VII. LABORATORY WASTE DISPOSAL           A. HAZARDOUS WASTE DISPOSAL PROGRAM SPRING 2008 University at Albany, State University of New York     The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has developed, under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (RCRA), a complex set of regulations to control hazardous wastes. The University is currently holding a permit issued by the EPA as a hazardous waste generator. This permit allows the University, within strict EPA and NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) guidelines, to manage all hazardous waste on campus. The Office of Environmental Health & Safety has instituted the following Hazardous Waste Disposal Program, in order to handle the hazardous waste generated on campus. This program is coordinated by Lisa Donohue, UA EH&S Assistant Director and Nay Gosai, UA Hazardous Waste Specialist. State law (Chapter 719 of the laws of 1981) established criminal penalties for the unlawful possession, handling, and disposing of hazardous wastes. Representation and indemnification under section 17 of the Public Officer's Law would not be available in cases of liability imposed under criminal statues. Because of the possibilities of personal liability and prison terms, campus personnel are advised to familiarize themselves with the University's Hazardous Waste Disposal Program for the proper storage and disposal of hazardous wastes.   The procedures stated below are to be followed by campus generators when identifying, storing and disposing of hazardous waste: 1. IDENTIFICATION The responsibility for the identification of hazardous waste (waste chemicals, waste chemical containing products, and out-of-date chemicals) within the University necessarily rests with the faculty and staff who have created the waste (generators) in research and instruction. See the following pages for the definitions of generator and hazardous waste. The Hazardous Waste Specialist and the Office of Environmental Health & Safety will provide assistance in the identification of hazardous waste. 2. LABELING All containers of hazardous waste must be properly labeled with labels provided by the Office of Environmental Health & Safety in Chemistry B73. The waste chemicals must be identified by their proper chemical name, including proportions of a mixture. The label must say "HAZARDOUS WASTE". The label must be completed before it will be accepted for disposal by the Office of Environmental Health & Safety. The University is liable for the mislabeling of hazardous waste. HAZARDOUS WASTE DISPOSAL PROGRAM (Cont'd)   3. UNKNOWNS Unknown chemicals cannot be accepted for disposal by the Office of Environmental Health & Safety. The EH&S Office has no way of disposing of unknowns. If the person wishing to dispose of the waste chemicals cannot trace down the identity of the waste, the Office of Environmental Health & Safety can have the University's Hazardous Waste Disposal Company identify them for a substantial cost to the generator. For this reason, the Office of Environmental Health & Safety strongly encourages Departments and Researchers, that have either departing faculty, staff or students, to have these departing persons identify any waste they may have generated before they leave. The Office of Environmental Health & Safety will assist in the identification of hazardous waste and arranging for its storage and ultimate disposal. The Office of Environmental Health & Safety is not responsible for cleaning abandoned laboratories of waste chemicals, nor for the costs of the disposal of the abandoned waste chemicals. 4. PACKAGING All chemical wastes must be packaged by the generator in a manner which will allow them to be transported and stored without danger of spillage, escape of dangerous vapors, or hazardous reaction. Again, all wastes must be properly labeled. 5. ACCEPTANCE and PICKUP When the chemical waste is labeled and ready to be taken out of the lab,shop or other area, the Hazardous Waste Specialist must be contacted at 442-3495. An appointment will be arranged between the generator and the Hazardous Waste Specialist for the pickup of the waste. The Hazardous Waste Specialist may refuse to take any waste that is not properly labeled, in the appropriate container or looks unsafe to be transported. 