HazardousWasteManual

HowtoProperlyDisposeofRadioactive,Biological,andChemicalWastesGeneratedatNorthernArizona

University

NAUEnvironmentalHealthandSafety501EastPineKnollDrive

FacilitiesServices,Room200Flagstaff,AZ86011

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TableofContentsIntroduction.............................................................................................3DefiningBiological,Radioactive,andHazardousWaste............................4

ClassificationofHazardousWaste............................................................5SatelliteAccumulationAreaRequirements...............................................6UniversalWaste(Batteries,Bulbs,etc.)....................................................7Non-Laboratory(Facilities)GeneratedHazardousWastes........................7LaboratoryGeneratedHazardousWastes.................................................7

CommonWasteTypesandCollectionRequirements................................8WastePickupRequests...........................................................................10CombiningChemicalWaste....................................................................10DEAScheduledCompounds....................................................................10Unknownand/orPotentiallyExplosive/ToxicChemicals.........................11

AppendixA.............................................................................................12AppendixB.............................................................................................13AppendixC.............................................................................................14AppendixD.............................................................................................15

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IntroductionNorthernArizonaUniversityinitiated5StrategicGoalsin2019:StudentSuccessandAccess;ResearchandDiscovery;CommitmenttoNativeAmericans;Engagement;andStewardship.SafetyisspecificallyincludedinNAU’sStewardshipstrategicgoal.Insupportofthisgoal,aswellasinsupportforacademicsuccess,researchandothers,NAUgeneratesbiological,hazardous,andradioactivewastes.NAUEnvironmentalHealthandSafetyisresponsibleforthetraining,storage,disposal,andtransportofthesewastesinaccordancewithfederal,state,andlocalregulations.Thisdocumentdescribestheorigins,types,andproceduresforwastedisposalfromthegenerator’sperspective.Therequirementsoutlinedbelowmustbefollowedtocomplywithstateandfederalregulations.AcivilpenaltyundertheResourceConservationandRecoveryAct(theEPAlawregulatinghazardouswaste)iscurrently$72,718perdayperviolation.Forthisreason,requirementssetforthinthisdocumentareamustorshall.Failuretoadheretotheserequirementsmayresultinafineand/orimprisonmenttotheUniversityand/orpartiesinvolved.Thehandlingofanybiological,radiological,orhazardouswasteonNAUcampusrequirestheusertaketrainingperspectivetothatarea.SafehandlingproceduresandtrainingcanbefoundontheEHSwebsiteatnau.edu/ehs.Thesetrainingsinclude:

• NAUChemicalHygienePlanandTraining• NAURadiationSafetyManualandTraining• NAUBiologicalSafetyManualandBiosafetyTraining• NAUHazardCommunicationManualandTraining

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DefiningBiological,Radioactive,andHazardousWasteBiologicalWasteBiologicalwasteismaterialgeneratedinlaboratories,clinicalsites,orothermedicalwastethatcontains,orpotentiallycontains,biohazardousagentsorrecombinantDNAmaterial.BiologicalwastegeneratedatNAUincludes:

1. Culturesandstocks:Agentsinfectioustohumans,animals,andplants,liveandattenuatedvaccinesandanythingusedtocontain,mixortransferinfectiousagents.Thisincludesbutisnotlimitedtopetridishes,pipettes,pipettetips,microtiterplates,disposableloops,etc.

2. Medicalwaste:generatedinthediagnosis,treatment,orimmunizationofhumans,eitherfromclinicalsitesorresearchlaboratories.

3. Humanblood,bloodproductsandinfectiousbodyfluids:Thiscategoryincludesbloodthatisnotcontainedbyadisposableitemorisvisiblydripping,serum,plasma,andotherbloodproductsornon-glasscontainersfilledwithsuchdiscardedfluids.ItfurtherincludesanysubstancewhichcontainspotentiallyinfectiousmaterialasdefinedbytheOHSABloodbornePathogensStandardincluding:

1. humanbodyfluids:semen,vaginalsecretions,cerebrospinalfluid,synovialfluid,pleuralfluid,pericardialfluid,peritonealfluid,amnioticfluid,salivaindentalprocedures,anybodyfluidthatisvisiblycontaminatedwithblood,andbodyfluidsinsituationswhereitisdifficulttodifferentiatebetweenbodyfluids,

2. anyunfixedtissueororgan(otherthanintactskin)fromahuman(livingordead)includingcellortissuecultures,and

