Waste Disposal SOP PDF
Waste Disposal SOP PDF
Waste Disposal SOP PDF
Handling and disposal of waste generated during laboratory experiments must be conducted in
accordance with University policies. For a full description of waste handling and disposal
procedures, see the University Chemical Hygiene Plan on the Risk Management website.
An excerpt regarding Waste Handling & Disposal, including classification of various wastes and
the appropriate trash or sink wastes vs. those needing special containers, is provided here.
You can help ease the problem of chemical waste disposal. Please:
Dont buy a kilogram of material when you plan to use only a few grams. The savings made by
an economy size purchase, may be used up and exceeded in the disposal costs of the excess. Be
sure to check your current stock before ordering chemicals. It may also be possible to borrow
small amounts of chemicals from other labs. Please take the time to check.
For example, there are many nonhazardous substitutes for chromic acids. Also, dichloromethane
is less toxic than carbon tetrachloride or chloroform and can be substituted satisfactorily in most
cases.
Chemicals that can safely be disposed of in the normal trash or in the sanitary sewer system
should not be given to RM&S or mixed with hazardous chemicals.
We have an ongoing program of redistributing your usable but unwanted chemicals. The RM&S
Department has established criteria for deciding which chemicals are suitable for recycling. All
recycled chemicals are in their original container and may still have their factory seals.
Periodically, RM&S distributes a list of recyclable chemicals in the Department newsletter,
FlashPoint.
When you order a chemical, you have the responsibility for its disposal. Dont give RM&S a
chemical you can treat in your lab. Acids and bases should be neutralized and put into the sewer
system. Procedures are given in this guide. Other treatments that you can carry out in you lab are
metal precipitations and safe reductions of strong oxidizers. Please call RM&S for procedures for
carrying out these and other chemical treatments.
g. Date Opening
Many chemicals have limited shelf life. After which they decompose, give off fumes, absorb
water or CO2, or form peroxides. Watching the storage time can minimize disposal of reactive
materials by disposing of them when they are stable. See below for a chart of chemicals not
designed for long term storage.
This section will help you identify hazardous chemicals. The Indiana Department of
Environmental Management (IDEM) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
considers chemical waste hazardous if it:
Some chemicals are included in both Sections 1.2.1 and 1.2.2, because they fit the criteria of
each section. Chemicals that you can dispose of in the normal trash or the sewer system, are
listed in Sections 1.3 and 1.4. If a chemical isnt in these sections or youd like more
information, call RM&S.
a. IGNITABILITY
A liquid which has a flash point of less than 60 deg C is considered ignitable by the EPA. This
includes almost all organic solvents. Some examples are:
Ethyl ether, Methanol, Ethanol, Acetone, Toluene, Benzene, Pentane, Hexane, Skelly B, Xylene,
Formaldehyde, Heptane, Ethyl Acetate, Petroleum Ether
Instructions for the disposal of organic solvents are given in Section 1.6.
b. CORROSIVITY
An aqueous solution having a pH of less than or equal to 2, or greater than or equal to 12.5 is
considered corrosive by the EPA. Instructions for the disposal of concentrated solutions of acids
or bases are given in Section 1.5. Corrosive materials also include thionyl chloride, solid, sodium
hydroxide and other nonaqueous acids or bases.
c. REACTIVITY
Chemicals that react violently with air or water are considered reactive by the EPA. An example
is sodium metal. Reactive materials also include strong oxidizers, such as perchloric acids, and
chemicals capable of detonation when subjected to an initiating source, such as old picric acid
and phosphorous.
Solutions of cyanide or sulfide that could generate toxic gases are also classified as a reactive by
EPA.
d. TCLP TOXICITY
TCLP is a laboratory test to determine leaching. Chemicals characterized as toxic by the EPA
may leach into the groundwater if improperly managed. EP toxic wastes include concentrated
toxic metal solutions and the following list of pesticides:
Any chemical with an LD50 less than 500 mg/kg or is a carcinogen, mutagen or, teratogen eg.
Furadan Oral LD50 (human) 11 mg/kg or Osium tetraoxide Oral LD50 (rat) 14 mg/kg.