6. CHARGE BACK The Office of Environmental Health & Safety pays for the disposal of routinely generated hazardous waste. The Office does not pay for the cleanout of labs or any abandoned area. Cleanout costs rest with the researcher or department. The Office of Environmental Health & Safety tries to reduce the cost of hazardous waste disposal in many ways: by bulking waste chemicals when possible, disposing of full lab packs, using a bid process for contracting with a waste disposal company and by brokering usable chemicals. Even with these combined efforts, the cost for the disposal of waste chemicals far exceeds their original purchase price. It is thus recommended that the researcher order only the amount of a particular chemical that can be used within a year and/or by a particular research project. This will ultimately save the University money and it is definitely safer to store smaller amounts of chemicals. B. DEFINITIONS     GENERATOR A generator is anyone who disposes of waste that is defined by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to be a "hazardous waste". You are a generator if, in your work/research at the University, you produce or find a hazardous chemical that you intend to discard. It is your responsibility to ensure that this waste is handled correctly as described in the above Hazardous Waste Disposal Program. Be aware that there are substantial civil and criminal penalties for any person, company, corporation, institution, association, etc. who improperly disposes of hazardous waste.   HAZARDOUS WASTE A waste is defined by EPA to be hazardous, if it meets ANY of the following: 1. It is a "solid waste or a combination of solid wastes ( a solid waste includes semi-solid, liquid, or contained gaseous material) which, because of its concentration, quantity, or physical, chemical, or infectious characteristics, may cause or significantly contribute to an increase in mortality, or an increase in serious irreversible or incapacitating illness, or may pose a substantial present or potential hazard to human health, or the environment when improperly treated, stored, transported, or disposed of, or otherwise managed." 2. It is included in lists of specifically identifiable compounds published by EPA. See Appendix F - EPA Hazardous Waste List. 3. It is a listed waste mixed with nonhazardous materials. 4. It has the characteristics of being ignitable, corrosive, reactive, or EP Toxicity, as defined by EPA. See below. 5. It is personally known to you to be hazardous based upon knowledge of the materials or processes used in producing the waste. 6. The four characteristics that determine if a waste is hazardous are as follows: a. Characteristic of Ignitability 1. It is a liquid, other than an aqueous solution containing less than 24% alcohol by volume, and has a flash point of less than 60°C (140°F). 2. It is not a liquid and is capable, under standard temperature and pressure, of causing fire through friction, absorption of moisture, or spontaneous chemical changes and when ignited burns so vigorously and persistently that it creates a hazard.   HAZARDOUS WASTE DEFINITIONS (Cont'd.)     3. It is an ignitable compressed gas; any material or mixture having in the container an absolute pressure exceeding 40 p.s.i. at 70°F or any liquid flammable material having a vapor pressure exceeding 40 p.s.i. absolute at 100°F. 4. It is an oxidizer; a substance such as a chlorate, permanganate, inorganic peroxide, or a nitrate, that yields oxygen readily to stimulate the combustion of organic matter. b. Characteristic of Corrosivity 1. It is aqueous and has a pH less than or equal to 2, or greater than or equal to 12.5, as determined by a pH meter. 2. It is a liquid and corrodes steel (SAE 1020) at a rate greater than 6.35 mm (0.250 inches) per year at a test temperature of 55°C (130°F) as determined by test methods specified by the National Association of Corrosion Engineers. c. Characteristic of Reactivity 1. It is normally unstable and readily undergoes violent change without detonating. 2. It reacts violently with water. 3. It forms potentially explosive mixtures with water. 4. When mixed with water, it generates toxic gases or vapors in a quantity sufficient to present a danger to human health or the environment. 5. It is a cyanide or sulfide-bearing waste which, when exposed to pH conditions between 2 and 12.5, can generate toxic gases or vapors in a quantity sufficient to present danger to human health or the environment. 6. It is capable of detonation or explosive reaction if it is subjected to a strong initiating source or if heated under confinement. 7. It is readily capable of detonation or explosive decomposition or reaction at standard temperature and pressure. 8. It is a Class A, Class B, or Forbidden Explosive as defined in the code of Federal Regulations, Title 49, Part 173. d. Characteristic of EP (Extraction Procedure) Toxicity A solid waste exhibits the characteristic of EP toxicity if, using the test methods described by EPA, the extract from a representative sample of the waste contains any of the contaminants listed below at a concentration equal to or greater than the respective value given. Where the waste contains less than 0.5 percent filterable solids, the waste itself, after filtering using EPA methodology, is considered to be the extract.       