Safety Policies and Procedures Manual
Recycling or Disposal of Chemical Wastes
SPPM 5.66
For more information contact:
Environmental Health and Safety
509-335-3041
1.0 Policy
University personnel must manage chemical waste in accordance with federal, state, and local regulatory requirements, in order to protect the health and safety of University employees, students, and visitors.
1.1 Legal Requirements
WSU must comply with federal, state, and local hazardous waste laws and regulations.
- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USUPPM EPA), the Washington State Department of Ecology (WDOE), and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency issue regulations implementing federal and state laws.
- Local governments regulate discharges to the sanitary sewer systems.
1.1.a Violations
Violations of federal, state, or local law may result in fines and/or imprisonment for University personnel, supervisors, and administrative officers.
1.2 Related Procedures
Section SPPM 5.68 provides procedures for identification and storage of chemical wastes.
2.0 Applicability
2.1 Chemical Wastes
Policies and procedures in this policy (SPPM 5.66) and SPPM 5.68 apply only to the management of chemical wastes which are regulated by the Washington State Department of Ecology, United States Environmental Protection Agency (UPPM EPA), and the United States Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA).
Note: Whenever feasible, separate radioactive waste, biohazardous waste, and chemical waste for collection and disposal. Mixed wastes are subject to multiple regulations, incurring additional expense for management and disposal. The waste generating department or unit assumes responsibility for fees resulting from poor waste separation practices.
2.2 Radioactive Wastes
These procedures do not apply to radioactive wastes. The Radiation Safety Office (RSO) manages radioactive substances. Telephone 509-335-8916 for assistance or refer to SPPM 9.70.
2.3 Biohazardous Wastes
These procedures do not apply to biohazardous wastes. Refer to SPPM 4.24 regarding options for biohazardous waste treatment and disposal. Contact the WSU Biosafety Officer; telephone 509-335-1585; or Facilities Services–Operations; telephone 509-335-4530 for questions regarding biohazards.
3.0 Responsibilities
3.1 Campus EH&S / Designated Chemical Waste Management Personnel
The campus Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) offices assist departments by collecting, designating, recycling, and disposing hazardous chemical wastes. At WSU locations with no on-site EHS personnel, contact WSU Pullman EHS to assist with identifying and training locally-designated chemical waste management personnel.
The campus EHS office or locally-designated chemical waste management personnel provide information about waste minimization and directions for preparing hazardous chemical wastes for recycling or disposal.
3.1.a Campus Contacts
Contact applicable campus EHS or locally-designated chemical waste management personnel for assistance in managing chemical wastes:
- WSU Pullman EHS: telephone 509-335-3041
WSU Pullman EHS also provides information and assistance to WSU Health Sciences—Yakima (which includes College of Nursing—Yakima and College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences—Yakima).
- WSU Spokane EHS: telephone 509-358-7621
- WSU Tri-Cities EHS: telephone 509-372-7163
- WSU Vancouver EHS: telephone 360-546-9706
- WSU Everett Facilities: telephone 425-405-1566
Personnel at WSU locations not listed above may contact WSU Pullman EHS for assistance.
3.2 Waste Generator
A waste generator is a person or persons working together who create chemical wastes.
Note: By definition, a satellite accumulation area (e.g., laboratory, department) is not a waste generator, but must be controlled by one. (See SPPM 5.68.)
3.2.a Waste Identification
The waste generator is responsible for determining whether chemical wastes meet federal, state, and/or local government definitions of dangerous wastes. Visit the EHS Waste Identification webpage for dangerous waste identification information. WSU Tri-Cities waste generators may reference the Hazardous Waste webpage.
As an alternative, report all wastes by submitting a Chemical Collection Request to the applicable EHS office or locally-designated chemical waste management personnel (see Section 4.3). The applicable campus EHS office or locally-designated chemical waste management personnel determine the proper management method.
Identify which wastes must be managed as dangerous waste (see Section 2.0). Wastes defined as dangerous wastes must be packaged, accumulated, transported, and disposed of in a safe and legal manner.
Examples of dangerous wastes include laboratory chemicals, cleaning chemicals, leftover paint, automobile fluids, and other maintenance materials.
3.2.a.i Aerosol Containers, Batteries, and Light Bulbs
Most batteries, many lightbulbs, and many pressurized aerosol containers (even when empty), are regulated waste and must not be disposed of in trash cans, dumpsters, or any other uncontrolled waste receptacle.
The battery leads on all lithium batteries, lead-acid batteries, and all batteries of 9-volts or larger must be taped with nonconductive tape or placed in an individual nonconductive container to minimize the potential for fire.
3.2.a.i(A) WSU Pullman and WSU Vancouver
The campus EHS departments may provide labeled containers in waste accumulation areas at various campus locations for waste items such as pressurized containers, batteries, and light bulbs. Contact EHS or locally-designated chemical waste management personnel for the locations of the waste accumulation areas or to arrange waste pickup.