Lead, mercury and silver require special precautions for disposal. If you discharge any of these
metals, their compounds or aqueous solutions of their compounds into the sewer system, make
sure you meet these concentrations.
You should put solutions of nonmetallic pesticides in plastic or glass bottles for pickup by
RM&S.
Package free-flowing mercury (broken thermometers, mercury from manometers, etc in tightly
sealed containers. Label with a chemical discard tag and call RM&S for pickup.
Solutions containing cyanide or sulfide compounds release toxic gases under acidic conditions.
For safety, you should package these solutions separately from acids and give them to us.
This section presents a list of chemicals which the EPAconsidered hazardous because of their
carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, teratogenicity, or other toxicity. The list, which will be updated to
keep up with current scientific information, is not meant to be complete and generally does not
include substances which have hazardous characteristics, as defined previously. The omission of
a chemical from this list does not mean it is not toxic or otherwise hazardous. Call RM&S if you
want additional hazard information.
Disposal instructions for these chemicals are given in Sections depending on their date,
classification, and physical form.
Auramine
Aziridine
Azirinopyrrola indole-4,7-dione
Benzenethiol (Thiophenol)
p-Benzoquinone (1,4-Cyclohexadienedione)
Beryllium Dust
2,2'-Bioxirane (1,2:3,4-Diepoxybutane)
DDT (Dichlorodipehnyltrichloroethane)-ORMA
Diallate (S-2,3-Dichloroally)diisopropylthiocarbamate)
1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane
3,3'-Dichlorobenzidine
Dichlorodifluoromethane
trans-1,2-Dichloroethene (1,2-Dichloroethylene)
Dichloroethyl ether
2,4-Dichlorophenol
2,6-Dichlorophenol
Dichloropropane, N.O.S.*
Dichloropropanol, N.O.S.*
Dichloropropene, N.O.S.*
1,3-Dichloropropene
Dieldrin - ORM A
Diethylarsine
N,N-Diethylhydrazine (Hyrazine,1,2-diethyl)
O,O-Diethyl-O-2-pyrazinyl phosphorothioate
Diethylstilbesterol
Diisoproplyfluorphosphate (DFP)
Dimethoate
3,3'-Dimethoxybenzidine
Dimethylamine (N-Methylmethanamine)
N,N-Dimethylaniline
3,3'-Dimethylbenzidine (o-Tolidine)Date:
alpha, alpha-Dimethylbenzylhydroperoxide
Dimethylcarbamoyl chloride
1,1-Dimethylhydrazine
1,2-Dimethylhydrazine
2,4-Dimethylphenol
Dinitrobenzene, N.O.S.*
2,4-Dinitrophenol
1,2-Diphenylhydrazine
Dipropylamine
Di-n-propylnitrosamine (N-Nitroso-di-n-propylamine)
Disulfoton
Endosulfan
Endothall
Endrin nd metabolites
Epineprine
Ethidium Bromide
Ethyl acetate
Ethyl acrylate
Ethyleneimine (Azirdine)
Ethylenethiourea (2-Imidazolidinethione)
Flourine
2-Flouroacetamide
Furan (Furfuran)
2-Furancarboxaldehyde (Furfural)Date:
Hamolethane, N.O.S.*
Heptachlor
Hexachlorobenzene
Hydrazine (Diamine)
Hydroperoxide, 1-methyl-1-pheylethyl
Hydroxydimethylarsine oxide (Cacodylic acid)
Indomethacin
Keptone (Chlordecone)
Lasiocarpine
Malononitrile (Propanedinitrile)
Methanamine, N-methyl
Methanethiol (Thiomethanol)
Methanol
2-Methylaziridine (1,2-Propylenimine)
1-Methylbutadiene
Methyl hydrazine
2-Methyl-2-(methylthio)propionaldehyde-o-(methylcarbonyl)oxime (Propanal,
2-methyl-2-(methylthio-,o-((methylaminocarbonyl)oxime)
N-Methyl-N-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine
Methyl parathion
4-Methyl-2-pentanone
Methylulthiouracil
Mitomycin-C
Naphthalene
1,4-Naphthoquinone (1,4-Napthalenedione)
1-Naphthylamine (alpha-Naphthylamine)
2-Naphthylamine (beta-Naphthylamine)
1-(1-Naphthyl)-2-thiourea (Thiourea, 1-naphthalenyl-)
