West Chester University of Pennsylvania
OP-21: Hazardous Waste Management

Guidelines for Reducing Waste • Establish chemical use parameters before placing an order. This will minimize waste by purchasing chemicals in the container size that permits maximum consumption. • Purchase chemicals in small quantities. The contents of small containers are most likely to be utilized than lost to contamination or degradation. Also, if disposal is required, volume and expense will be minimized if waste is in small containers. • Reduce the scale of the experiment if protocol permits. Less chemicals used equates to less waste. • Whenever possible, substitute less-hazardous chemicals for hazardous chemicals. Examples: Substitute Latex paints for solvent (oil-based) paints, non-mercury thermometers for mercury containing thermometers, etc., • Avoid stock piling of common chemicals. Stock piling involves the purchasing or accumulation of chemicals in large quantities for use longer than needed. This practice usually jeopardizes the chemicals’ properties over a period of time. • When chemicals are received, take all precautions to store them according to manufactures’ recommendations such as by refrigeration or under an inert atmosphere. Following special storage requirements not only creates a safer work environment, it can increase the shelf life of chemicals. • When chemicals are first received, date and store them in a manner that enables the older chemicals to be used first. This will develop a rotational system so that chemicals will be used before shelf life expires. • Replace worn labels in a permanent, legible fashion. This will prevent an unknown chemical from being generated. Unknown chemicals are difficult and expensive to manage as a waste. • Label all containers and reaction flasks that contain or will contain chemicals. DO NOT use abbreviations, trade names or chemical symbols. Only use the common chemical name or nomenclature to identify each container’s contents. This will prevent an unknown chemical from being generated. • Replace faulty or damaged caps and lids. This will safeguard against the effect of air and moisture contamination.

Problem Hazardous Waste Gas cylinders, lecture bottles, aerosol cans Make arrangements when purchasing gas cylinders that the manufacturer or supplier will accept return of cylinders Shock sensitive materials - peroxidized ethers, dry picric acid Naturally occurring radioactive materials - uranyl nitrate, thorium nitrate Hazardous Waste Labeling Requirements Use WCU hazardous waste label - (Contact EHS x3333 or George Zittle x2274 as specified above) you may make your own label as long as it contains all of the same information and wording as the university label Be sure to clearly mark the accumulation start date for each container, the accumulation start date must be visible for inspection Hazardous waste generator's name or responsible person (i.e. faculty, building administrator, shop foreman, employee, etc.), building/room# and phone# Contents - Please write the full name of the compound(s) and the percentages of each and container size. Please do not use acronyms, chemical formulas or chemical structures. If known, mark the chemical family code contents fall under on back of hazardous waste label (e.g. Inorganic 1-Metal, Hydrides, Organic 8-Phenols, Cresols) Hazardous Waste Container Requirements Container must be compatible with waste Container must be kept closed except when adding or removing waste Container must be handled and stored in a manner that will prevent rupture or leaks Container must be inspected weekly for leaks or deterioration Do not place incompatible materials in the same container or place waste into an unwashed container that contained an incompatible material Hazard Class A simple method for determining if your waste is hazardous is if it fits into the following hazard classes: Flammable Oxidizer Reactive Water reactive Shock sensitive Light, heat reactive Corrosive Acid - mineral Corrosive Acid - organic Corrosive Base Toxic-poison/irritant/carcinogen etc. Gas cylinders - segregate by hazard class Segregation by Hazard Class Use the following resources to determine the hazard class of your waste: MSDS Original Container Label Manufacturers catalog International Chemical Safety Cards