Mixed Waste and Individual Chemical Forms

Mixed Waste, Individual Chemicals, and Radioactive Waste

Click the titles below for links to the appropriate online forms.

Introduction

Before using the below links please read the SOP for Chemical Waste.

Mixed Chemical Waste Form -

Virtually all hazardous chemical waste forms submitted for disposal and pickup by EHS should be through following standard Chemical Waste Procedures(SOP) appropriate to the individual submitting (i.e. Faculty, Research Student, Stockroom Student or Teaching LI) and the Mixed Chemical Waste Form.  Online submission of this form must accompany a PRINTOUT of the confirmation page and record of the associated Confirmation Number on a label affixed to the waste bucket.  EHS will not honor online submission without the user also ensuring the associated Confirmation Page and Confirmation Number are affixed to the waste bucket at the time of pickup.

Individual Unwanted Chemical Form 

"Chemicals or other materials which have not been opened or are still in useable form can be saved from becoming waste by being offered for other College staff use.  EHS will periodically distribute a list of "unwanted but still useable" materials.  Staff wishing to obtain a material for use may contact EHS at ext. 5663.  EHS will pick up and deliver the material to the requester.  Staff wishing to list materials should also contact EHS through the Individual Chemical Unwanted Chemical Exchange Form.  Materials should continued to be stored by the listing Department until a user is found.  If this is not possible, or if an appreciable amount of time has expired with no result, resubmit the chemical through the Mixed Chemical Waste Form as hazardous waste and EHS will pick up the material and dispose of it.

This information was quoted from the SUNY Geneseo EHS Procedure for Hazardous Pickup document.

There are chemicals unsuited for chemical exchange.  When offering a chemical for exchange, consider the following:

  1. Is the chemical expired?
  2. Is the integrity of the container still good?
  3. Is the original label still on the container and legible?
  4. Is the chemical time-sensitive, highly reactive, or highly toxic?

Even if the chemical does not appear to be a time-sensitive, high hazard chemical, consider the following examples:

  • Diethyl ether - peroxide hazard dispose within 12 months of opening.
  • Chloroform - forms phosgene gas in the air space above the liquid after opening. Dispose within 2 years of opening.
  • Formic acid - decomposed into carbon dioxide (CO2) causing the container to fail catastrophically, container may rupture explosively in storage, storage limit up to 2 years unopened.
  • Methyl methacrylate - polymerization by internally formed peroxides, dispose within 12 months of opening.
  • Styrene - polymerization by internally formed peroxides and self-polymerization. Dispose within 1 year of opening; storage limit of up to 16 months unopened. 
  • Tetrahydrofuran (THF) - Polymerization by exposure to oxygen.  Once opened, dispose of after 1 year, if inhibited.  If uninhibited, dispose of after 3 months.

Examples of chemicals are considered not suitable for exchange:

1. Peroxides, Organic Peroxides, and Peroxide Forming Compounds – such as Isopropyl Ether, Diethyl Ether, Tetrahydrofuran, Acrylonitrile, Acrylic Acid, Styrene, Vinyl Acetate, etc. All peroxidizable compounds should be ordered in the smallest quantity possible, must be periodically tested in storage, and should be disposed of when no longer in use.

2. High hazard chemicals - such as pyrophoric/spontaneously combustible, self-heating, self-reactive, potentially explosive chemicals should be ordered in the smallest possible quantity and be disposed of when no longer in use.

3. Chloroform – forms phosgene gas in the head space above the liquid after opening dispose within 2 years, if the chloroform is older than 2 years it must be disposed of.

4. Formic acid – decomposes into carbon dioxide which may cause the container to fail catastrophically, storage limit of up to 2 years – if it is two years or older it must be disposed of.

5. Methyl methacrylate - polymerization by internally formed peroxides, dispose of within 12 months of opening.

Chemicals unsuitable for the Unwanted Chemical Exchange Form must be disposed of using the protocol-12 for disposing of Hazardous Mixed Waste.

To submit a chemical to the Chemical Exchange, ensure the reagent chemical(s) which is not contaminated with other chemicals and is in its original manufacturer's container with unaltered and legible original labeling, which is unwanted can be reported by calling EHS at ext. 5663 or through the Unwanted Chemical Exchange Form.

Radioactive Waste

"Radioactive waste should be stored and labeled as other hazardous wastes. However, generators must ensure that adequate shielding of the storage area is provided to keep exposure as low as possible. Liquid and solid wastes should always be segregated and collected in separate containers. The same waste labels and request forms used for other hazardous waste should be used for radioactive waste. The container label must indicate the chemical composition of the contents and their percentages, isotopes used level of activity in microcuries, and associated hazards. This same information must also be provided on the pickup request form.

Among the hazards noted on the pickup request form should be an indication of any volatile material into which radioisotopes may be incorporated, i.e, may produce potential airborne exposures to radioisotopes."

This information was quoted from the SUNY Geneseo EHS Procedure for Hazardous Pickup document.  Follow standard procedures for documenting and submitting radioactive hazardous waste.  Call EHS as ext. 5663 with any questions about radioactive waste.