3.2.a.ii Electronic Waste
Electronic waste, such as monitors, televisions, CPUs, printers, and keyboards, is regulated waste, and must not be disposed of in trash cans, dumpsters, or any other uncontrolled waste receptacle.
Departments must dispose electronic waste by submitting an online Surplus Disposal Request (SDR) to Facilities Services—Surplus Stores (see UPPM 20.76.) Surplus Stores collects unwanted electronics upon receipt of the SDR.
Note: WSU Vancouver departments must follow the surplus disposal procedures (see “WSU Vancouver Department Procedures” in UPPM 20.76).
3.2.a.iii Controlled Substances
Chemicals identified by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) as controlled substances must be handled in accordance with UPPM 45.75 requirements.
3.2.b Accumulation
Waste generators are responsible for properly labeling, preparing, and safely accumulating all chemical wastes generated. Refer to SPPM 5.68 for chemical waste storage procedures.
3.2.c Minimizing Waste
Waste generators are responsible for minimizing chemical waste generation through prudent purchasing practices, product substitution, recycling, or reducing the amount of chemicals used by the department.
3.2.d Providing Hazard Data
To facilitate safe and legal management of hazardous materials, waste generators are responsible for providing hazard information (i.e., a Safety Data Sheet) to the applicable EHS or Facilities department upon request (see also SPPM 5.10).
4.0 Requirements
4.1 Packaging Chemical Wastes
The waste generator is responsible for properly collecting chemical wastes in the following manner:
- Place each chemical waste in a separate, leak-proof container that does not react with the substance. Usually this may be the original chemical supplier’s or manufacturer’s container. The generator is responsible for supplying the waste containers.
- Securely attach a lid appropriate for each container when not adding waste.
- Do not combine different waste streams in the same container without permission from EHS or locally-designated chemical waste management personnel.
- Provide secondary containment, e.g., a plastic tub, for any primary container that may leak or rupture. See SPPM 5.62 for chemical spill procedures.
WSU Vancouver EHS supplies 1 liter Nalgene and glass bottles upon request for chemical wastes. WSUV EHS also supplies 20 liter polycarbonate and 5 gallon buckets with screw-top lids for dry chemical waste materials, if requested.
WSU Pullman, Spokane, Tri-Cities, and Vancouver EHS supply containers larger than 1 gallon / 4 liters upon request for chemical wastes accumulated on a recurring basis amounting to more significant waste quantities.
When disposing waste that may react or continue to react and evolve gas, the lid may be placed on the container without tightening to prevent the build-up of pressure.
Segregate containers of potentially reactive chemicals (e.g. acids/bases or oxidizers/flammables) to prevent reactions prior to or during accumulation or collection. See SPPM 5.68 for chemical waste storage procedures.
4.2 Labeling Chemical Wastes
The waste generator is responsible for properly labeling chemical waste containers.
Place a dangerous waste label on each container when waste is first added.
4.2.a Required Information
Each self-created dangerous waste label must contain all of the following information:
- Name of each constituent. Do not use chemical formulae or abbreviations.
- Percentages/amounts of each constituent. Account for 100% of the waste constituents on the container label, including water, towel wipes, and other materials used in waste generation.
- Characteristic waste hazards (e.g., flammable, corrosive, toxic).
- The words “Dangerous Waste.”
- Chemical Collection Request (CCR) number or WSUE Facilities Request number (see Section 4.3.a).
4.2.a.i Required Text Size
If the container’s capacity is 1 gallon (4 liters) or greater, the hazard information and words “Dangerous Waste” must be printed in at least ½” high lettering. Labels meeting these requirements are available from the campus EHS department. Label text for containers smaller than 1 gallon must be legible.
4.2.b Obtaining Dangerous Waste Label
Obtain a dangerous waste label using one of the following methods:
4.2.b.i WSU Pullman and Other WSU Locations Not Listed Below
Print a Dangerous Waste Label from the EHS website.
4.2.b.ii WSU Spokane
Print a Dangerous Waste Label for use by waste generators at WSU Spokane from the WSU Spokane EHS Hazardous Waste Management website.
4.2.b.iii WSU Tri-Cities
Print a Dangerous Waste Label, which is created with the confirmation page when waste generators submit an online WSUTC Chemical Collection Request. Additional label options are available at the Hazardous Waste Accumulation, Storage, and Labeling website.
4.2.b.iv WSU Vancouver
Waste generators at WSU Vancouver obtain a Dangerous Waste Label from the campus EHS Coordinator.
4.2.b.v WSU Everett
Provide a description of the chemicals to be collected or recycled in an online WSU Everett Facilities Request.
WSUE Facilities creates the labels as needed.
4.3 Reporting Chemical Wastes
University personnel who generate surplus hazardous chemicals or chemical waste are responsible for reporting those chemicals to the applicable campus EHS or locally-designated chemical waste management personnel for subsequent recycling or disposal. (See also SPPM 5.68.)