3. HIVorHBV-containingmaterials.4. Glasscontainersfilledwithsuchdiscardedfluidsshallbeconsidered

sharps.4. Sharps:needles,scalpelblades,hypodermicneedles,syringes(withor

withoutattachedneedles)andneedleswithattachedtubingregardlessofcontactwithinfectiousagentsaremedicalwaste.Othersharpsincludepasteurpipettes,disposablepipettes,razorblades,bloodvials,testtubes,pipettetips,brokenplasticculturedishes,glassculturedishesandothertypesofbrokenandunbrokenglasswaste(includingmicroscopeslidesandcoverslips)thatmayhavebeenincontactwithinfectiousmaterial.Anyitemthatcanpunctureortearautoclavebags.

5. Researchanimalwasteincludingallcarcassesandbodypartsandcontaminatedbeddingfromanimalsthatwereintentionallyexposedtoinfectiousagentsduringresearch.

RadioactiveWasteRadioactivewastemaybeeitherlow-levelorhigh-levelwaste.Nohigh-levelwastesexistoncampus.Low-levelwasteincludesallradioactiveisotopes(includingthosethatoccurnaturally)and/ordiscardedmaterialsthataregeneratedfromproceduresinvolvingBureauofRadiationControllicensing.

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HazardousWasteTheResourceConservationandRecoveryActdefineshazardouswaste.Ausedorunusedchemicalorcombinationofchemicalscouldbeclassifiedasahazardouswastebymeetingoneormorecriteria,coveredindetailbelow.MixedWasteStaff,faculty,orstudentsmaycreateawastethathasamixtureoftheabovehazards.Examplesincludebutarenotlimitedto:ICPMSwastewithbothanEPAregulated(RCRA)heavymetalandradioactiveisotope(e.g.silveranduranium);animalremainspreviouslyexposedtoarsenic;andmanyothers.Mixedwastedisposalisexpensiveandchallenging;priortogeneratingsuchwastes,contactEHSforguidance.

ClassificationofHazardousWasteAhazardouswastemaybedefinedasa“ListedWaste”and/orcouldmeetthedefinitionofa“CharacteristicWaste”.Characteristicwastesmeetoneormorecriteriabelow:HazardouswasteCharacteristics:

• Ignitability:o Aliquidwithaflashpoint<140degreesFahrenheito Asolidthatburnsvigorouslyand/orpersistently,eitheronitsownor

throughabsorptionofmoisture,orthatundergoesspontaneouschemicalchangeresultingincombustion

o Anoxidizero Anignitablecompressedgas

• Corrosivityo AnaqueoussolutionwithapH≤2or≥12.5o Aliquidcapableofcorrodingsteelgreaterthanaquarterinch/yearat

130degreesFahrenheit• Reactive

o Materialsthatareunstableorundergoviolentchemicalchangewithoutdetonation

o Materialsthatreactviolentlywithwater,formpotentiallyexplosivemixtureswithwater,orreleasedangerousorlethalgaseswhenexposedtoapHbetween2and12.5thatcontaincyanideorsulfide

o ADOTexplosive,ormaterialthatiscapableofdetonation

• Toxicityo Anysolidorliquidwastethatcontainsconstituentsequaltoor

greaterthantheamountsspecifiedinAppendixA

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Listedwastesoncampusincludediscardedchemicalproducts(DCPs)andwastesfromnon-specificsources.Non-specificsourcewastesareidentifiedinAppendixB.ThelistofDCPsistoolongtoincludeinthisdocument,butcanbefoundat40CFR261.33orbyfollowingthislink:EPAListedWastes.CommonlyfoundlistedwastesareincludedinAppendixC.*Importantnote:certainchemicalsdonotmeettheEPA’sdefinitionofahazardouswastebutareregulatedbyanotherentity.AcommonexampleisareagentwithapHof3;whiletheEPAdoesn’tregardthisasacorrosiveRCRAwaste,theCityofFlagstaffdoesnotallowdraindisposalofanychemicalthathasapHoutsidetherangeof6.5-9.ContactEHSforclarificationonthedrainortrashdisposalofsuchitems.

