III. Chemical Hygiene Plan continued

N. WASTE DISPOSAL

  1. Policy

    2. The proper disposal of waste chemicals at the Institute is of serious concern, and every effort should be made to do it safely and efficiently. The responsibility for the identification and handling of waste chemicals within the Institute necessarily rests with the individuals who have created the waste.

    The disposal of all hazardous chemicals down the drain is prohibited by the MWRA in 360CMR10. This includes heavy metals, salts, or organic solvents. Any hazardous waste must be disposed of through the Environmental Management Program (2-3477).

  2. Storage Area

    3. The Institute has provided a storage area for waste chemicals; the waste is accumulated here until there is a sufficient quantity to justify transportation to a disposal area. The Environmental Management Program maintains this storage area.

    One area at the PSFC has been designated as hazardous waste accumulation sites where hazardous waste may be kept up to 90 days: the yellow flammables cabinet near the NW21 Loading Dock. Contact Catherine Fiore to access this site.

    Chemical waste may be kept in the lab where it is generated in a designated and marked "Satellite Accumulation Area". This area must be properly labeled, checked and inventoried weekly, and the waste must be stored properly. A maximum of 55 gallons of hazardous waste or 1 quart of acutely hazardous waste are permitted at each satellite accumulation area. Only one container per waste material is allowed. Containers in the satellite accumulation area must be closed unless waste is being added to the container. Please refer to Appendix L. for additional information on Satellite Accumulation Areas. Once a container is filled, the label must be dated and the container must be removed from these areas within 3 days.

  3. Transportation

    4. A pickup of waste chemicals may be arranged by calling the Environmental Management Program (Ext. 2-3477) or by filling out an online form . Containers generated on the south side of Albany Street (NW21 or NW20) may be moved to the 90 day area in NW21. Contact Catherine Fiore (3-8440) to arrange this.

  4. Guidelines for Waste Reduction

    5. Plan a procedure for waste disposal before you start on a project. The waste disposal procedures must be included in the SOP for that chemical. Label waste properly. It is up to each department, group, or experimenter to identify waste materials properly before disposal; inadvertent mixing of incompatible materials could have serious consequences.

    The best way to avoid cumbersome regulatory requirements, potential exposure to toxic chemicals, and high waste disposal costs is to eliminate or minimize the use of toxic chemicals whenever possible. Protection of the environment makes the disposal of large quantities of chemical and solid wastes a difficult problem. It is in everyone's best interest to keep quantities of waste to a minimum.

    The following suggestions may help:

  5. Types and Procedures

    6. The following materials may be picked up by the Environmental Management Program (x2-3477) for removal to a storage area, unless otherwise specified. Information on appropriate containers and packaging is available from the Environmental Management Program. The MIT EH&S Team (Ext. 2-3477) may also be consulted if there is any question concerning the toxicity or packaging of any toxic wastes.

    1. Organic solvents, Epoxies, and other Organic Chemicals

    2. Acids and Alkaline Solutions

    3. Metals

    4. Cyanide Compounds
      5.  should be placed in bottles and containers, sealed tightly and labeled.
    5. Compressed Gas cylinders
      6. will not be picked up by the Environmental Management Program for removal as hazardous waste. Requisitioners are responsible for asking vendors to supply compressed gases, liquids under gas and some solids either:

      Otherwise, you may have to pay $500 or more to dispose of one non-returnable cylinder as hazardous waste. All cylinders must be ordered through the "on campus scientific supply vendor" (x3-4761, 18-B90), not through General Purchasing or via SAP.

      The following vendors currently supply returnable cylinders (instead of "disposable" cylinders) and/or take back used non-returnable cylinders:

      BOC New England Linde/Union Carbide PCR
      Cambridge Isotope Labs Matheson Scott Specialty Gases
      CVD/Morton International Med-Tech Spectra Gas
      Middlesex Welding Supply

      A more comprehensive list is provided later.

      Please note that Alfa doesn't take back cylinders, but their supplier may.

      Before you leave MIT, the PSFC may require you to clean out your laboratory space and return your cylinders to the vendors, which will be easier and more economical if you have ordered from one of the above vendors.

    6. Unknown Waste Chemicals
      7.

      Unknown waste cannot be accepted for disposal.

      Disposal contractors cannot accept or ship unknown waste. It is the responsibility of the department involved to identify all chemicals and this may require polling laboratory personnel, students and faculty members to ascertain the owner of such unknown waste and its identity. Ultimately it may require the services of an analytical laboratory to analyze the waste. It must be constantly emphasized to personnel and students to identify and label all wastes and project products with a chemical name.

    7. Sink Disposal
      8.  The EHS Office has developed a list of chemicals and materials that may be discharged into the sinks or floor drains. The list is based on regulatory requirements, MIT EHS policy, specific buildings, operations and activities knowledge, best practices and professional judgment regarding the potential impact of a chemical if discharged down the drain. 

      The list is available as a sticker that could be placed near the sink.  Contact Catherine Fiore (Ext 3-8440) for access to the list and a sink sticker if needed.

