| Material |
Can it go down the drain? |
What to do with it |
| Biohazardous waste |
Solids: NO
Liquids: NO, unless they have been deactivated |
Liquid biohazardous waste can be decontaminated and made suitable for drain disposal in 2 ways:
- Deactivate with bleach (1 part bleach to 9 parts liquid waste) for 30 minutes before pouring it down the drain.
- Occasionally, liquid waste is autoclaved. Do not add bleach in this case. Read Autoclaving Guidelines for Biohazardous Waste.
For more information and for disposal instructions for solid biohazardous waste, read How to Package and Dispose of Biohazardous and Medical Waste.
|
| Controlled substances |
Solids: NO |
Read Controlled Substances Acquisition, Storage, and Disposal Requirements for disposal procedures. |
| Radioactive waste |
NO |
Read How to Store and Dispose of Radioactive Waste for disposal instructions.
|
| Hazardous chemical waste |
NO |
Read How to Identify Hazardous Chemical Waste for guidance on hazardous chemical waste determination. Follow appropriate disposal procedures.
|
| Non-liquids |
Can it go down the drain? |
What to do with it |
| Solids, sludges, or viscous substances |
NO |
These items can obstruct the flow of sewage.
|
| Powders and salts |
NO |
These items can obstruct the flow of sewage.
|
| Corrosive pH levels |
Can it go down the drain? |
What to do with it |
| Corrosive waste with a pH between 2.0 and 5.0 |
NO, unless it has been adjusted |
You have 2 disposal options:
- Adjust the pH to greater than 5.0 and less than 12.5 and then dispose of it down the drain.
- Store and dispose of nonadjusted waste as hazardous chemical waste.
|
| Corrosive waste with a pH of 2.0 or lower or pH of 12.5 or higher |
NO |
This kind of waste is always considered hazardous chemical waste.
|
| Hot liquids |
Can it go down the drain? |
What to do with it |
| Hot, nonhazardous liquids (150°F or more) |
NO, unless in volumes of less than 10 gallons |
For 10 gallons or more of nonhazardous hot liquid:
- Cool the liquid to below 150°F before pouring it down the drain.
|
| Grease and oil |
Can it go down the drain? |
What to do with it |
| Grease and oil |
NO, unless the concentration is less than 500 mg per liter |
For higher concentrations:
- Dispose of substances such as automotive oil, gear oil, and machinery grease as hazardous chemical waste.
- Place substances such as vegetable oil, lard, or shortening in the regular trash.
|
| Common questions |
Can it go down the drain? |
What to do with it |
| Alcohols |
NO, unless the concentration is nonhazardous |
Ethanol is nonhazardous in concentrations less than 24%. Dilution of higher concentrations of any alcohol is not allowed. For other alcohols:
|
| Formalin and formaldehyde |
NO, unless the concentration is nonhazardous and does not contain methanol or other hazardous chemicals |
This concentration is nonhazardous and can go down the drain:
- Formalin solutions containing less than 2.9% formaldehyde
Dilution of higher concentrations is not allowed. For higher concentrations:
|
| Hydrogen peroxide |
NO, unless its concentration is less than 8% |
Dilution of higher concentrations is not allowed. For higher concentrations:
|
| Photo and X-ray processor chemicals |
NO, unless it is spent photo developer not mixed with fixer |
For concentrated, unused processor chemicals and other spent solutions:
|
| Other chemicals |
NO, unless the concentration is nonhazardous |
Some chemicals are hazardous in any concentration. Dilution of higher concentrations is not allowed.
|
| Latex paint |
NO |
Read Latex Paint Disposal for disposal instructions.
|
| Oil paint |
NO |
Read How to Store and Dispose of Hazardous Chemical Waste for disposal instructions.
|
| Wash and rinse water |
NO, unless it has not been contaminated by hazardous materials or highly caustic, acidic, or toxic cleaning solutions |
Read Wash and Rinse Water Disposal for complete information. |
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