EPA HAZARDOUS WASTE NUMBER     CONTAMINANT MAXIMUM CONCENTRATION (milligrams per liter) D004 Arsenic 5.0 D005 Barium 100.0 D006 Cadmium 1.0 D007 Chromium 5.0 D008 Lead 5.0 D009 Mercury 0.2 D010 Selenium 1.0 D011 Silver 5.0 D012 Endrin (1,2,3,4,10,10-hexachloro-1,7-epoxy-1,4,4a,5,6,7,8, 8a-octahydro-1,4-endo, endo-5,8-dimethano naphthalene) 0.02 D013 Lindane (1,2,3,4,5,6-hexachlorocyclohexane, gamma isomer) 0.4 D014 Methoxychlor (1,1,1-Trichloro-2,2-bis [p-methoxyphenyl] ethane) 10.0 D015 Toxaphene (C10H10Cl8, Technical chlorinated camphene, 67-69% chlorine) 0.5 D016 2,4-D, (2,4-Dichlorophenoxy-acetic acid) 10.0 D017 2,4,5-TP Silvex 2-(2,4,5-Trichlorophenoxy) propionic acid 1.0 D018 Benzene 0.5 D019 Carbon Tetrachloride 0.5 D020 Chlordane 0.03 D021 Chlorobenzene 100.0 D022 Chloroform 6.0 D023 o-Cresol 200.0 D024 m-Cresol 200.0 D025 p-Cresol 200.0 D026 Cresol 200.0 D027 1,4-Dichlorobenzene 7.5 D028 1,2-Dichloroethane 0.5 D029 1,1-Dichloroethylene 0.7 D030 2,4-Dinitrotoluene 0.13 D031 Heptachlor (and its epoxide) 0.008 D032 Hexachlorobenzene 0.13 D033 Hexachlorobutadiene 0.5 D034 Hexachloroethane 3.0 D035 Methyl Ethyl Ketone 200.0 D036 Nitrobenzene 2.0 D037 Pentachlorophenol 100.0 D038 Pyridine 5.0 D039 Tetrachloroethylene 0.7 D040 Trichloroethylene 0.5 D041 2,4,5-Trichlorophenol 400.0 D042 2,4,6-Trichlorophenol 2.0 D043 Vinyl Chloride 0.2     C. HAZARDOUS WASTE LABEL - SAMPLE     HAZARDOUS WASTE FEDERAL LAW PROHIBITS IMPROPER DISPOSAL   SUNY AT ALBANY GENERATOR INFORMATION NAME DEPT BLDG & RM   CHEMICAL % OF VOLUME 1. 2. 3. TOTAL VOLUME     HANDLE WITH CARE CONTAINS HAZARDOUS OR TOXIC WASTES       D. EMPTY CHEMICAL CONTAINER and GLASSWARE DISPOSAL POLICY     In order to dispose of empty chemical containers (bottles, used glassware or cans), they must be: 1. Triple rinsed, with water or the appropriate solvent, depending on the chemical residues in the containers.* This is done in order to prevent a potential hazardous materials incident, when the containers are transported and crushed for disposal; 2. The containers' labels made illegible; 3. The tops taken off the clean containers and the containers taken to the CAS Kitroom in Chemistry B44 for disposal. Call CAS Kitroom at 2-4415 before you bring down your empty containers, so you can be sure someone is there to receive them.     Empty chemical containers MUST NOT be left in the tunnel or in corridors. The CAS Kitroom personnel will handle the disposal of all clean, empty chemical containers. They will even handle small pieces of clean glass, if properly packaged. All small pieces of clean glassware not taken down to the Kitroom for disposal should be placed in a separate wastebasket labeled for glass only. The custodial staff is not responsible for the disposal of empty chemical containers. A compressed gas cylinder is considered empty when the pressure in the cylinder approaches atmospheric. If you have empty lecture size gas cylinders to dispose of, contact the Department of Environmental Health & Safety. Disposal of larger size gas cylinders is handled through Chemistry Stores in Chemistry B13. If you have any questions on the disposal of any type of waste or container, call the Department of Environmental Health & Safety at 2-3495.     ________________________________________________________ * The rinsate from Acute Hazardous Waste Containers (P Listed Wastes) is also considered a hazardous waste. The solvent you use to rinse a container may also be considered a hazardous waste.   E. REGULATED MEDICAL WASTE and AUTOCLAVED WASTE     A. Regulated Medical Waste: "A regulated medical waste is any medical waste that is . . . generated in the diagnosis, treatment, or immunization of human beings or animals, in research pertaining thereto, or in the production or testing of biologicals . . ." and includes those items listed below.   WASTE CLASS DESCRIPTION 1. Cultures and Stocks Cultures and stocks of infectious agents and associated biologicals, including: cultures from medical and pathological laboratories; cultures and stocks of infectious agents from research and industrial laboratories; wastes from the production of biologicals; discarded live and attenuated vaccines; and culture dishes and devices used to transfer, inoculate and mix cultures. 2. Pathological Wastes Human pathological wastes, including tissues, organs, body parts and body fluids that are removed during surgery or autopsy, or other medical procedures, and specimens of body fluids and their containers. 3. Human blood and blood products liquid waste human blood; products of human blood; items saturated and/or dripping with human blood, or items that were saturated and/or dripping with human blood that are now caked with dried human blood, including serum, plasma, and other blood components, and their containers, which were used or intended for use in either patient care, testing and laboratory analysis or the development of pharmaceuticals. Intravenous bags are also included in this category. 