Hazardous Waste

If you have hazardous waste that needs to be disposed of, please submit a Waste Pick-Up Request.

• Requirements for storing hazardous waste
  • Affix a completed hazardous waste label to the container before adding any hazardous waste. 
  • Do NOT accumulate hazardous waste in the lab for more than 180 days.
  • Do NOT overfill hazardous waste containers. Always leave room at the top.
  • Submit a Waste Pick-Up Request before 180 days or once the container is "full".
  • Keep containers tightly closed when not in active use. Funnels cannot be used in place of a cap/lid unless the funnel has its own lid and can be closed.
  • Do not combine incompatible wastes and do not use incompatible containers. (Ex: storing acid in a container that previously held a base)
  • Keep hazardous waste in secondary containment while in storage.
• Labeling Requirements

  Hazardous waste containers must be labeled when waste starts accumulating (i.e. as soon as the first drop of waste is put in the container), not when the container becomes full.

  Label all chemical waste containers with the following information:

  • • Accumulation start date
    • Name, extension, and room number of lab supervisor/PI
    • List all constituents, including water (no abbreviations or chemical formulas)
    • Estimate the % of volume for each constituent
    • Denote "S" for solid or "L" for liquid (this is a regulatory requirement)
    • Check off applicable physical/health hazards (refer to Safety Data Sheet if unsure)
• Accumulation Time Limit

  180 days is the maximum duration hazardous waste can remain in the lab.

  Please submit a Waste Pick-Up Request before your hazardous waste reaches 180 days past its accumulation start date.

• Segregation

  All hazardous materials must be stored in a manner to prevent spills and uncontrolled reactions. Keep the following incompatibles segregated and/or in secondary containment:

  • Acids and bases
  • Corrosives and flammables
  • Corrosives and oxidizers
  • Flammables and oxidizers
  • Water reactives and aqueous solutions
• Empty Container Management

  Empty containers can be disposed of in recycling only if all of the following are true, otherwise SH&S can manage them as hazardous waste:

  • Solids: no material remains within that can feasibly be removed
  • Solids: the walls have no encrusted material on them (a thin layer is acceptable)
  • Liquids: no material comes out when tilting/holding the container at any angle
  • The label has been defaced with dark pen/marker

Hazardous Waste Label Example