hydrochloride salt)
2-Nitropropane
Nitrosamine, N.O.S.*
N-Nitrosodimethylamine (Dimethylnitrosamine)
N-Nitrososarcosine
Osmium tetraoxide
Paraldehyde
Parathion
Pentachlorobenzene
Pentachloroethane
Pentachloronitrobenzene (PCNB)
Pentachlorophenol
1,3-Pentadiene
Phenylenediamine (Benenediamine)
N-Phenylthiourea
Phorate
Phosphorouse sulfide
Potassium cyanide
Pronamide (3.5-Dichloro-N-(1,1-dimethyl-2-propynyl)benzamide)
Propane, 2-nitro-
n-Propylamine (1-Propanamine)
Propyltiouracil
Reserpine
Resorcinol (1,2-Benzenediol)
Silver cyanide
Sodium azide
Sodium cyanide
Strontium sulfide
Sulfur phosphide
1,2,4,5-Tetrachlorobenzene
2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)
Tetrachloroethane, N.O.S.*
1,1,1,2- Tetrachlorethane
1,1,2,2-Tetrachlotoethane
2,3,4,6-Tetrachlorophenol
Tetrahydrofuran
Tetranitromethane
Thioacetamide (Ethanethioamide)
Thiofanox
Thiosemicarbazide (Hydrazinecarbothioamide)
Thiram (Bis(dimethylthiocarbamoyl)disulfide)
Tribromomethane (Bromoform)
1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene
1,1,2-Trichloroethane
Trichloroethene (Trichloroethylene)
Trichloromethanethiol
Trichloromonofluoromethane (Freon)
2,4,5-Trichlorophenol
2,4,6-Trichlorophenol
Trichloropropane, N.O.S.*
1,2,3-Trichloropropane
Tris(1-azidinyl)phosphine sulfide
Trypan blue
Warfarin
Zinc Chloride
Zinc phosphide
You can safely dispose of many solid chemicals in the normal trash if the containers are
tightly capped and of good integrity. Examples are given on the following list. These
b. have oral rat LD50 toxicity values higher than 500 mg/kg and
Chemical Substances.
If you intend to dispose of more than five pounds of any one of these chemicals, call RM&S
Naphthalene Pepsin
Pumice Phosphate
Sucrose Thymol
You can safely dispose of many chemicals into the sanitary sewer system if they are water
soluble, degradable in the sanitary sewer and properly diluted. Examples are given in the
following list. Chemicals in solid form should be followed by twenty (20) parts of water. If you
intend to dispose of more than one pound of any one of these chemicals, call RM&S for further
evaluation.
This section explains the disposal of concentrated solutions of acids, such as hydrochloric,
sulfuric, and nitric and bases such as ammonium hydroxide. These solutions should be
neutralized in the laboratory as described in Section 1.5 below.
You should take special care when neutralizing strongly oxidizing acids such as perchloric acid
and fresh chromic acid, so call RMS for additional instructions.
5. Neutralize concentrated solutions of acids and bases to within a pH range of greater than 2 and
lower than 12.5 and then flush them into the sanitary sewer with at least twenty (20) parts of
water.
While stirring, add acids to large amounts of an ice-water solution of base such as sodium
carbonate (soda ash), calcium hydroxide (slaked lime), or 8M sodium hydroxide (for
concentrated acids). When a pH above 2 is achieved, dispose of the solution into the sewer
system followed by twenty (20) parts of water.
Neutralize by first adding the base to a large vessel containing water. Slowly add a 1M solution
of HCL. When a pH of 12.5 is achieved, dispose of into the sewer system followed by twenty
parts of water.
Chromic acid is a powerful oxidizing agent. It is both toxic and corrosive and can explode on
contact with organic materials. Users of chromic acid cleaning solutions on campus have
suffered burns to both skin and clothing. We urge you to consider the alternatives listed on the
next page that clean satisfactorily and are less toxic.