SatelliteAccumulationAreaRequirementsNAUEHSsuppliescontainersforbiological,hazardous,andradioactivewastecollection.EHSprefersthatlaboratorypersonneloncampusre-useemptyreceptaclesthatpreviouslycontainedreagentsorproductsforsmallvolume(lessthan5gallon)collection,aslongasthecontainerisingoodcondition,compatiblewiththecontents,andiscapableofbeingclosedsuchthatwhenitisonitssidedoesnotleak.Availablecontainersizesandtypesforeachwastearedescribedbelow:ContainerType Chemical Radioactive Biological4LGlassorPolyBottle X X 5-galbucketorcarboy(poly) X X 15-galdrumopenorclosedhead(poly) X X 30-galdrumopenorclosedhead(poly) X X55-galdrumopenorclosedhead(poly) X Liquidwastesshallonlybecollectedinwastereceptacleswithascrewonlidorfasteningtop.Donotcollectliquidsinstandard,constructionstyle5-gallonpails-EHSwillrefusepickup,requireuserstotransferthewaste,and/orbilldepartmentsfordisposal.LabelingandManagementAllchemicalhazardouswastereceptaclesatSatelliteAccumulationAreas(SAAs)arerequiredtohavethefollowinginformationconspicuouslydisplayed:

1. Contents2. Hazardsofthecontents(flammable,toxic,etc.)3. Thewords“HazardousWaste”

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4. Ifthewasteisacombinationofchemicals,alogoftheconstituentsshallbeattached.

a. Onlybulkagreementswherewasteisaresultofongoingprocedureswithidenticalsubstancesandproportionsmaybecollectedwithoutalog.

Thecontainermustbeclosedatalltimesunlessaddingwaste,compatiblewiththecontentstherein,atornearthepointofgeneration,andseparatedbyaphysicalbarrierfromotherwastes(orreagents)thatareincompatible.Satellitewastecontainersaresubjecttopreparedness,prevention,andemergencyprocedurerequirements.TheseareoutlinedintheEHSHazardousWasteContingencyPlan,whichcanbefoundonlineatnau.edu/ehs.Themaximumamountofwastethatmaybeaccumulatedatasatellitesiteis55gallonsor1quartiftheEPAdesignatesthewasteacutelyhazardous.Oncetheselimitsarereachedorthecontainerisfull,thedatemustbemarkedonthecontainerandpickedupbyEHSwithinthreecalendardaysforrelocationtotheHazardousWasteFacility.

UniversalWaste(Batteries,Bulbs,etc.)Universalwastesincludebatteries,fluorescentbulbs,mercurycontainingequipment,andcertainpesticides.TheUniversalWasteProgramismanagedbytheGeneralMaintenanceDepartment.AdropoffareaisstagedintheFacilitiesBuilding(#77)northernmosthallway.Forquestionsconcerninguniversalwaste,pleasecontactGabrielGurrola(Gabriel.Gurrola@nau.edu).

Non-Laboratory(Facilities)GeneratedHazardousWastesDepartmentsoutsideoflaboratories(suchasthetrades,residencelifesupportservices,dining,etc.)generatebothuniversalandhazardouswastes.Animportantnote:theseareastendtobethemostscrutinizedbyinspectors.DepartmentSupervisorsmustensureallchemicalsareproperlylabeled,secured,stored,andareinuseablecondition(i.e.noexpiredproducts,drieduppaint,etc.).Inaddition,supervisorsareresponsiblefortheirdepartment’sSAAsandassuch,shallensureallSAArequirementsarefulfilledonadailybasis.

LaboratoryGeneratedHazardousWastesAcademicandResearchlaboratoriesmakeupapproximately80percentofUniversityGeneratedHazardousWaste.Laboratorysupervisors(includingbothPrincipalInvestigatorsandLaboratoryManagers)mustensureallchemicalsare

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properlylabeled,secured,stored,andareinuseablecondition(i.e.noexpiredreagents,dustycontainers,etc.).Inaddition,thesepersonnelareresponsiblefortheirlaboratory’sSAAsandassuch,shallensureallSAArequirementsarefulfilledonadailybasis.

