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•  Hazardous Waste Characteristics

What is a Hazardous Chemical Waste?

• Federal and State regulations define hazardous waste as a substance which poses a hazard to human health or the environment when improperly managed. A chemical waste is considered hazardous if it is either listed on one of the lists of hazardous wastes found in Federal or State regulations or exhibits one or more of the four characteristics listed below.
  
• A hazardous chemical waste is any liquid, solid, semi-solid, or gaseous material, which is intended to be discarded and meets any of the characteristics listed below.
  
• Hazardous chemicals that are stored in unlabeled or mislabeled containers, in containers in poor condition, or that are abandoned are also considered hazardous waste.
  
• Check the Hazardous Waste Chemical List for your material. If it's on this list, treat it as a hazardous chemical waste. If you don't see your material on this list, determine if it meets any of the characteristics listed below. If your waste meets any of these characteristics, it is a hazardous chemical waste and must be handled according to UC Irvine Hazardous Waste Guidelines.
  
• Used lubricating oil must be managed as a hazardous waste.
  
• Contact EH&S to make a definitive hazardous waste determination. The characteristics listed below consist of an abbreviated list to assist in affirming that a waste is hazardous. Assume that a chemical waste is a hazardous waste and handle accordingly until a definitive determination can be made.
  
• Strict sewer, air emissions, and landfill regulations require that hazardous waste not be disposed into the drain, evaporated in fume hoods, or disposed within normal trash.
  
• Contact EH&S regarding low concentration wastes or chemicals when you are unsure of the properties.
  

• Ignitable
  • Flashpoint <140 degrees F
  • Capable of causing fire at standard temperature and pressure through friction, absorption of moisture, or spontaneous chemical changes
  • Is an ignitable compressed gas
  • Is an oxidizer
    
• Corrosive
  • Liquid with pH <2 or >12.5
  • Solid that has pH <2 or >12.5 when mixed with equal weight of water
    
• Reactivity
  • Normally unstable and readily undergoes violent change
  • Reacts violently with water
  • Forms potentially explosive mixtures with water
  • Forms toxic gases, vapors, or fumes when mixed with water
  • Is a Cyanide or Sulfide bearing waste which, when exposed to pH conditions between 2 and 12.5, can generate toxic gases, vapors, or fumes
  • Is capable of detonation or explosive decomposition if subjected to a strong initiating source or heated under confinement
  • Is readily capable of detonation or reaction at standard temperature and pressure
• Toxicity
  • Has an acute oral LD50 less than 2,500 mg/kg
  • Has an acute dermal LD50 less than 4,300 mg/kg
  • Has an acute inhalation LC50 less than 10,000 ppm as a gas or vapor
  • Has an acute aquatic 96-hour LC50 less than 500 mg/l
  • Has been shown through experience or testing to pose a hazard to human health or environment because of its carcinogenicity (carcinogen, mutagen, teratogen), acute toxicity, chronic toxicity, bioaccumulative properties, or persistence in the environment
    

Labeling Requirements For Hazardous Waste Containers:

Labels must be complete, legible, and permanent. Labels must be placed on the hazardous waste container upon start of the accumulation. All hazardous waste containers must be appropriately labeled, including: The words "Hazardous Waste". University of California, Irvine. Irvine, CA 92697. Principal Investigator's / Supervisor's name and phone number. Building and room number. The date when the waste was first generated. Chemical name and concentration. Physical state. Hazard category

Hazardous Waste Segregation:

All hazardous waste must be segregated into categories to prevent incompatible mixtures. The table provided below may be used when separating incompatible chemicals.

• Hierarchy of Storage Groups
  

Note: Group hierarchies are used to determine the placement of items in storage when more than one compatibility code applies.

• Chemical Segregation: recommended storage by compatibility groups.

Note: Separate blocks mean separate storage locations. 1

Hazardous Waste Storage:

• Hazardous waste must be transferred to EH&S for disposal within 6 months of being generated.
• Hazardous waste of the types and quantities listed below must be transferred to EH&S for disposal within 3 days of reaching the specified volumes.
• Hazardous waste must always be appropriately labeled. Refer to "Labeling Requirements For Hazardous Waste Containers".
• Mark storage areas according to the type of chemicals kept there (e.g. "Corrosive", "Flammable", etc.).
• Storage of hazardous waste in fume hoods or under sinks is not recommended.
• Keep storage areas clean, appropriately ventilated, and at a consistent cool temperature.
• Containers should always be closed when not in use.
• Report damaged containers to EH&S. EH&S can provide assistance to transfer the contents of the damaged container to an appropriate container.
• Containers must be inspected weekly for signs of leaks, corrosion, or deterioration.
• Containers must have secondary containment to adequately contain all of the contents of the container/spilled materials.
• Do not dispose of chemicals via sinks or trashcans.
• Do not use hoods to intentionally evaporate chemicals.

• Review each experimental protocol to assure that hazardous and radioactive reagents are used efficiently and that excess purchases are minimized.
• Conduct microscale research when possible in order to minimize amounts of hazardous materials used and generated.
• If possible, use substances that can be neutralized or stabilized either physically or chemically. Use radioactive materials that can be practically stored for decay (half-lives less than 90 days).
• Use less hazardous substitutes when feasible.

1- Excerpt from: "Hazardous Materials Storage and Handling Handbook," Defense Logistics Agency, Cameron Station, Alexandria, VA, 27 April 1984, pp. 45-46.

University of California, Irvine Environmental Health & Safety
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