    8. Waste Oil
      9.

      GUIDELINES FOR HANDLING WASTE OIL IN BULK QUANTITIES
      Identification: Drums of waste oil need to be identified with the department name and the contents of the drum, e.g., hydraulic oil, vacuum pump oil, etc.
      Drum: The drums used to store waste oil should be in good condition. Avoid storing oil in drums which may be rusty or which may develop leaks.
      Inside Storage: The area where the drums are to be stored should be a suitable inside area that is preferably cool and dry.
      Outside Storage: An outside storage area for drums should be protected from the weather, i.e., in a shed or enclosed area with a roof or some protection from the weather.
      Secure Area: The storage area should be secured or locked to ensure that the contents of the drums are as identified and belong to the department involved. The department may want to have an individual assigned responsibilities for this area so that persons cannot dump waste oil without authorization. Oils of different types need to be kept separate.
    9. Solid Wastes
      10.
    10. Radioactive material
      11.  disposal is handled in accordance with procedures established by the Radiation Protection Program (Ext. 3-2l80).
    11. Large quantities
      12.  Large quantities of waste chemicals to be removed from a laboratory may be more than a normal amount for the Environmental Management Program to pick up and the department will be financially responsible for the disposal. Some examples are the wastes collected in drum lots from a research project, clean-out of a laboratory of old reagents and chemicals which would be packed into drums, and the waste chemicals to be pumped out of a collection or storage tank.

  6. Identification

    7. Containers of chemicals must have the name of the chemical in English and the appropriate hazard classification(s), e.g., flammable, corrosive, reactive, toxic, etc. Chemical formulas or foreign names are not acceptable. All containers must be labeled prominently because the safe transportation of chemicals is possible only when everyone who handles the containers know the identity of the contents.

  7. Red Tags

    8. All containers of waste chemicals must have a "Red Tag" attached to them. This "Red Tag" identifies the type of waste, the associated hazards, and the laboratory or department that created the waste. The red tags are available from the Environmental Management Program. The CHO also keeps a supply of these tags.

  8. Storage Prior to Pick-Up

    1. Waste Containers

      2. Containers for chemicals of one gallon or larger size shall be break-resistant whenever possible.

      BREAK-RESISTANT shall mean a container made of metal, plastic, plastic-coated glass, or metal overpack of glass.

    2. Secondary Containment

      3. Waste chemicals stored in breakable containers of one gallon or larger size shall be kept within approved secondary containers.

      APPROVED SECONDARY CONTAINER shall mean a commercially available bottle carrier made of rubber, metal or plastic with carrying handle(s) and which is large enough to hold the contents of the chemical container. Lids or covers are desirable; but not necessary. Rubber or plastic should be used for acids/alkalies; and metal, rubber, or plastic for organic solvents.

    3. Caps and Lids

      4. Containers of waste chemicals must be covered except when waste is being placed into the container. Do not leave the containers uncovered or with a funnel in place even if the containers are kept in a fume hood.

  9. Packaging

    10. Wastes must be packaged and containerized in a manner which will allow them to be transported without the danger of spillage, explosion, or hazardous vapors escaping. Wastes which have not been properly packaged and identified will not be accepted for disposal.

  10. Paperwork

    11. Department or laboratory personnel requesting waste pickup from the Environmental Management Program must fill out a packing list.

    The packing list must include the quantity, chemical name, solid or liquid, hazards associated with the waste, reactivity, etc. Environmental Management Program personnel will bring the packing list with them when they pick up waste chemicals.

    Lab records may have to indicate how waste has been disposed. It is recommended that responsible individuals keep "on-hand" a copy of the most recent Chemical Waste Packaging List. The EPA may require this documentation in the event of an inspection.

    OSS, x3-4761
    Non-Returnable Compressed Gas Cylinders
    Company Accepts Used Lecture Bottles Substitutes Returnable Cylinders Return Procedure and Policy on File Contact Number
    Airco (BOC) New England yes yes requested OSS, x3-4761
    Airco Semiconductor • • • OSS, x3-4761
    Aldrich yes no • OSS, x3-4761
    Alfa Products no no • OSS, x3-4761
    Alphagaz (Liq. Air Co.) yes • • OSS, x3-4761
    Atomergic Chemicals no yes no OSS, x3-4761
    Cambridge Isotope Labs yes no yes (Need Prior OSS, x3-4761



    		Authorization)
    Colony yes no yes (Need Prior OSS, x3-4761



    		Authorization)
    CVD/Morton Internat'l yes- only for
    		yes OSS, x3-4761

    		Aluminum, Gallium, Indium & Zinc Compounds & Liquids
    EG&G no no no
    Icon Services • yes yes OSS, x3-4761





    K&K Laboratories no • no
    Linde/Union Carbide yes • yes (Need Prior OSS, x3-4761



    		Authorization)
    Liquid Carbonic no yes yes OSS, x3-4761
    Matheson yes no N.A. OSS, x3-4761
    Med-Tech yes no yes OSS, x3-4761





    Middlesex Welding • • • OSS, x3-4761
    Morton International • • • OSS, x3-4761
    Ozark-Mahoning/ yes yes yes OSS, x3-4761
    Pennwalt



    PCR yes no yes (Need Prior OSS, x3-4761



    		Authorization)
    Petrarch yes no no OSS, x3-4761
    Pressure Chemical yes no yes OSS, x3-4761





    SCM • • • OSS, x3-4761
    Scientific Gas Co. yes yes yes OSS, x3-4761





    Scott Specialty Gas yes yes yes OSS, x3-4761


    		(c or d)

    Sigma yes • yes OSS, x3-4761
    Spectra Gas yes yes yes OSS, x3-4761





Continue to chapter III.o of the PSFC Chemical Hygiene Plan

This page maintained by Catherine L. Fiore FIORE@PSFC.MIT.EDU updated 1/07/2008