Waste Disposal Guide
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Waste Disposal Guide How to Properly Dispose of Waste Materials Generated at Michigan State University Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) / Office of Radiation, Chemical & Biological Safety (ORCBS) C124 Research Complex‐Engineering East Lansing, MI 48824‐1326 Revised April 2009 CONTACT INFORMATION Campus Emergency: 911 ORCBS Phone Number: (517) 355-0153 ORCBS Fax Number: (517) 353-4871 ORCBS E-mail Address: [email protected] ORCBS Web Address: http://www.orcbs.msu.edu TABLE OF CONTENTS Sections Introduction ................................................................................................................... 4 Hazardous Waste Defined ............................................................................................ 5 Requirements for Chemical Waste ............................................................................... 6 Classification of Chemical Waste .................................................................................. 7 Containers ..................................................................................................................... 8 Container Label ............................................................................................................. 9 General Labeling & Packaging Procedures .................................................................. 9 Specific Labeling & Packaging Procedures ............................................................. 9-15 Scheduling a Chemical Waste Pick-up ....................................................................... 15 How to Complete a Pick-up Request Form ................................................................. 16 N.O.S. (Not Otherwise Specified) Marking ................................................................. 17 Compatibility Table ..................................................................................................... 18 Disposal of Unknowns ................................................................................................ 19 Radioactive Waste General Labeling & Packaging Procedures .................................................... 20 Specific Labeling & Packaging Procedures .................................................... 21 Scheduling a Radioactive Waste Pick-up ....................................................... 22 Biohazardous Waste ................................................................................................... 24 General Labeling, Packaging & Disposal Procedures .................................... 25 Waste Procedures for Biosafety Levels 1, 2 & 3 ............................................. 26 Pathological Waste ......................................................................................... 27 ULAR Specific (Animal) Procedures ............................................................... 27 Department or Facility Specific Procedures .................................................... 28 Appendices Appendix A. MSU Materials Pick-up Tag .................................................................... 29 Appendix B. Hazardous Waste Pick-up Request Form .............................................. 30 Appendix C. Compatibility Table ................................................................................. 31 Appendix D. Radioactive Waste Pick-up Tag ............................................................. 32 Appendix E. Radioactive Waste Pick-up Request Form ............................................. 33 Appendix F. ULAR Pathological Waste Pick-up Form ................................................ 34 Appendix G. Hazardous Materials Table .................................................................... 35 Appendix H. Toxic Wastes .......................................................................................... 65 Appendix I. Severe Toxicity Wastes ........................................................................... 66 Appendix J. Chemotherapy Agents ............................................................................ 67 Appendix K. Explosive Materials ................................................................................. 68 INTRODUCTION Excellence in research and education is of primary importance at Michigan State University. In support of this activity, the Office of Radiation, Chemical and Biological Safety (ORCBS) provides for disposal of hazardous chemical waste, radioactive waste, and, together with University Laboratory Animal Resources (ULAR), certain biohazardous waste. This document contains updated university procedures for safe handling and packaging of such wastes. The enclosed procedures are necessary to comply with rules from the regulatory agencies governing hazardous materials. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) regulate disposal of chemical wastes in a cradle-to-grave fashion. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) regulates the disposal of radioactive material. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) governs transportation, labeling and packaging of hazardous substances while the Michigan Department of Public Health (MDPH) serves to ensure the safety and health of employees who handle such materials. The Michigan Medical Waste Regulatory Act governs medical waste as part of biohazardous waste. Our goal is to provide for the disposal of hazardous wastes in a safe, efficient, and ecologically sound manner. We need your cooperation to meet this goal. Please abide by the guidelines set forth in this document and comply with the applicable regulatory requirements for the waste that you generate. Call the Office of Radiation, Chemical and Biological Safety (355-0153) for questions about radioactive, chemical, and biohazardous waste disposal or University Laboratory Animal Resources (353-5064) for questions regarding pathological waste disposal. Finally, if you handle any potentially hazardous materials, know the hazards and how to protect yourself from them. Companion documents detailing regulatory requirements, risks, handling precautions and other safety related information are listed below. • Michigan State University Chemical Hygiene Plan • Michigan State University Radiation Safety Manual • Michigan State University Biological Safety Manual • Michigan State University Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure Control Plan 4 HAZARDOUS WASTE DEFINED Hazardous materials are substances that have hazardous characteristics such as: flammable, corrosive, reactive, toxic, radioactive, poisonous, carcinogenic, or infectious. In a general sense, wastes that contain these materials are considered hazardous because they present a potential risk to humans and/or the environment. Hazardous waste management plans generally separate waste into three broad groups: radioactive, chemical, and biohazardous. Radioactive waste is classified as either low-level or high-level waste. Low-level waste is typical of that found at medical and research institutions (such as Michigan State University) while high-level waste is typical of that generated at nuclear reactors. At Michigan State University, a radioactive waste is any waste with detectable radioactivity that is generated from procedures involving licensed radioactive material. Chemical waste includes a wide range of material such as discarded commercial chemical products (DCCP), process wastes, and wastewater. Some chemicals and chemical mixtures are hazardous wastes because they are specifically listed by the EPA. A chemical waste that is not listed by the EPA is still a hazardous waste if it has one or more of EPA's four hazardous characteristics: ignitablity, corrosivity, reactivity or toxicity. Biohazardous waste is a term used to describe different types of waste that might include infectious agents. Currently, the following waste categories are considered to be biohazardous waste. • Medical waste means any solid waste which is generated in the diagnosis, treatment (e.g., provision of medical services), or immunization of human beings or animals, in research pertaining thereto, or in the production or testing of biologicals, as well as all categories defined by the Michigan Medical Waste Regulatory Act (MMWRA). • Regulated waste as defined by the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Act (MIOSHA) on Bloodborne Infectious Diseases. • Laboratory waste and regulated waste as defined in the “Guidelines For Research Involving Recombinant DNA Molecules” (NIH) and the CDC/NIH “Guidelines on Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories.” • Pathological Waste (e.g., animal carcasses). Finally, workers who generate hazardous waste(s) of any kind must be aware that there may be mixed hazards in their waste; that is, a combination of any of the three types of hazardous waste. For example, animal carcasses containing radioactive material, a hazardous chemical, and perhaps an infectious agent would need to be managed according to the considerations and requirements of all three types of hazards defined above. If you will be generating mixed waste, contact the appropriate safety officer to determine the proper way to handle and manage this material before the waste is generated. 5 REQUIREMENTS FOR CHEMICAL WASTE Laboratories and other MSU units that generate hazardous waste are now required to comply with the generator requirements of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA, CFR Title 40) and Michigan Hazardous Waste Management Act (Michigan Public Act 451). Every generator site (laboratory) is subject to inspection by