Hazardous Chemical Waste

Even if a chemical is not a “hazardous waste” by the USEPA definition or listing, the town and city wastewater discharge permits for the North and South Campuses, respectively, do not allow hazardous chemicals down the sink or other drains.

The ONLY aqueous solutions in normal laboratory volumes (<1 gallon) that may be drain disposed must have a pH between 5 and 9 and DO NOT CONTAIN:

• Carcinogens
• Toxic chemicals
• Heavy metals (e.g., arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury, selenium, silver, etc.)
• Cyanides or sulfides
• Organic solvents (whether miscible or not)
• Viable infectious agents
• Radioactive substances

• Physiological saline, inorganic buffers (phosphate or bicarbonate based), TRIS, or other such organic buffers at use concentrations, sugar solutions, and non-toxic salts in dilute form
• Liquid blood, serum, or plasma from animals or humans not known to contain pathogenic organisms or liquid blood, serum or plasma known or suspected of containing pathogenic organisms may be drain disposed after disinfection using a 1:10 dilution of bleach for at least 30 minutes or as described in each labs SOP's and protocols.
  
• Liquid tissue culture media, fresh or spent supernatant, which has been rendered non-infectious, including culture media containing serum additives such as fetal calf serum
• Solutions containing disinfectants at used concentrations, such as 0.5 % bleach, may also be drained disposed
• Ethanol concentration of 24% or less

The following solutions are unacceptable for drain disposal. Containerize them as hazardous waste instead.

• Aqueous phases of organic solvent separations
• Miscible water solvent mixtures, e.g., acetone/water
• Aqueous mixtures with alcohols (methanol, ethanol greater than 24%, etc.)
• Histological preparation materials (Formalin, staining solutions, Xylene containing clearing agents)
• Ethidium bromide solutions

Note: Gels (agar, electrophoresis plates, gelatin) that contain hazardous substances of biological, chemical or radiological nature must be containerized and disposed of as hazardous waste. If they do not contain hazardous substances, they do not need to be containerized, but they should not be disposed of through the drain system. They could clog and stop the drain. In addition they can provide a coating on the pipes that will allow bacterial growth and subsequent colonization of “drain flies” that are very difficult to eradicate.

A container that held any hazardous materials (e.g. flammable solvents, toxic solvents, heavy metal salts, etc.) is empty if all wastes have been removed that can be removed using the practices commonly employed to remove materials from that type of container (e.g., pouring, pumping, and aspirating) AND it does not contain acutely hazardous waste.

If the waste container held acutely hazardous waste, the container MUST be triple rinsed using a solvent capable of removing the residual chemical product before disposing of the container: 

• The solvent can be water or any liquid that will remove the hazardous residue in the container
• Make sure you collect wash solvent and add to a compatible hazardous waste accumulation container in the lab

When empty, so it is clear that the container no longer contains hazardous materials, do one of the following:

• Remove the label
• Completely deface the label with a marker
• Tape over the label
• Place a UB “RCRA Empty” label over the original labels
  

All ethidium bromide solutions and gels must be collected and treated as if it were a hazardous waste, unless the ethidium bromide has been removed by one of the methods listed below. All grossly contaminated materials such as gloves, wipes, etc. must also be collected and placed in a properly labeled hazardous waste container.

The use of ethidium bromide waste reduction systems such as destaining bags or filter extractors are recommended. Removing the ethidium bromide from dilute solutions reduces the volume of liquid ethidium bromide waste and thus a savings on disposal costs for UB.

Destaining bags offer a way to remove ethidium bromide from solution and gels for safe and easy disposal. Continental Lab Products, ICS BioExpress, BioWorld (and others) offers Ethidium bromide destaining bags. When you get to the sites, type "destaining bags" in Search and it will take you to the ordering page.

Another device designed to remove ethidium bromide is the S&S Extractor from Schleicher & Schuell or VWR. This device is designed to remove from up to 10 liters of gel staining solutions with >99% efficiency.

Whatever waste reduction system used, a written protocol should be developed. An example procedure would include the following steps:

• Drop a destaining bag into your solution (or solution containing a gel).
• Periodically swirl it around a few times.
• Let it stand overnight.
• In the morning, remove the bag and place it in a properly labeled hazardous waste container.
• Perform UV check of the solution (and gel). If it no longer fluoresces, pour the solution down the drain - provided no other hazardous chemicals are present. Destained gels can be put into the trash - DO NOT PUT GELS DOWN THE SINK DRAIN.