2. Disposal
You should neutralize spent chromic acid solution to pH 2by SLOWLY pouring it into a stirred
8M NaOH-ice solution in a large container. CAUTION: fumes and heat are green Cr (III) by the
addition of a saturated sodium bisulfite solution. (Hexavalent chromium is highly oxidizing and
toxic and is strictly regulated in waste). Put the neutralized, reduced solution into the sewer
system, followed by twenty (20) parts of water.
Product Manufacturer
Place your organic solvents in glass bottles or carboys the solvents originally came in or in ones
provided by RM&S. Dont put them in the sewer. Halogenated solvents (e.g., chloroform, carbon
tetrachloride and dichloromethane) and their mixtures should be kept separate as they are more
difficult to dispose of. Be sure to deface or remove original label and attach Chemical Discard
tag to bottle.
Call RM&S and well pick up your spent organic solvents and their associated organic solutes.
When we pick up the solvents, the contents will then be commingled in 55 gallon drums and
shipped off campus for incineration. We have to pump the contents, so they must be fluid and
not contain any solids, precipitates or residues.
The following substances are inappropriate for incineration. Dont put them into your organic
waste containers. They should be collected in separate containers.
Metals (e.g., Sb, As, Ba, Cd, Cr, Pb, Hg, Ni, Se, Ag)
Unknowns
2. Waste Analysis
To comply with EPA regulations, you must complete our Chemical Discard tag when giving us
waste. Youll need to complete a form for each container. You must list the major components of
your waste on the form and particularly note all of the following:
Solvents
Please be sure that you values reflect a reasonable, defendable estimate. Were required to
routinely analyze waste to see if there are discrepancies between waste content and information
reported on your form.
3. Waste Solvent
To avoid fumes, you may wish to initially collect waste solvents in another vessel such as a
beaker with a watch glass on top or a metal can with spring loaded cover (available from
Scientific Products or Fisher, called safety can or liquid disposal can). This may be stored
conveniently in a fume hood.
This section deals with six other types of liquid chemicals. For liquids not covered by these
sections, use Section 1.2, What is Hazardous? to determine whether the liquid is hazardous.
Package hazardous liquids according to Section 1.13 and give to RM&S. Dispose of
nonhazardous, water-soluble liquids into the sewer system.
For highly toxic chemicals, the decision as to whether an aqueous solution should be incinerated,
treated in some way, or put into the sewer system depends on the toxicity and concentration of
the solute. This decision is made by RM&S staff after consultation with its desk references as
well as the appropriate disposal facility.
If you think that the sewer system is not an appropriate route of disposal for an aqueous solution
(because the organic solute is highly toxic), package it according to Section L and give to
RM&S. We will evaluate the solution for its appropriate route of disposal.
In general, aqueous solutions of organic chemicals should be put into the sewer system if they
are neutral, nonreactive, nonignitable and the organic solute is not highly toxic. Call RM&S if
you have any questions.
1.6 Solids
Package tightly capped containers of hazardous solid chemicals according to the instructions
given in 1.13. To determine whether or not a chemical is hazardous, see Section 1.2.
Section 1.3 lists chemicals that may be disposed of in the normal trash.
You can dissolve small amounts of hazardous organic solids in an organic solvent and place
them into solvent waste containers.
You should package each container of potentially explosive chemicals separately from other
chemicals. Follow the packaging instructions in Section 1.13 and label the box and form clearly
as to hazardous characteristics and special handling precautions. In addition, when calling for a
pickup, please inform RM&S that have potentially explosive materials. Potentially explosive
chemicals include:
Peroxides are low power explosives and very sensitive to shock and heat. A variety of organic
compounds react with oxygen from the air to form unstable peroxides. Well-known peroxide
forming compounds include:
Diethyl Ether
Tetrahydrofuran
Isopropyl Ether
Other ethers
Aldehydes
Vinyls
1. Exposure of any of the peroxide-forming agents to light or air increase the rate of peroxide
information. Therefore, store these agents in full, light-tight containers.
