CHEMICAL WASTE PROCEDURE FOR RESEARCH

Labeling and Collecting Waste: Chemistry Research Laboratory Guidelines

Step 1 - Picking the Appropriate Waste Container

Step 2 - Prepping a Waste Container

Step 3 - Storing a Waste Bucket

Step 4 - Submitting a Full Bucket

Step 5 - Online Waste Submission

Step 6 - Paper Form Submission

Mistakes or Need to Resubmit a Waste Bucket?

TO PREP OR MANAGE HAZARDOUS WASTE YOU MUST BE FORMALLY TRAINED AND HAVE DOCUMENTED ANNUAL TRAINING IN SUNY GENESEO CHEMISTRY RECORDS WITHIN THE PAST CALENDAR YEAR.  Trainings are held within the first three weeks of each Fall and Spring Semester.  Current Training Records are kept in ISC 329.

Chemistry students may sign up for a training within the first two weeks of each semester by clicking here.  Students not trained within the scheduled training times as indicated by their lead faculty member and stockroom manager may lose research privileges.  Please refer to the SUNY Geneseo Chemistry Safety Training Policy for further information.

Step 1 - Picking the appropriate waste container

Avoid mixing hazard classes whenever possible. Ideally, the following types of hazard classes should be segregated: 

  • Halogenated solvents (flammable)

  • Non-halogenated solvents (flammable)

  • Organic acids (corrosive)

  • Inorganic acids (corrosive)

  • Bases (corrosive)

  • Solids (filtrates, mixtures, or other materials with chemical contamination

  • Materials containing heavy metals

  • Cyanides and sulfides

  • Reactives (explosive or peroxide forming compounds, etc.)

  • Non-hazardous waste (paint, oil, aerosols, photo waste, sharps, etc.)

Further Guidelines:

  • Use a separate container for each hazard class.

  • Containers should be compatible with the waste being stored in them.

  • Lids/caps must be tightly closed when not being filled.

  • Provide secondary containment which can contain a spill in case of container failure.

  • Never accumulate more than 55 total gallons of waste.

  • AVOID placing paper, stir bars, and other solid debris in liquid waste containers.

  • Record a unique ID number that is not duplicated to associate with the container.  

    • Any ID number is fine, so long as it is not duplicated on another waste bucket by the same lab at any time, or by any other research group in the same room.

  • Maintain the Hazardous Waste Log associated with the Unique ID# for the container, keeping the liog updated of all constituents (name, quantity, concentration) placed in the waste container.

  • Further instructions are listed in the steps below.

Step 2 - Prepping a Waste Container:

  • You will need the following to prepare a new waste container:

    • Mixed Waste Log Sheet

    • Yellow Hazardous Waste Labels

    • Empty container with a screw-top lid.

    • White paper label 

  • Research students and Faculty may obtain Mixed Waste Log templates and Yellow Hazardous Waste Labels from Dan Jacques in the Chemistry Stockroom during normal business hours. 

  • Assign a Unique Number to your container using a separate label (write it on the container) and a new “Mixed Waste Log” Sheet [EXAMPLE 2].  Make sure this number has not been used by the research group before, and make sure it does not duplicate any number used by any research group sharing the room.

  • Obtain a closeable bottle or container with a lid. The bottle will need to be made of the proper material* to store the waste intended to fill it without deteriorating (i.e. glass, HDPE plastic, or metal). If the bottle was formerly a chemical bottle and is being recycled into a waste bottle, ensure that it has been cleaned out of any material that may react with intended wastes. Remove the outer label, or deface the label thoroughly to ensure the bottle cannot be confused with what it used to hold.

*Do not use metal waste bottles to store acid/base wastes, or glass waste bottles to store fluorinated acids or strong bases. 

  • On the container, using a separate white paper label, write identifying information which notates the name of the lab or professor, the room number the bottle is going to be located in, and the unique identification number you determined.  A description identifying the type of waste should also be noted on the bottle (i.e. Mixed Waste, Acid Waste, Organic Waste, Halogenated Waste, etc.  Other descriptions are possible).  

  • On the “Mixed Waste Log” sheet, enter the following information before beginning to add waste to the bottle:

    • At the top of the sheet:

      • Building Name

      • Room # (where the bottle will be housed and filled)

      • Name of Lead Faculty Member

      • Container Size

      • A office contact phone number

      • NOTE:  The yellow and pink "Hazardous Waste Tag" is no longer needed.

 

  • At the bottom of the sheet:

    • The Unique ID #  *VERY IMPORTANT *

 

  • While in use, the container should be kept in secondary containment with easy access so that those using it can add the waste safely and easily.  Always close the container when not in use, placing the lid back in place. 

    • CAUTION! If you find the container bulging after being capped, STOP adding waste to it, and call your PI/Professor and/or EHS immediately for further advice.  Do not try to uncap the container without advice. 

 

  • Make sure that what and how much of each chemical being disposed of is recorded on the Mixed Waste Log as the container is filled.  It is very important to structure a way to accurately determine what is going into them and what the masses/volumes are of waste filling the containers.  Accuracy is your friend, it will make it easier for you to complete the necessary info when the container is full.

