Chemical Disposal Training
Cornell University EH&S
Revised Feb 2011, Brian S.
1
OBJECTIVE
What EH&S wants you to learn today…
1. What rules and regulations govern waste
management
2. Cornell EH&S’s role in assisting you with
your wastes
3. Types of waste – specifically hazardous
wastes
4. Understanding the satellite accumulation
area requirements
5. Procedures for packaging waste for removal
from your work spaces
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This Training

This training is tailored to laboratories,
research areas and chemical use areas
across campus but most of the information
is also applicable to hazardous waste
management for shop areas as well

Everyone who handles materials that
become “Hazardous Waste” has to know:
•
•
•
How to properly contain / store it
How to properly identify it
How to properly get rid of it
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Chemical Waste Disposal
Laws
 Federal: The Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) waste regulations
• Rules for waste management are mandated by the
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
 State: New York Department of Environmental
Conservation (DEC) waste regulations
• Must be as/or more strict than Federal Regulations
• EPA will be using the NY version of the regulations
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Why Manage Chemical Wastes
Carefully?
 Health and Safety Risks are Real!
• Student/Staff/Faculty health & safety are #1
Our goal is to prevent:
 Injury to personnel
 Damage to the environment
 Regulatory compliance violations
 Fines to Cornell
 It’s a Cornell Health & Safety Policy
Requirement (University Policy 2.4)
 Cost Effective
 Fines and Bad Public Relations
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Result of Mixing Incompatible Wastes
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TRUE STORY
Professor pleads guilty to dumping chemical
UW researcher put solvent down sink to avoid paying fee
March 8, 2007 Seattle PI

When a University of Washington professor whose work includes
studying the brain, found out that getting rid of potentially dangerous
chemicals in his lab would cost $15,000, he decided to find a cheaper
way.

The professor in the Department of Pharmacology, dumped ethyl
ether down the sink.

He pleaded guilty in federal court in Seattle to pouring the ethyl ether,
which can explode or catch fire if handled improperly, down the
laboratory sink in June 2006. Prosecutors say the professor then
tried to cover up his actions.

He faced a possible 5 years in jail and a $250,000 fine for knowingly
disposing of a hazardous waste without a permit.

He was sentenced to three years of probation, 80 hours of community
service and a $5,000 fine.
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Cornell EH&S’s Role
EH&S is a technical resource that is
customer focused
EH&S is not an “enforcer” or
“police-type” function
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Cornell’s Haz Waste Program Role
• Pick up waste from your research spaces
• Provide technical advice for the proper
disposal of chemicals
• Minimize disposal costs
9
10
Making the Waste Determination
 Is it a waste / is it reusable?
• Talk to your department – others may want it
• Campus-wide surplus chemical exchange
• Chemicals and pickups are free
• Go to:
http://www.ehs.cornell.edu/chem_lab_safety/SurplusChemical.cfm
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Making the Waste
Determination (cont.)
 Is it hazardous?
• Review label & material safety data sheets
• Ask your Department Safety Representative
(DSR)
• EH&S Website and Chemical Waste Manual
• Contact EH&S
 Is it regulated? - Is it a “Hazardous
Waste” as defined by the EPA
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Objective – Determining the
types of hazardous wastes
Is it a “Listed Hazardous Waste?”
Is it a “Characteristic Hazardous Waste?”
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It Is Regulated If . . .
 It is a Listed Hazardous Waste as defined in
40 CFR 261 Subpart D & NYCRR 371
•
•
•
•
K – Specific source wastes (none at CU)
F – Non-Specific source wastes
U – Commercial chemical products, toxic
P – Commercial chemical products, acutely
toxic
• B – PCB wastes, (NYS code)
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It Is Regulated If . . .
It possesses any of the following hazardous
characteristics as defined by EPA and
NYSDEC
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It Is Regulated If . . .
It is ignitable
 ignitable is defined by the EPA as having a flash point of
<140F (flammable) or promoting combustion as an oxidizer
Flammable examples include:
Oxidizing examples include:
• Ethanol
• Nitric & Perchloric Acids
• Glacial Acetic Acid
• Ammonium Persulfate
• Toluene
• Potassium Dichromate
• Xylene
• Silver Nitrate
• Acetone
• Hydrogen Peroxide
• Ether
• ending in “ate”
• Organics w/ FP <140 F
• beginning with “per”
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It Is Regulated If . . .
It is corrosive
corrosive is defined by the EPA as having a pH ≤2.0 or ≥12.5
Corrosive acids include:
• Hydrochloric Acid
• Sulfuric Acid
• Nitric Acid
• Perchloric Acid
• Acetic/Formic/Propionic
Corrosive bases include:
• Potassium Hydroxide
• Ammonium Hydroxide
• Sodium Hydroxide
• Lithium Hydroxide
• ending with “hydroxide”
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It Is Regulated If . . .
It is reactive
It is readily reactive with other chemicals, when exposed to air or
water, or is shock sensitive. Will generate toxic gas, heat or may
explode.
Examples include
• Hydrides
• Metal Powders, e.g. Lithium, Sodium
• Organic peroxides
• Picric acid
• Carbides
• Aromatic + Nitros
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It is regulated if…
It is toxic… as identified in 40 CFR Subpart C
It contains any of the following metals in any media
(salt, solution, or metal) regulated by ppm (this is not the
complete Toxicity Characteristic table)
Arsenic 5.0
Mercury 0.2
Cadmium 1.0
Silver 5.0
Chromium 5.0
Selenium 1.0
Lead 5.0
Barium 100
Or…If it is a
halogenated organic
Chloroform 6.0
Chlordane 0.03
Trichloroethylene 0.5
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It Is Regulated If . . .you can’t use it, and
You declare it a
hazardous
waste
Useful or waste?
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Empty Containers Are Exempt
 Regulatory definition of 'Empty' is less than 1% of the
original contents
 Triple-rinsing empty containers:
• it is recommended that all empty containers are triplerinsed prior to trash disposal
• empty containers that held P-Listed chemicals must be
managed as hazardous waste; or triple rinse the empty
container and manage the rinse as hazardous waste
 Other considerations
• where will the container go, who will have contact with
it, could someone be harmed
• will it smell, will warning label scare someone
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Wastes not listed or exhibiting
hazardous characteristics
In many cases if a chemical does
not meet the definition of a
regulated “Hazardous Waste”, it is
may be acceptable to dispose of it in
the regular trash or down the drain
followed by copious amounts of
water.
Radiological and biological wastes
cannot be put in the regular trash.
Contact EH&S at 5-8200 or go to
“Ask EH&S”at www.ehs.cornell.edu
if you have waste disposal
questions.
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Chemical Residue
The following materials may be
disposed of in the regular
trash:
 Used gloves
 Bench paper
 Pipette tips
If you are using something acutely
toxic or highly hazardous – check
with EH&S
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Chemical Residue
(cont.)
Used Syringes
Any syringe having a needle and requiring disposal,
must be placed in a sharps container.
Syringes without needles that were used for transferring
chemicals should be bagged or boxed and taken to the
dumpster for disposal. Do not throw used syringes in the
laboratory trash can.
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Drain Disposal Limits
 Non-Hazardous chemicals acceptable for drain
disposal
This is not an all inclusive list