CommonWasteTypesandCollectionRequirementsPleasenote:thedetailsinthelistbelowisrecommendedand,insomecases,mandatory.EHSunderstandsifworkorlaboratoryprocessesrequirecollectioninsuchawaythattheseguidelinescannotbefollowed.However,theyshouldbefollowedwhenpossibleregardlessofconvenience,cost,orpreference.FlammableandNon-FlammablePaints,Adhesives,Glues,etc.Donotmixflammableandnon-flammablepaint.Carpetadhesives,glues,caulking,varnishes,andotherfacilitiesrelatedchemicalsshallnotbedisposedofinthetrashunlesstheSDSofthematerialorEHSspecificallystatesthatitisoktodoso.FormalinandFormaldehydeConcentrated,dilute,and/orvirginformalin/formaldehydesolutionsmustbecollectedanddisposedproperlybyEHS.EthidiumBromideSolutionsandGelsConcentrated,dilute,andvirginethidiumbromidesolutionsandgelsmustbecollectedanddisposedproperlybyEHS.PAGEgelsshallalsobecollected,unlessEHShasapprovedtrashdisposal.IgnitableliquidsandOrganicSolventsSeparatehalogenatedandnon-halogenatedsolvents.Keepaqueouswastesseparatefromorganicsolvents.Donotcombineacidic/basicwasteswithsolventsorcreatebiphasicwasteswhenpossible.Acids,Bases,andAqueoussolutionsKeepacids,bases,oraqueoussolutionswithRCRAheavymetalsseparatefromotherwastes.Donotmixacidsandbases.Donotcollect,store,ortransportcorrosivesinmetalcontainers.MercuryKeepmercurysolutionsandsaltsseparatefromotherheavymetals.Donotuse/buyelementalmercuryunlessitisimperativetoresearch.Ifpossible,pleasereplace

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mercurythermometersandhavethempickedupbyEHSASAPbysubmittinganEHSServicerequest.ContaminatedSolids/LiquidsKeepcontaminatedsolids(gloves,pipettes,vials,papertowels,etc.)separatefromliquidwastes.Emptyvials,testtubes,andotherlaboratorymediawithliquidpriortodisposal.OxidizersKeepoxidizers(bothdilutesolutions,wastes,andvirginproduct)separatefromotherwastes.CompressedGasesCompressedgascylindersandlecturebottlesshallbestoredinanapprovedgascabinetandusedinanarearatedfortheiruseifrequired.InertgasesshallcomplywithallOSHAandEHSrequirements.Forcompressedgascontainerdisposal,pleasetalktoyourvendoraboutrecyclingpriortorequestinganEHSpickup.Ifpossible,useallthecontentsofthecontainersuchthatitisinequilibriumwiththeatmosphere.PerchloricacidandPerchloratesPerchloricaciduserequiresawashdownhood.Keepperchloricacidandperchloratewastesseparatefromallotherwastes.CyanidesandPseudo-cyanidesNevercollectanycyanidewastes(includingpseudo-cyanidessuchaspotassiumhexacyanoferrate,guanidinethiocyanate,etc.)inacontainerlargerthan1liter.Donotcombinecyanideswithstrongacidsoroxidizers.ToxicWastesKeeptoxicwastes(thosedisplayedinAppendixA)andacutelyhazardouswastes(fromEPAListedWastes)separatefromotherwasteswheneverpossible.ExplosiveandPotentiallyExplosiveMaterialsContactEHSimmediatelybyphoneifanyexpiredperoxideforming(orcontaminated)solvents,drypicricacid,Tetrazole,and/orotherexplosiveorpotentiallyexplosivematerialsarefoundinthelaboratory.

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WastePickupRequestsSubmitwastepickuprequestspriortothepointthatcontainerswillbeoverfull.DonotexpectEHStorespondwithinaday;typicalresponsetimeis1-2workingdaysfromthedateofsubmittal.SeeAppendixDforanexampleofhowtofilloutarequest.

1. Gatherwastecontainersdesignatedfordisposal.2. Placetheminacommonareasuchasacabinetorlabbench(ifpossible)3. Gotonau.edu/ehsandclickon“servicerequest”4. LoginusingNAUcredentials5. Filloutpertinentinformationusingdropdowns(note:donotattemptto

enteryouremployeeIDintheblankfieldatthetop)6. Inthecommentssection,detailthefollowinginformation:

a. Locationofwasteb. Typeofwastec. Numberandsizeofcontainersd. Whetherareplacementcontainerorcontainersareneedede. Idealtimeforretrieval,ifapplicable

7. IfyouwishtomeetwithEHSforpickup,pleaseincludeoneortwotimesamemberoftheteamgeneratingthewasteisavailableintheticket,alongwiththeircontactinfounlessthesamepersonissubmittingtherequest.EHSwillthencontacttheindividualtosetupapickupappointment.

CombiningChemicalWasteContactEHStocombinewastespriortodoingso.Themixingofmultiplechemicalwastesmayresultinadangerouschemicalreaction.Generationoftoxicgases,heat,possibleoverfloworrupturingofreceptacles,fire,andexplosionsareallpossibleoutcomeswhenmixinghazardouswastes.TheEPA’swastecompatibilitychart(foundhere)mayassistindeterminingwhetherornottwowastescanbemixedsafely.However,thechartisnottobeusedasthedecidingfactorinsuchscenarios.