5. Be particularly cautious with materials of unknown vintage. Do not attempt to remove caps
from containers that may cause sparks. Call RM&S for advice or assistance when such
containers are found.
6. Never distill peroxide-forming solvents unless they are known to be free of peroxides.
Peroxides concentrated in the residue can pose a serious explosion hazard.
1. Before beginning work with a peroxide-forming agent, determine its peroxide content.
Dispose of agents containing greater than 80 ppm peroxide. Easy-to-use quantitative peroxide
test strips are available from Scientific Products or Aldrich.
2. Materials found to contain peroxides (greater than 80 ppm) should be treated prior to disposal.
Methods for removal of peroxides involve the addition of reducing agent such as ferrous sulfate
(for diethyl ether peroxides) or sodium metabisulfite (for isopropyl peroxides).
3. The treated solvent should be placed in a waste container and the empty container rinsed with
water. Most peroxides are water soluble and the rinsate can be put in the sewer system.
The best way to dispose of oxidizers and reducers is to chemically neutralize them. You should
treat the chemicals listed below in your laboratory. For information on treatment techniques,
please call us. If you choose not to neutralize these chemicals, contact RM&S for pickup and
disposal.
STRONG OXIDIZERS
Metallic chlorates
Metallic nitrates
Metallic perchlorates
Metallic permanganates
Perchloric acid
STRONG REDUCERS
Stannous chloride
Acetyl chloride
Bezoyl peroxide
Bromine
Calcium metal
Lithium metal
Phosphorous (yellow)
Potassium metal
Sodium metal
Thionyl chloride
Since they cant be pumped, dont put precipitates, semisolids, residues or gels of any kind into
solvent waste containers. If separable, the liquid phase should first be removed by decantation,
filtration, evaporation or absorption. Use Section 1.2 to determine whether the material is
hazardous or call us for assistance. If the material is hazardous, package it in leak-proof
containers according to 1.13 and contact RM&S for pick-up.
Contaminated labware disposal can be a problem if the contaminant(s) is/are highly toxic.
Labware pertains to disposable lab items, such as gloves, bench top coverings, pipets, test tubes,
aprons, etc. The decision as to whether contaminated labware should be place in a secure landfill,
treated in some way, or put into the normal trash depends upon the toxicity and concentration of
the contaminant. If you feel that the normal trash is not an appropriate route of disposal for your
contaminated labware (because the contaminant has a high toxicity), package it according to 1.13
and let RM&S pick it up. We will evaluate the labware for its appropriate route of disposal. All
PCB contaminated labware 50 ppm or greater must be given to RM&S for disposal.
In general, labware contaminated with chemicals should be put into the normal trash if it is
nonreactive, nonignitable and the contaminant is not highly toxic. Call RM&S if you have any
questions. Procedures for decontaminating non disposable items are also available.
We offer assistance in investigating the identity of unknown chemicals. Any information you can
provide about an unknown chemical you wish to dispose of greatly aids identification. For
example, even knowing whether or not a chemical is organic or inorganic is helpful.
2. Procedure
Call RM&S if you have an unknown chemical. Dont move it from its location if possible. An
RM&S staff m ember will come to your lab to investigate.
You can reduce the occurrence of unknown chemicals by being thorough in maintaining labels
on chemical containers. Periodic review of chemical stock and careful record keeping lessens the
chance of discovering containers with missing labels.
Good packaging increases safety when we handle and transport your all material we receive from
labs. Please follow these rules when giving material to RM&S:
1. Label each container you package with its identity. Attach a properly, completed Chemical
Discard Tag on each waste container.
5. If you have multiple containers of the same chemical, pack your chemicals in a strong
cardboard box. Do not seal box as RM&S staff will check each container for proper
identification.
6. Call RM&S (1-5037) and let them know you have waste for pickup. Routine pickups are
scheduled Galvin, Stepan, Nieuwland, Fitzpatrick Cushing, Stinson-Remick, Raclin-Carmichael
and Jordan Halls. If you are not located in one of these buildings, every effort will be made to
pick up the waste within 72 hours of the call.