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UCCS -> Public Safety -> Environmental Health and Safety -> Chemical Management Plan -> Hazardous Waste Management

University of Colorado at Colorado Springs
Hazardous Material Chemical Management Plan

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Hazardous Waste Management

Numerous Federal, State and Local regulatory agencies define Hazardous Wastes.  In general, Hazardous Wastes are any materials that cannot be legally disposed of in public landfills or the wastewater system.  Individuals who improperly dispose of hazardous waste are subject to criminal and civil penalties.  For additional assistance, contact the Environmental Health and Safety Office.

Hazardous waste consist of several categories:

  • Regulated Hazardous Waste:  As defined by The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) codified in RCRA Regulations (40 CFR Parts 240-299).  In addition to named hazardous chemicals and byproducts, chemicals that are toxic [14] flammable [15], corrosive [16], contain heavy metals [17], or are reactive [18] are regulated.  The Environmental Health and Safety Office will assist in identification of regulated waste.
  • Universal Wastes:  Aerosols, Batteries, Electronics (devices and components), Lamps, Mercury-Containing Thermostats/Mercury-Containing Equipment, and Pesticides.  Disposal of electronics and lamps must be arranged through the Facilities Department.  The Environmental Health and Safety Office handles all others essentially as regulated hazardous waste.
  • Designated Wastes:  Asbestos Containing Material, CFC's, PCB containing materials, Silver-rich photographic waste.  Contact the Environmental Health and Safety Office for disposal information.
  • Biohazardous [19] (Biomedical) Waste:  Human and animal tissue, blood, and blood products, cultures and stocks of etiologic agents and associated biologicals, laboratory waste [20] that has come in contact with a biohazard, sharps, animal waste, animal carcasses and body parts, and human pathological waste.  Disposal of these materials must be arranged through a designated and certified contractor.
  • Radioactive Waste:  radioactive materials, including wastes are controlled through the Health Physics Laboratory of the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Units generating hazardous waste will designate an individual as the primary contact person for the Environmental Health and Safety Office.  General responsibilities include:

  • Receive hazardous material training from the Environmental Health and Safety Office;
  • Coordinate hazardous materials training within their unit;
  • Coordinate designation of hazardous materials locations;
  • Designate hazardous waste collection points within their unit;
  • Collect, label and coordinate pickup of hazardous waste for the unit.
  • Act a single point of contact for chemicals and hazardous materials within their unit.

Chemical Waste Collection

  • Hazardous materials that are no longer used, are in excess, have exceeded shelf life, or have been used for a process and are no longer useable may be designated for disposal.
  • An identified area within the unit must be designated as a Satellite Accumulation Area for hazardous material disposal.  Access to this area must be controlled to ensure that materials are properly identified, handled, and maintained.
  • Individual containers for each chemical category must be identified and labeled [21].  Containers must be placed in secondary containment, unless specifically exempted by the Environmental Health and Safety Office.
  • A log must be maintained of what materials are placed in each accumulation container, with the date and individual generator name or process identified.  Except when physically placing materials in containers, the lid must be in place and tightened.
  • When containers are full, the Environmental Health and Safety Office will be contacted to arrange pickup using the Chemical Waste Collection Request (see Forms).

IMPORTANT:  The Environmental Health and Safety Office will provide assistance in management of chemical wastes and will collect all identified wastes for disposal, by arrangement.  Unidentified chemicals or wastes will be the responsibility of the generator until properly identified for disposal.

[14]40 CFR 261.24 Toxicity characteristics.  Materials containing any of the contaminants listed in the regulation Table 1 at the concentration equal to or greater than listed; Toxic wastes are assigned an EPS ID number identified in Table 1.

[15] 40 CFR 261.21 Characteristic of ignitability. Liquids with flash point less than 140° F; non liquids capable 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; ignitable compressed gases as defined in 49 CFR 173.300; oxidizers as defined in 49 CFR 173.151; or solid waste that exhibits the characteristic of ignitability.  These wastes are assigned the EPA Hazardous Waste Number of D001.

[16] 40 CFR 261.22 Characteristic of corrosivity.  Aqueous with pH less than or equal to 2 or greater than or equal to 12.5; or liquid that rapidly corrodes steel.  These wastes are assigned the EPA Hazardous Waste Number of D002.

[17]The term heavy metal refers to any metallic chemical element that has a relatively high density and is toxic, highly toxic or poisonous at low concentrations.  Examples of heavy metals include mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), chromium (Cr), thallium (Tl), and lead (Pb).

[18]40 CFR 261.23 Characteristic of reactivity. Normally unstable material which readily undergoes violent change without detonating; reacts violently with water; forms potentially explosive mixtures with water; when mixed with water, it generates toxic gases, vapors or fumes in a quantity sufficient to present a danger to human health or the environment; is a cyanide or sulfide bearing waste which, when exposed to pH conditions between 2 and 12.5, can generate toxic gases, vapors or fumes in a quantity sufficient to present a danger to human health or the environment; is capable of detonation or explosive reaction if it is subjected to initiating source or heated under confinement; is readily capable of detonation or explosive decomposition or reaction; is a forbidden explosive defined in 49 CFR 173.51, a Class A explosive defined in 49 CFR 173.53 or a Class B explosive defined in 49 CFR 173.88. These materials are assigned the EPA Hazardous Waste Number of D003.

[19] These materials require special packaging and marking, as well as training in blood borne pathogens.

[20]This includes but is not limited to culture dishes, blood specimen tubes, devices used to transfer, inoculate and mix cultures, and other materials which have come in contact with biohazards.  (including disposable personal protective equipment and clothing).

[21]As a minimum the tag (see FORMS) should contain the following information:  material name & CAS #, quantity (NOT container size -- the amount of chemical within the container), hazard, generator name or process, date and room number.

Last updated by Ron Honn on September 1, 2006.

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