DEAScheduledCompoundsAsrequiredbylaw,onlyDEARegistrantscanorder,store,anddistributeDEAScheduledmaterials.TobecomeaDEAregistrant,contacttheNAUOfficeofRegulatoryCompliance.UpondiscoveryofaDEAScheduledMaterial(commonresearchcompoundsareinthetablebelow,afulllistcanbefoundhere),NAUpersonnelshallcontactNAUPDimmediatelyfordisposal.IfNAUPDcannotretrievethematerialwithinthehour,contactEHSusingaservicerequest.

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Atropine BenzphetamineBarbital/barticuricacid ChloralHydrateDiethylPropion DiazepamKetamine LaprozolamLorazepam Nitrazepam

Unknownand/orPotentiallyExplosive/ToxicChemicalsChemicalwastesorreagentsthatareunknownposeaparticularlydangerousthreatduetotheirunknowncharacteristics.NAUpersonnelshallnottransportorhandleanyunknownchemicalwasteswithoutEHSapproval.Upondiscovery,submitaservicerequestimmediatelywithabestguessorguessesastotheidentificationoftheunknownchemical(s).Ifthepotentialforanunknownappearstobeimmediatelydangeroustolifeandhealth,contactNAUPDat523-3000ordial911.Dependingontheunknown’sproperties,EHSreservestherighttochargetheindividual,PI,departmentordepartmentsresponsiblefordisposal.PreventionofUnknownWastesNAUpersonnelshallpreventtheproductionofunknownreagentsandwastes.OSHA,GHS,andNAUChemicalHygienerequirementssetforthstandardsthatpreventthecreationofunknowns.Insummary,practicethefollowing:

• Labelallcontainers,regardlessofsizeandcontents• Usefullnamesofchemicals,ratherthanabbreviations• Utilizea“chemicalkey”orlegendforabbreviationswhenneeded• Reallocateorwastethecontentsof“day-use”containers• Re-labelcontainerswhohavefaultyorinadequatedescriptions• Attachlogstochemicalwastes• Informfellowlab/departmentmemberswhatreagents/productsyourusing• Updateyourchemicalinventoryatleastonce/year• Practicegoodhousekeeping

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AppendixAToxicityCharacteristicCompoundsandLevels

Compound Concentration(mg/L)Metals

-ArsenicBardsafl;

5.0Barium 100.0Cadmium 1.0Chromium 5.0Lead 0.4Mercury 0.2Selenium 1.0Silver 5.0Pesticides -Chlordane 0.03Endrin 0.02Heptachlor 0.008Lindane 0.4Methoxychlor 10.0Toxaphene 0.52,4-D 10.02,4,5TP(Silvex) 1.0Organics -Benzene 0.5CarbonTetrachloride 0.5Chlorobenzene 100.0Chloroform 6.0Cresol(otho,meta,andpara) 200.01,4-Dichlorobenzene 7.51,2-Dichloroethane 0.51,1Dichloroethylene 0.72,4-Dinitrotoluene 0.13Hexachlorobenzene 0.13Hexachlorobutadiene 0.5Hexachloroethane 3.0Methylethylketone 200.0Nitrobenzene 2.0Pentachlorophenol 100.0Pyridine 5.0Tetrachloroethylene 0.7Trichloroethylene 0.52,4,5-Trichlorophenol 400.02,4,6-Trichlorophenol 2.0Vinylchloride 0.2

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AppendixB

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AppendixCThistablecontainscommonlyfoundCommercialChemicalProductsthatareregulatedfordisposalinadifferentmannerthanthosepreviouslymentioned.Unlessaspecificprocedureorprocessrequiresthesecompoundstobewastedwithotherreagents,pleasecollectthemseparatelyfordisposal.Beadvised,thisisonly18of200pluschemicalsthatarelisted.Aldrin CyanideSaltsDieldrin EpinephrineNickelCarbonyl OsmiumTetroxidePropargylAlcohol SodiumazideVanadiumPentoxide ParathionHydrazine p-Benzoquinone*p-Nitrophenol* Phenol*Toluidine(orthoandpara)* TrypanBlue*Benzo(a)pyrene* Acrylamide**Thesechemicalsmaybecombinedwithotherwastes,aslongastheconcentrationisprovidedintheservicerequestoronthelabel.

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AppendixD