• Attach the extractor to a vacuum source via 1/4 - 1/2" vacuum tubing. Place a waste container under the extractor, making sure the extractor fits securely on top of the waste container that the waste solution is to be filtered into.
• Remove the cover of the extractor; apply vacuum while holding the unit. The solution (or solution containing a gel) may now be poured through the extractor.
• If the solution is viscous or partially gelled, a five percent urea solution may be added to dissolve gel.
• Perform UV check of the solution. If it no longer fluoresces, pour the solution down the drain - provided no other hazardous chemicals are present.
• Remove the filter (when spent or clogged) and place it in a properly labeled hazardous waste container.

Wastes generated as a result of gram staining procedures are considered hazardous by the USEPA and must be properly collected:

1. The gram staining process must be done over a pan or tray of some sort to capture all liquid being used in the procedure. A suggestion would be to use a plastic ice cube tray.
2. Place the microscope slide over the tray to collect wastes generated by the various treatments and rinses required as part of the gram stain process.
3. After the staining procedure is completed, transfer the waste accumulated in the tray to a suitable hazardous waste container such as a glass bottle with a tight fitting screw top. Affix a UB hazardous waste label identifying the contents to the container prior to placing any waste in it.
4. Follow existing procedures outlined in the EH&S Hazardous Chemical Waste Management Guidebook by placing the container in the lab’s hazardous waste satellite accumulation area. Contact EH&S for disposal.

Once it has been determined that lead shielding is no longer needed in a lab space, contact EH&S for proper disposal:

1. Survey each piece of lead to ascertain the presence of any radiation.
2. After performing the radiation survey, complete a RW-50 form and forward to EH&S Radiation Protection Services for review.
3. Once EH&S has reviewed the information supplied on the form, they will contact you and make arrangements to collect the lead shielding from your location.

The creation of mixed waste that contains toxic or corrosive materials, transuranic elements, or high levels of radioactivity is strongly discouraged. Whenever possible, avoid using hazardous chemicals and radioisotopes in combination. Contact EH&S at 829-3301 for recommended non- hazardous chemical substitutes and ideas for minimizing the generation of mixed wastes.

Whenever possible, disinfect infectious waste at the source of generation.

Containers and Storage: Collect non-sharps infectious waste which is also contaminated with chemicals (mixed waste) in a red biohazard bag. After the infectious agent has been disinfected, place the red biohazard bag in a second, clear plastic bag. Add absorbent material (such as diatomaceous earth) to the second bag, sufficient to absorb fluids which may leach from the waste.

Seal and attach a completed hazardous waste label to the clear bag. On the “Contents” section of the tag it is important to note both the chemical waste and the infectious waste and the disinfection method that was used.

Sharps containers must not contain free liquids (such as full syringes). When the sharps container is full; seal and remove it from the collection area. Place the container in a clear plastic bag and seal it. Attach a hazardous waste label and list all chemical and infectious agents and the method of deactivation/disinfection used.

A hazardous chemical waste, as defined by the USEPA, combined with a radioactive waste, as defined by the NYS Department of Health, is classified as mixed waste. This type of waste is initially treated as radioactive waste. If the radioactive component of the waste has a half-life less than 90 days, then it will be stored for decay and eventually dispose of as chemical waste. When the radioactive component of the mixed waste has a half-life greater than 90 days, the waste is much more expense to dispose of than separate hazardous chemical or radioactive waste. Used liquid scintillation fluid may or may not be considered a special type of mixed waste. In either case, the waste must be segregated and picked up for disposal as described in the sections above.

Dental amalgam and associated materials must be collected from varies sources within the School of Dental Medicine (SDM). Those may include but not limited to extracted teeth with dental amalgam restorations, carving scrap collected at chair-side, dental amalgam captured by chair-side traps, vacuum pump filters, amalgam separators or other dental capture devices. Also included is amalgam that has not been in contact with the patient including but not limited to; excess dental amalgam mix and the used pre-encapsulated dental amalgam mix and the used pre-encapsulated dental amalgam capsules remaining at the end of a dental procedure. Any amalgam that has accumulated in the building plumbing system must also be collected.

