Safety Policies and Procedures Manual
Chapter 5: Chemical/Hazardous Material Safety

Accumulation of Dangerous Chemical Waste

SPPM 5.68

For more information contact:
   Environmental Health and Safety
   509-335-3041

Control

Accumulation of dangerous chemical waste is governed by local, state, and federal regulations.

Related Procedures and Guidelines

See SPPM 5.66 for procedures concerning reporting chemical waste for collection.

For chemical identification guidelines, refer to the Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) website.

WSU Vancouver

WSU Vancouver EH&S implements campus-specific procedures for dangerous waste accumulation and collection. Departments and personnel are to contact the WSU Vancouver EH&S office for information and assistance; telephone 360-546-9706.

For further information WSU Vancouver departments and personnel are to refer to Appendix N of the WSU Vancouver Accident Prevention Program.

Questions

Refer accumulation questions to the campus EH&S office:

  • Pullman: telephone; 509-335-3041
  • Spokane: telephone; 509-358-7621
  • Tri-Cities: telephone; 509-372-7163
  • Vancouver: telephone; 360-546-9706
  • Research and extension center (REC) support; telephone 509-335-3041

Locations

University laboratories and departments may accumulate chemical wastes in the following types of locations.

Satellite Accumulation Areas

A satellite accumulation area is a location at or near the point of generation where chemical wastes initially accumulate. (WAC 173-303-040) These chemicals are under the control of the individual who is responsible for their generation, e.g., maintenance worker, researcher, instructor, process operator, unit administrator, or their designee.

Any site of waste generation on the WSU campus that is not directly controlled by EH&S or is not identified as a centralized waste accumulation area is considered a satellite accumulation area. Laboratories and shops are examples of satellite accumulation areas.

See Requirements below for regulatory requirements for satellite accumulation areas.

Centralized Waste Accumulation Area

“Centralized waste accumulation areas” are locations specifically identified by EH&S where wastes may be accumulated for not more than 90 days. Note: At locations outside of Pullman, the allowable accumulation period may be up to 180 days or indefinite, depending on the amount of waste generated and/or accumulated monthly.

At the end of 90 days or 180 days, wastes must be transported to a permitted treatment, storage or disposal facility. (WAC 173-303-200)

The amount of waste accumulated at some facilities may fall below thresholds that require time restrictions on accumulation. For such small quantity waste generators, wastes must be transported to a permitted treatment, storage, or disposal facility when amounts accumulated meet applicable quantity exclusion limits. (WAC 173-303-070(8))

Contact EH&S for regulatory requirements for centralized waste accumulation areas; telephone 509-335-3041.

Requirements

Satellite Accumulation

Each laboratory, shop, or departmental building waste accumulation area at WSU is considered by regulatory agencies to be a satellite accumulation area. (WAC 173-303-040)

Personnel accumulating chemical wastes at satellite accumulation areas must follow the requirements below.

Container Management

Keep the container under control of the operator or in a secured (locked) area.

Close the container during accumulation, except when adding or removing waste.

Allow waste from only one process per container.

Place wastes in compatible containers.

Container Labeling

Mark each container with a label that clearly:

  • Identifies all of the chemical constituents,
  • Identifies the major hazard(s), and
  • Includes the words “Dangerous Waste.”

See SPPM 5.66 for labeling requirements.

Volume of Waste

The maximum total volume of all waste that may be accumulated in a satellite accumulation area is 55 gallons, unless the waste is acutely hazardous.

The maximum volume of acutely hazardous waste that may be accumulated in a satellite accumulation area is one quart.

See the EH&S website to view the Acutely Hazardous Waste List.

Time Limits

When 55 gallons of dangerous waste or one quart of acutely hazardous waste are accumulated, mark the date on the container label. The container must be moved to a centralized waste accumulation area within three days.

Note: If these waste volumes remain in a satellite accumulation area for more than three days, the area must meet the more stringent centralized waste accumulation area requirements.

WSU Vancouver Only

WSU Vancouver contracts with an external vendor for dangerous waste pickup services. Additional requirements apply to the preparation of dangerous wastes for pickup and transfer out of WSU Vancouver satellite accumulation areas. For information regarding pickup preparation requirements, contact the WSU Vancouver EH&S office; telephone 360-546-9706.

For further information, refer to Appendix N of the WSU Vancouver Accident Prevention Program.

Centralized Waste Accumulation

Chemical Waste Accumulation (Pullman Campus)

EH&S operates the Chemical Storage Building on the Pullman campus as the central waste accumulation area and transports wastes from all Pullman campus accumulation areas to Chemical Stores to be processed and shipped to approved recycling and disposal facilities.

Chemical Waste Accumulation (Branch Campuses)

Each branch campus is to maintain a centralized waste accumulation area. Exception: WSU Vancouver contracts with an external vendor for centralized dangerous waste accumulation services.

Contact EH&S branch campus support personnel for information and assistance:

  • WSU Spokane EH&S; telephone 509-358-7621
  • WSU Tri-Cities EH&S; telephone 509-372-7163
  • WSU Vancouver EH&S; telephone 360-546-9706
Chemical Waste Accumulation (Research and Extension Centers)

Each research and extension center (REC) is to maintain a centralized waste accumulation area. Contact EH&S REC support personnel for information and assistance; telephone 509-335-3041.

_______________________
Revisions:  Oct. 2017 (Rev. 115); Jan. 2011 (Rev. 87); May 2000 (Rev. 31); May 1993 – new policy (Rev. 11).