Sugar solutions
Dilute non-toxic salts solutions and physiological saline
Inorganic phosphate or bicarbonate based buffers
Organic buffers at use concentrations
Fresh and spent supernatants rendered non-infectious
Water soluble vitamins
Surfactants in small amounts
Neutralized acids and bases with no other hazardous
constituents e.g. toxic metals
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Drain Disposal Limits
cont.
 Chemicals Unacceptable For Drain Disposal
Hazardous Waste may not be drain disposed. It is a
violation of federal law to intentionally dilute or treat a
hazardous waste to render it non-hazardous without an EPA
permit.
The one exception to this law is described on the next slide.

Refer to Hazardous Waste Manual for Cornell’s full policy
related to drain disposal of chemicals
(www.ehs.cornell.edu/)
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Allowed Treatment in a
Satellite Accumulation Area
 Neutralization of Corrosives
• only if you are comfortable doing it
 5.5 to 9.5 pH for drain
• chromic acid (Chromerge) should be sent out as
hazardous waste due to the chromium precipitate
 Chemical Deactivation (for non-haz wastes only)
 Recyclable/Reclaimable:
• metallic mercury – (shipped for recycling, not
treated)
• silver in photographic wastes - campus recycling
program managed by EH&S
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Waste Storage Areas
 Storage Area types

90-day Accumulation (Time Limit)

Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generator
(Geneva - Agricultural Experiment Station)