1. All amalgam related materials will be collected and stored in air-tight, leak proof and structurally sound containers. A ridged plastic jar with a tight fitting top is acceptable for this purpose.
2. The container must be labeled with the type of amalgam waste contained inside and the date that the first amount of waste was placed inside.
3. The container(s) holding the dental amalgam waste must be kept tightly closed except when adding or removing its contents.
4. Containers of amalgam waste must be removed and disposed from the SDM within one year from the date waste was initially placed in the container.
5. When the containers are ready for disposal, they must be placed in specially designated cardboard shipping boxes supplied by UB EH&S, sealed tight with packing tape and labeled. Contact the EH&S Hazardous Waste Manager who will arrange for pickup and also arrange for recycling through an approved vendor.

Chemicals that cannot be identified are considered unknown hazardous wastes. By law, waste that is "unknown" cannot be picked up from your lab. It is the responsibility of each laboratory, shop or chemical user to identify and know the contents of all hazardous wastes.

Determining the contents of an “unknown” hazardous waste is an involved and costly process and also presents unique concerns and hazards for chemical waste handlers, UB EHS staff, and to the environment. Please take care to avoid creating “unknown” hazardous wastes in your laboratory.

1. Do your best to identify the chemical: use whatever information may be on the label, try to find out when and where it came from, talk to previous users of the lab, etc.
2. Place a UB Hazardous Waste Label on the item - in the contents section, write "unknown". Fill out the generator section as usual.
3. Store the unknown with your other hazardous chemical wastes, keeping compatibility requirements in mind.
4. Call EH&S on our Service Request Line, 829-3301. Give as much information as possible. A staff member will then meet with you and arrange the appropriate sample analysis.

If your are unable to identify the unknown, a sample will be obtained for analysis to be performed by an outside laboratory. This process can be expensive; in most cases the costs will be borne by the lab or person(s) generating the unknown hazardous wastes.

To avoid generating unknown hazardous wastes in the future follow these steps:

1. Label ALL chemicals correctly by using a full name and not abbreviations, experiment numbers, log book numbers, etc.
2. Dispose of spent or unwanted chemicals promptly
3. When closing or moving a laboratory, arrange for all unwanted chemicals to be picked up before the lab is vacated. Do no leave old chemicals behind.

The federal universal waste regulations apply to five types of universal waste:

• Batteries
• Pesticides
• Mercury-Containing Equipment
• Lamps
• Aerosol Cans

Follow the  Electrical Light Ballast Disposal Procedure to properly manage this type of waste.

Refer to the Hazardous Waste Management Guidebook for guidance for other types of wastes. Shown below are typical laboratory wastes that must be disposed of in accordance with applicable regulations.

Fixers contain some silver which must be treated or recovered before it can be disposed of. There are two options available for this material:

• Recycling: Have a commercial company service your photographic needs. This service typically includes stocking your developer and fixer and removing your waste
• Put hazardous waste labels on the containers (Section 5.2.2), complete the Request for Disposal form (Section 5.2.4) and fax to EH&S for pickup

The following are reagents that contain mercury and should be managed as hazardous wastes:

Dobbin’s Reagent, Hayem’s Solution, Hopkins-Cole Reagent, Hubb’s Reagent, Jacquemart’s Reagent, Knapp’s Solution, Mercresin, Meyer’s Solution, Millon’s Reagent, Morell’s Solution, Nessler’s Reagent, Rohrbach’s Solution, Sachsse’s Solution, Spiegler’s Reagent, Tanret’s Reagent and Tyrosine Reagents

Other hazardous regents include:

• Erlicki’s Solution (chromium)
• Fisher’s Reagent (phenyl hydrazine)
• Flemming’s Solution (osmium, chromic acid)
• Folin-Dennis Solution (mercuric cyanide)

Broken glassware should be placed into an appropriate broken glassware container (hard sided container such as a cardboard box). The container must be sealed and taped shut to prevent injury. Since they will be picked up by custodial staff, these containers should be labeled with the words Broken Glass.

Waste aerosol spray cans still containing product are considered hazardous waste and must be disposed of properly.

• Place a completed hazardous waste label on the spray can
• Complete Request for Disposal form