4.3.a Chemical Collection Request / WSUE Facilities Request
Use the applicable reporting request form (Chemical Collection Request (CCR) form or WSUE Facilities Request) to report chemicals for disposal or recycling. The forms may be obtained using one of the following methods, as applicable to each campus or WSU location.
4.3.a.i WSU Pullman and Other WSU Locations Not Listed Below
- Complete an online Chemical Collection Request (CCR).
- Order paper copies of the CCR from EHS; telephone 509-335-3041.
Refer to the website for step-by-step instructions.
Refer to the back of the paper form for detailed instructions for filling out and submitting the completed CCR.
4.3.a.ii WSU Spokane
Complete an online Chemical Collection Request (CCR).
4.3.a.iii WSU Tri-Cities
WSU Tri-Cities waste generators must complete the online WSUTCChemical Collection Request.
Note: After submitting the WSU Tri-Cities CCR, the confirmation page provides the applicable Dangerous Waste Label. (See Section 4.2.b.iii)
4.3.a.iv WSU Vancouver
Contact WSU Vancouver EH&S to obtain a digital or online copy of a WSU Vancouver Chemical Collection Request.
4.3.a.v WSU Everett
Complete an online WSU Everett Facilities Request to report chemicals for collection or recycling.
4.3.b All Departments
After completing the CCR or WSUE Facilities Request, enter the CCR or facilities identification number onto the Dangerous Waste label attached to the waste container (see Section 4.2). The CCR/identification number and the number on the applicable label must match.
4.4 Chemical Waste Collection
After receiving the completed chemical collection request or facilities request form, campus EHS or the locally-designated chemical waste management personnel determine the appropriate management method and assign waste designation codes.
The applicable campus EHS or locally-designated chemical waste management personnel collect the chemicals and coordinate and contract for transportation, recycling, or disposal of waste chemicals.
Note: Certain waste materials require coordination with WSU’s waste management contractor. EHS or the locally-designated chemical waste management personnel may delay the pickup of the waste material if it can be stored safely in the current location until a disposal facility can be identified.
4.4.a Recycling
Campus EHS or the locally-designated chemical waste management personnel review all wastes for recycling alternatives.
To recycle surplus chemicals from a laboratory or work area, submit the chemicals to EHS or the locally-designated chemical waste management personnel using the waste reporting procedure described under Section 6.0. The campus EHS or trained EHS representative determines whether the chemicals are acceptable for recycling.
4.4.a.i WSU Pullman
EHS maintains a stock of unused chemicals at the Pullman campus only, which are available for recycling to University personnel. The list of chemicals appears on the EHS website.
To request free delivery of a chemical on the recycling database, WSU Pullman departments e-mail EHS at ehsweb@wsu.edu or call 509-335-3041.
4.5 Inappropriate Disposal Methods
4.5.a Drains, Trash, Evaporation
Disposal of chemical wastes in drains, by evaporation, or by placement in the regular trash without approval from EHS or locally-designated chemical waste management personnel is a serious violation of local, state, and federal law, punishable by fines and imprisonment.
When a generator of dangerous wastes illegally or inappropriately dumps such waste in the trash contaminating common refuse (trash, paper, etc.), the entire mixture may become a dangerous waste. This practice may result in costly disposal.
The University may require generators who create such disposal problems to pay for disposal.
Important: Do not dispose of chemicals in drains, trash, or by evaporation without prior approval from EHS, locally-designated chemical waste management personnel, or the Facilities department.
4.5.b Dilution
A hazardous chemical waste cannot be rendered nonhazardous by dilution with water or solvent.
4.5.c Exceptions
Under unusual circumstances, and with prior EHS or Facilities approval, disposal by one of the above methods may be legal and appropriate. Contact the applicable EHS or locally-designated chemical waste management personnel for more information. See Section 3.1.a.
5.0 Chemical Spills
5.1 Laboratory Spills
If a chemical spill occurs in a laboratory, refer to the following resources:
- The WSU Laboratory Safety Manual
- The lab’s spill response and emergency plan
- SPPM 5.62 for chemical spill management procedures
5.2 Nonlaboratory Spills
Refer to SPPM 5.62 for chemical spill management procedures.
5.3 Assistance
Call EHS or the locally-designated chemical waste management personnel if personnel are uncertain about the nature of a spill or require assistance with spill management procedures. (See Section 3.1.a.)
Call 911 if there are injuries, risk of fire, or release to the environment.
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Revisions: Aug. 2024 (Rev. 146); Apr. 2021 (Rev. 129); July 2016 (Rev. 106); Aug. 2004 (Rev. 55); Feb. 2002 (Rev. 43); Mar. 2000 (Rev. 30); May 1993 (Rev. 11); Oct. 1991 (Rev. 9); Sept. 1987 (Rev. 4); Sept. 1986 (Rev. 2).