Satellite Accumulation (Volume Limit) 55 Gallons
Satellite areas are regulated by volume not time
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Objective – satellite
accumulation area
This training is tailored to personnel working at
Cornell University in satellite accumulation areas
Satellite accumulation
is a less burdensome
option for managing
small volumes of
hazardous waste
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New Satellite Accumulation Signs Should Be Posted
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Satellite Accumulation Area
(SAA) Definition
 EPA defines a Satellite Accumulation Area as:
• The waste containers must be at or near the point of
generation
• The waste containers must be under the control of the
operator of the process generating the waste.
(operator = user)
• Current strict interpretation means that a Satellite
Accumulation Area = a single room
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Satellite Accumulation Area
Limitations
• Up to 55 gallons of hazardous waste
• There is no time limit until you have 55 gallons of waste
in storage
• Any excess over 55 gallons must be removed in
three days
• Facilities may have as many accumulation areas as
needed provided they are properly maintained
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Satellite Accumulation Area
Requirements
 Triggers that bump you from a SAA to a
90 Day Area:
• Storing more than 55 gallons of
hazardous waste for more than 3
days
• Collecting hazardous waste from
other areas
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Container Labeling
Requirements
Containers must have:
 the phrase “Hazardous Waste” written on them
 words that identify the contents
Taping a hazardous waste label to a bottle is
OK:
 the phrase “Hazardous Waste” is already on the
label
 add contents to the label when the chemical is
added
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Container (physical)
Requirements
 containers must be in good CONDITION
 wastes must be chemically
COMPATIBLE with the container
 containers must be CLOSED except when
adding or removing waste
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What is this?
Are you prepared to
convince the DEC or EPA
that this will be used?
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ID: “Hazardous Waste” needed
What’s inside?
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Are These Waste Containers
OK?
Labeling
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Location and contact
Ready for
disposal date
Cornell’s
Hazardous
Waste
Label Hazards
450mls
Amount
Contents
“Hazardous Waste”
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Is the container
open?
Does it need a
waste label?
40
Unless adding to the
container, the cap
must be secure
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Chemical Hygiene
Properly Labeled
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Additionally…
• Storage must be in
a Designated SAA
• Secondary Spill
Containment
• Defacing original
container labels on
reused bottles
43
Secondary Containment
funnels; residue
blocking hood’s flow
44
Also . . . . . . . . . .
Segregate by
Hazards
Organics from Oxidizers
Acids from Bases
Organic acids from Oxidizing acids
Isolate Reactive & Toxics
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Hazardous Waste Spills
• Many hazardous waste spills can be safely cleaned up
by laboratory staff without the help of EH&S. Only
attempt to clean up incidental spills if you are trained and
have the proper spill cleanup materials available.
• Call 911 for hazardous waste spills outside the cleanup
capability of the area or facility personnel.
• More information on chemical spills response can be
found in Section 5.4 of Cornell’s “Laboratory Safety
Manual” at:
http://www.ehs.cornell.edu/lrs/manual/ch5.cfm#5.4
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Boxing Chemicals for Pick Up
Locations where boxes are stored
will be included in the updated
Waste Disposal Manual.
 UN/DOT Box
Rigid cardboard
Styrofoam inserts
 Assure boxes are in good condition
 Full boxes must stay in the SAA when ready for transport
to 90 Day Accumulation Area
 The HazWaste Specialists need to easily locate them
 Give us 5-working days, then call if not serviced
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Other Types of Waste
Universal Waste
Managed by Solid Waste Group
 Fluorescent light bulbs
 Rechargeable Batteries
 Requirements
sturdy packaging & proper labeling
accumulation start date & 9-months on
site
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Other Types of Waste
Used Oil
Managed by Solid Waste Group
Requirements:
Label containers with
“USED OIL”
the container capacity
Prevent any release to the environment
Do not place in normal refuse containers
Do not mix other waste with Used Oil
NOTE: Used oil containing PCB’s are considered Hazardous
Waste in New York State
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 Waste Computers and monitors are
separately regulated
 Managed by Solid Waste Group
 These are regulated because of their high
content of toxic metals such as lead
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Contaminated Waste Label
This label is
used for non
hazardous
wastes or
recyclable
materials that
require special
disposal
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Biohazard/Radioactive
Wastes
 Radioactive wastes are picked up weekly
 Biohazard wastes are shipped off site for
deactivation and disposal
 Contact EH&S for scheduling and pick up at
255-8200, or online scheduling at,
www.ehs.cornell.edu/rad/wasteform.cfm
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Further Thoughts & Services
 General Housekeeping – include upkeep of the
satellite accumulation area
 Discuss safety concerns with your Dept. Safety Rep.
 Get to know your HazWaste & Radiation/Med. Waste
Technicians
 EH&S waste services
• Free and friendly service
• Assist with laboratory clean outs & waste I.D.
• Technical reference for identification & disposal
• RCRA and other laws
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Online Cornell EH&S,
MSDS & Grounds Info.
• EH&S website:
www.ehs.cornell.edu
For Chemical Waste Pick ups:
http://www.ehs.cornell.edu/rad/ChemWasteForm.cfm
MSDS URL:
http://www.ehs.cornell.edu/
Cornell Grounds Department:
www.fm.cornell.edu/fm/recycle/fmn_recycle.cfm
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Cornell EH&S and Grounds
Department Contacts:
•
EH&S “ASK EH&S”
WWW.EHS.CORNELL.EDU/
255-8200, ask for Research & Safety Group
member
•
Grounds Department
254-1666, [email protected]
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THANKS
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