4. Sharps Sharps that have been used in animal or human patient care or treatment or in medical, research or industrial laboratories, including hypodermic needles, syringes (with or without the attached needle), pasteur pipettes, scalpel blades, blood vials, needles with attached tubing, and culture dishes (regardless of presence of infectious agents). Also included are other types of broken or unbroken glassware that were in contact with infectious agents, such as used slides and cover slips.       WASTE CLASS DESCRIPTION 5. Animal Waste Contaminated animal carcasses, body parts, and bedding of animals that were known to have been exposed to infectious agents during research (including research in veterinary hospitals), production of biologicals, or testing of pharmaceuticals. 6. Contact Wastes Wastes from surgery or autopsy that were in contact with infectious agents, including soiled dressings, sponges, drapes, lavage tubes, drainage sets, underpads, and surgical gloves. 7. Laboratory Wastes Laboratory wastes from medical, pharmaceutical or other research, commercial, or industrial laboratories that were in contact with infectious agents, including slides and cover slips, disposable gloves, laboratory coats and aprons. 8. Dialysis Wastes Dialysis wastes that were in contact with the blood of patients undergoing hemodialysis of renal dialysis, including contaminated disposable equipment and supplies such as tubing, filters, disposable sheets, towels, gloves, aprons, and laboratory coats. 9. Isolation Wastes Biological waste and discarded materials contaminated with blood, excretion, exudates, or secretions from humans who are isolated to protect others from certain highly communicable diseases, or isolated animals known to be infected with highly communicable diseases. 10. Unused Sharps The following unused, discarded sharps: hypodermic needles, suture needles, syringes, and scalpel blades.   B. "Biologicals" means preparations made from living organisms and their products, including vaccines, cultures, etc. intended for use in diagnosing, immunizing, or treating humans or animals or in research pertaining thereto.       C. "Laboratory" means any research, analytical, or clinical facility that performs health care related analysis or service. This includes medical, pathological, pharmaceutical, and other research, commercial, or industrial laboratories.   If any waste generated in your laboratories fits the definitions above, it is "regulated medical waste" and must be handled and disposed of accordingly. The University has an agreement with BFI for pick up and disposal of this type of waste. Currently, the University Health Center and the Animal Laboratories are the primary users of this.   F. HANDLING PROCEDURES FOR SHARPS, GLASS and AUTOCLAVED WASTE     Sharps Needles, syringes, and scalpel blades, etc. appear to always be considered regulated medical waste under the "sharps" category, and must be disposed of in the red plastic sharps containers available through CAS Stores and disposed of as regulated medical waste. This is also required to comply with the University's policy "Guidelines for the Procurement, Storage, Use, and Destruction and Disposal of Hypodermic Supplies". The University has a contract with BFI for pick up and disposal of this type of waste. Glass Any glass items you wish to dispose of, which do not fall into the categories of regulated medical waste and that do not need to be treated otherwise (eg, autoclaved), should be placed in a labeled container separate from other lab trash. The reason for separating glass from other trash, to avoid puncture wounds, should be obvious. The glass items should be as clean as possible. Most laboratories already have some type of container dedicated to glass disposal, only. If you don't have a separate container for glass, a sturdy cardboard box lined with a heavy plastic bag and labeled for Glass Disposal Only is suitable. CAS Stores in Chemistry B13 will provide a lined cardboard box for glassware disposal. . Once a glassware disposal box is full, the lab is responsible for safely transporting it to CAS Stores for disposal. Autoclaved Waste Any culture dishes, test tubes, pasteur pipettes, etc., that do NOT categorize as "regulated medical waste" (eg. cell media) should be placed in an orange bag for autoclaving. When you are ready to autoclave a full bag, put copious amounts of autoclave indicator tape, available in CAS Stores, on the bag before you run it through the autoclave. Do not put other waste in these bags that does not need to be autoclaved. Once the autoclaved waste is cooled, place it in a large black garbage bag for disposal. it will not be picked up by the custodial staff for disposal, if it is not put in a black garbage bag. These bags are also available from CAS Stores..   If you have any questions regarding laboratory waste disposal, please feel free to contact the Office of Environmental Health & Safety at 442-3495.