East Tennessee State University Hazardous Waste Management

1. East Tennessee State University Hazardous Waste Management Significant Points that must be covered Every Year

2. Regulatory Oversight • TOSHA • Laboratory Standard • Personal Protective Program • Hazard Communication • EPA • DOT • NFPA

3. What is a Hazardous Waste? Hazardous waste is a waste with properties that make it dangerous or potentially harmful to human health or the environment. Hazardous wastes can be liquids, solids, contained gases, or sludges. They can be the by-products of manufacturing processes or simply discarded commercial products, like cleaning fluids or pesticides. In regulatory terms, a RCRA hazardous waste is a waste that appears on one of the four hazardous wastes lists (F-list, K-list, P-list, or U-list), or exhibits at least one of four characteristics—ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity, or toxicity. Hazardous waste is regulated under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Subtitle C.

4. What is a Hazardous Waste? • Ignitability • Can create fires under certain conditions • are spontaneously combustible, or • have a flash point less than 60 °C (140 °F) • Corrosivity • wastes which are acids or bases (pH less than or equal to 2, or greater than or equal to 12.5) that are capable of corroding metal containers

5. What is a Hazardous Waste? • Reactivity • Wastes which are unstable under "normal" conditions • They can cause explosions, toxic fumes, gases, or vapors when heated, compressed, or mixed with water • Examples include lithium-sulfur batteries and explosives

6. What is a Hazardous Waste? • Toxicity • Wastes which are harmful or fatal when ingested or absorbed • Toxicity is defined through a laboratory procedure called the Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP).

7. Hazardous Waste Determination • Departments, clinics, and/or studios are responsible for determining what hazardous waste they generate. Assistance can be obtained from: • EH&S • MSDS • Other departments

8. Your Role • Make the initial determination that a material is a waste. • Determine if it is a hazardous waste or non-hazardous waste. • Hazardous wastes must be managed properly until picked up by Environmental Health and Safety.

9. Storage Requirements • Containers must be… • Capped/closed at all times (except during transfer) • In good condition • Compatible with contents • Segregated by compatability

10. Labeling Requirements • All containers must be labeled with.. • The words “Hazardous Waste” • The name of the chemical – no abbreviations & no chemical formulas • The ETSU Hazardous Waste Tag, when used properly, enables compliance with these requirements.

11. Labeling Requirements

12. Storage by Generators • Laboratories, clinics and studios can store no more than 50 gallons in their area. • When onsite quantities approach this amount, please notify EH&S, 9-6028 so that a pick-up can be scheduled. Requests may be submitted on-line at http://www.etsu.edu/healthsafety/Chemical_and_Lab_Safety/Hazardous_Waste_Pickup_Request_Form.htm .

13. Spill Response • Each department will be the first responder for spills in their area. • Determine if the spill can be safely cleaned-up with existing personnel and resources. • Contact EH&S, 9-6028 or Public Safety, 911 and notify both offices of the spill. • Make sure everyone knows where the spill response materials are and how use them.

14. Spill Response • The following are general guidelines: • Immediately alert area occupants and supervisor, and evacuate the area, if necessary • If there is a fire or medical attention is needed, contact Public Safety at 911 • Attend to any people who may be contaminated. Contaminated clothing must be removed immediately and the skin flushed with water for no less than fifteen minutes • If a volatile, flammable material is spilled, immediately warn everyone, control sources of ignition and ventilate the area • Don personal protective equipment appropriate to the hazards

15. Spill Response • If respiratory protection is needed and no trained personnel are available, call EH&S at 9-6028 or Public Safety at 911 • Loose spill control materials should be distributed over the entire spill area, working from the outside, circling to the inside. This reduces the chance of splash or spread of the spilled chemical • POWERSORB (by 3M) products and their equivalent will handle hydrofluoric acid. Specialized hydrofluoric acid kits also are available. Many neutralizers for acids or bases have a color change indicator to show when neutralization is complete • When spilled materials have been absorbed, use brush and scoop to place materials in an appropriate container • Five gallon pails are the preferred containers for collecting the clean-up material

16. Spill Response • Complete an ETSU hazardous waste tag, identifying the material as Spill Debris involving XYZ Chemical, and affix onto the container • Decontaminate the surface where the spill occurred using a mild detergent and water, when appropriate

17. UNIVERSAL WASTE MANAGEMENT • Universal wastes are EPA regulated wastes, but are not hazardous wastes if properly recycled. • Universal waste consists of the following: • Batteries (nickel cadmium and lead acid) • Pesticides • Mercury containing thermostats • Thermometers • Fluorescent lamps/bulb

18. UNIVERSAL WASTE MANAGEMENT • All universal waste streams are to be segregated and stored in a designated satellite storage area. • Each container must have a designated description label attached (“Used Fluorescent Bulbs” or “Waste Batteries”). These labels are provided by the EHS department. • Containers used to store universal waste must be structurally sound, adequate to prevent breakage and compatible with the contents.

19. UNIVERSAL WASTE MANAGEMENT • Best practice is to use package that the device or material was originally shipped in. • All universal waste containers must remain closed and be leak free. • Universal waste must not be stored in loose or open containers. • All universal waste containers must have the accumulation start date clearly marked. • Universal waste may be stored onsite for up to one year. • For collection, please submit a chemical waste pick-up request form on-line or call the EHS Department at extension 96028.