Wastes that are generated in the Art Department and in the Chemistry, Geology, and Biology labs are potentially hazardous waste because of their characteristics or the chemical constituents of the waste. Solid wastes, including liquids, become a hazardous waste if it they fall into Characteristic or the F, P, or U-listed waste categories as described below.
Characteristic wastes are ignitable (flash point of less than 140º F), corrosive (pH less than 2.0 or greater than 12.5), reactive, and/or toxic (as determined by the Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure TCLP). TCLP listed solvents, metals, and pesticides are found in 40 CFR 261.24 Table 1 Waste Codes: Toxic List.
F-listed wastes that may be generated in the labs are solvents which have been used for their solvent purpose and which contain, before use, ten percent or more of one or more of the following chemicals:
Halogenated solvents:
- methylene chloride, chlorobenzene, tetrachloroethylene, trichloroethylene, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, 1,1,2-trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane, ortho-dichlorobenzene, trichlorofluoromethane, and 1,1,2-trichloroethane.
Non-halogenated solvents:
- acetone, benzene, carbon disulfide, cresols and cresylic acid, cyclohexanone, ethyl acetate, ethyl benzene, ethyl ether, 2- ethoxyethanol, isobutanol, methanol, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, n-butyl alcohol, nitrobenzene, 2- nitropropane, pyridine, toluene, xylene.
If a solid waste is mixed with any amount of a listed waste, the entire mixture becomes a hazardous waste. (example: 2 ml of acetone which has been used as a solvent is mixed with 4000 ml of water, the entire mixture becomes a listed hazardous waste). For this reason, proper handling and segregation of waste are very important, not only for safety reasons but also to reduce the cost of disposal. (See waste segregation guidance).
Other wastes are hazardous because they fall into the category of outdated chemicals being discarded, container residue, or spill clean up residue related to P or U-listed chemicals. "The P and U-listings found at 40 CFR 261.33(e) Waste Codes: P List and 40 CFR 261.33(f) Waste Codes: U List apply to commercially pure grades of listed chemicals, technical grades, and formulations in which the listed chemical is the sole active ingredient. The U-list does not include chemical mixtures where the listed chemical is not the sole active ingredient, and does not apply to chemicals that have been used for their intended purpose." (July 28, 1989 Federal Register (54 FR 31336).
Listed and characteristic hazardous wastes must be handled and disposed of in accordance with the satellite accumulation guidance and hazardous waste disposal procedures.
Other wastes generated on campus may contain pollutants that are not hazardous but may not be suitable for discharge into the sanitary sewers or the dumpster. These wastes may be disposed of through the hazardous waste disposal company as a non-hazardous waste or aqueous waste. Waste latex paint that cannot be re-used, recycled, or dried out, falls into this category. Some chemicals from the P and U lists that are mixed with water may also be shipped as non-hazardous aqueous waste, however, most of these wastes can be discharged into the municipal sewers in compliance with the policy on Disposal of waste into sanitary sewer {being developed}. These wastes are commonly >95% water and will exhibit no hazardous waste characteristics such as ignitability or corrosion.
For questions related to waste determination, contact the Director of Environmental Management at 417-836-8334 or by email at EnvironmentalManagement@missouristate.edu.