Hazardous Waste Management Quiz

Hazardous Waste

• Hazardous waste is subject to regulation from "cradle to grave"
• The main governing act is the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) of 1976
• The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the authority for enforcement

Waste Characteristics

• Four main characteristics classify waste as hazardous: Ignitability, Corrosivity, Reactivity, and Toxicity
• Ignitable Waste: Has a flashpoint below 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Examples include Acetonitrile, alcohols, acetone, toluene, xylene, ether.
• Corrosive Waste: Has a pH less than 2 or greater than 12.5. Examples include Acids, glass cleaner, hydroxides, bases, drain cleaners.
• Reactive Waste: Unstable waste, may explode under certain conditions such as heat, friction, or pressure. Examples include Picric acid, peroxide-forming chemicals, ethyl ethers, dinitro compounds.
• Toxic Waste: Fails the Toxic Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) Test. Examples include heavy metals: mercury, lead, silver, chromic acid

The Mixture Rule

• A mixture of a hazardous and solid waste is considered hazardous if:
  • The mixture exhibits any of the hazardous waste characteristics
  • The hazardous waste is listed as a hazardous waste.
• The mixture rule applies even if the solid waste is not considered hazardous on its own.
• The entire mixture becomes subject to regulations as hazardous waste.
• Example: One quart of spent methylene chloride (F002) mixed with 500 gallons of used oil becomes 500.25 gallons of hazardous waste.

Avoiding Hazardous Waste Trouble

• Always clearly label containers as "Hazardous Waste"
• Use a completed waste tag with no abbreviations
• Keep containers closed except when adding waste
• Ensure proper hazardous waste training

Hazardous Waste Containers

• Liquids: Use 5-gallon carboys provided by EHS that are DOT-approved. Do not use lab glassware, beakers, or flasks.
• Small Containers: Create your own containers by defacing previous labeling. EHS will provide packing material (boxes, absorbent) for transporting.

Discarded Chemical Commercial Product (DCCP)

• A DCCP is a listed hazardous waste that was once a commercial product.

Other Classifications of Hazardous Material

• Hazardous Material refers to a substance or material that may adversely affect safety during transportation. It is governed by the Department of Transportation (DOT).
• Nine (9) DOT Hazard Classes: Explosive, Gases, Flammable/Combustible Liquid, Spontaneously Combustible, Oxidizer/Organic Peroxide, Poison, Radioactive, Corrosive, Miscellaneous Dangerous Material.

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA)

• Also known as Superfund, CERCLA was enacted in 1980 to remedy past mistakes in hazardous waste management.

Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments (HSWA)

• Enacted in 1984, the HSWA phased out land disposal of hazardous waste.
• It initiated a comprehensive underground storage tank program and increased EPA enforcement authority.

Superfund Amendment and Re-Authorization Act (SARA)

• Re-authorized funding for abandoned site clean-up in 1986.
• Required OSHA to establish safety and health standards for hazardous waste operations and emergency response.
• Established three sections (Titles I, II, and III).

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) - "Cradle to Grave"

• RCRA guides the management of hazardous waste from generation to disposal.
• It includes generation, transportation, treatment, and recovery processes.

Hazardous Waste Classification

• Classifying waste as hazardous involves a multi-step process:
  • Is the waste a solid waste?
  • Is the waste excluded?
  • Is the waste listed?
  • Does the waste display a characteristic?
  • Is the waste a regulated mixture?