). Lab trays and dishpans are frequently used for secondary containment.
- EH&S provides free secondary containers for 20-liter (5-gallon) waste containers. Request these secondary containers from the EH&S Environmental Management Facility, (858) 534-2753.
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Label every waste container with a hazardous waste tag. |
- Attach a completed hazardous waste tag to the container before you begin using the container to accumulate and store waste.
- Cross out all other labels on the container. (Don't obliterate the original product label; waste technicians need to see what the container held before it was designated as a waste receptacle.)
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Read about liquid waste requirements.
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- Do not overfill liquid waste containers. Leave a sizable amount of head space in the container to allow for expansion and safe transportation
— 10% head space is a good rule of thumb.
- Do not mix solids with liquid waste. Containers found to contain solids during processing by EH&S hazardous waste technicians will be returned to the generator for separation. See guidelines for solid chemical waste below.
- Liquid-filled small containers such as vials and Eppendorf tubes:
- Organic solvents:
- Halogenated and non-halogenated organic solvents may be mixed together in the same waste container. Contact the EH&S Environmental Management Facility, (858) 534-2753, if you want to pour other chemical constituents in the same waste container.
- Do not combine organic solvents with toxic metal waste!
- Contact the EH&S Environmental Management Facility, (858) 534-2753, if you're using toxic metal compounds. Examples of metals include arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury, selenium, silver, copper, nickel, and zinc.
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Read about requirements for dry, solid waste. |
Chemically contaminated solid waste includes 3 categories that are packaged differently for disposal: lab trash, dry chemicals, and sharps.
- Lab trash: Examples include absorbent paper products, Kim Wipes, gloves, benchcoats, and other lab supplies. Follow these guidelines:
- Double-bag the waste in clear plastic bags to allow visual inspection by EH&S waste technicians. If contents cannot be visually inspected, EH&S cannot collect the bag.
- Seal each bag individually.
- Accurately list the bag's contents and chemical constituents on the hazardous waste tag.
- Dry chemicals:
- Dispose of solid reagent chemicals in the manufacturer's container.
- Label the container with a hazardous waste tag.
- Sharps: Sharps are items capable of puncturing, piercing, or tearing regular waste bags. Examples include pipettes, pipette tips, needles, scalpels, razor blades, and broken glass. Sharps require special packaging.
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What to do with empty containers that once held extremely hazardous chemicals. |
Empty containers that once held extremely hazardous waste must be labeled with a hazardous waste tag and collected by EH&S for disposal.
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Storage time and quantity limits before waste must be collected. |
Storage time and quantity limits for "extremely hazardous" chemical waste are very strict. Keep UCSD in compliance. Request a hazardous waste collection before time or quantity limits are reached.
- Time: All extremely hazardous waste must be collected within 90 days from when waste is first put into containers.
- Quantity: Up to 1 quart of extremely hazardous waste may be accumulated before it must be collected.
- When 1 quart or more of extremely hazardous waste accumulates, the waste must be collected within 3 days.
- Read How to Request a Hazardous Waste Collection for details.
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