    • The data needed for the “Mixed Waste Log” is [EXAMPLE 3]:

      • Date generated (every time something new is added, it must be dated when it was added)

      • Chemical Composition - (State & Federal law requires that full names and concentrations are written out) 

        • (i.e. Hydrochloric acid, 6M; or Ethanol/Water, 50%; or Nickel(ethylenediamine)chloride solution) 

        • Do not write formulas, such as HCl; or EtOH/H2O; or Ni(et)Cl)

        • Quantity – written in mL, L, or grams

        • The name of the recorder (only has to be written once if the person disposing into the container is the same, ditto marks are fine for the rest.  If more than one user, all users must be identified).

        • The telephone # of the recorder (same as the “name of the recorder” section above) 

 

  • When not in use, whether the waste container is full or not, the waste container should be placed in a designated Waste Storage Area in the room.  Do not move the container to another room. It must stay in the same room. The Waste Storage Area must be secondarily contained. 

 

  • You may use the container until the container has 2 inches (2" or 5cm) of airspace left to accommodate for potential expansion. Do not fill the waste container until full. Do not overfill the container to create a spill.

 

  • Whether or not to mix different types of wastes depends on the capacity of the waste container being used.  Please refer to the How to Label Waste: Waste Classification document for more information. If the container is over 3.8L, or if the waste is strongly incompatible, different waste classes must not be mixed. If the waste container is smaller than 3.8L, then mixing waste may be acceptable. Contact EHS with questions.

 

  • Keep the “Mixed Waste Log” and “Hazardous Waste Tag” in an accessible place near the Waste Storage Area. A 3-ring binder works well.

 

 

Step 3 - Storing a waste bucket:

When not in use, waste container(s) must be stored in secondary containment (dishpan, trays, NOT CARDBOARD) which will not be quickly degraded or corroded by the waste contained therein. Waste containers must be segregated by chemical compatibility. The location of storage must be labeled with an easily recognized and visible signage, i.e. "Hazardous Waste Satellite Accumulation Area" or simply, "Waste Storage Area". The specific area in the room where storage occurs is considered to be a RCRA Satellite Accumulation Area (SAA) and storage there is subject to a specific set of requirements, including secondary containment and segregation by compatibility class.  

The Hazardous Waste Logs associated with the waste containers must be easily accessible and labeled, but not be able to be damaged by the contents of the waste container if they leak or fail. This is often accomplished with a 3-ring binder which has been labeled, i.e. "For Hazardous Waste." Neutralization logs are also often kept in this 3-ring binder for convenience.

Once a waste is generated, it must be placed in a container which is kept closed (except when filling) and labeled. The closed, labeled containers must be stored in the room in which the waste was generated, waste containers can \not be moved into another room, even if used by the same person/group/lab. Waste generated must be documented on the Hazardous Waste Log during the same working shift of the waste generator (the person disposing of material into the waste bucket).

It is the responsibility of the generating department to ensure its personnel are aware of the regulations and prohibitions regarding the management of RCRA Hazardous Wastes. It is the responsibility of the generating professor, researcher or other campus individual to ensure the waste is properly classified and managed.

 

 

Step 4 - Submitting a full waste bucket:

  • Once the waste container is full, refer to the “Mixed Waste Log” that the lab has been keeping.

  •  Add the sum of all similar contents and concentrations on the same line (Refer to [EXAMPLE 3]). Do not add the chemicals with the different concentrations even if they are the same (For example, all sodium chloride, 10% entries are lumped together.  All sodium chloride, 25% solutions are added together separately).

  • The volume of the container should match the total sum of the volume written on the log sheet.  If it does not, refer to your lab and expected chemicals and volumes used.  Confer with colleagues if necessary. 

  • Make sure the Unique ID # on the Mixed Waste Log and the bucket number match.

  • If you have more than one container to complete, repeat this procedure for all Waste Logs.

  • Take a general pH reading of the bucket using litmus paper as your guide.  If you wish to use a pH probe, that's fine too.  Just refer to your Faculty Instructor for their preference.  Record on the log if the bucket is acid, neutral, basic, or midrange.

  • Be sure to sign and date the Log(s) somewhere, even if on the back.

 

Step 5 - Online Waste SubmissionSubmitted container example

  • Go to the Mixed Chemical Waste Form:  https://www.geneseo.edu/is/wasteforms/mixed-waste.php?

  • Log in with your Geneseo username and password.

  • Transfer the information you completed on the Hazardous Waste Log to the online Mixed Chemical Waste Form, ensure you complete every required field.

  • Under the “Check if applicable” portion of the webform, check all descriptions as appropriate, but always make sure to check "toxic" and "irritating".

  • Make sure you reference the Confirmation Number from the error email to alert EHS to the duplication.

  • Individual Chemical Waste Form

Step 6

Paper forms and the yellow/pink Hazardous Waste Carbon Copy Tags are no longer being used by the Chemistry Department for new waste containers.  If you find that you have a yellow/pink carbon copy tag, please talk to the Professor or the Chemistry Stockroom for further and specialized instructions.

If you have any questions please contact EHS at x5663