Hazardous Waste Disposal

Ohio University's Hazardous Waste Disposal Policy have a set of responsibilities for the laboratory coordinators and the faculty. The laboratory coordinators responsibility includes properly disposing of all chemical and hazardous waste generated in the laboratory and the stockroom, they also must coordinate with environmental health and safety (EHS) for correct pickup dates and disposal procedures, obtained numbered "Hazardous Waste Labels" that are required for each container, they must inform the facility of the deadline by which all chemical and hazardous waste should be delivered to the appropriate stockroom, and they must consolidate and package all materials in accordance with EHS procedures and also apply appropriate "Hazardous Waste Labels" and oversee the final pickup by EHS. Facility responsibility includes the disposal of chemical MSDS sheets that indicate the chemical is not hazardous and disposing of them in low concentrations down the drain with copious amounts of water, and also they must complete sections 1-5 of the "Chemical Waste Disposal Request" form.

(http://safetyservices.ucdavis.edu/safetynet/guidelines-completing-chemical-waste-label)

Example of a Chemical Waste Disposal Form

The University of California Irvine has developed a hazardous waste management program that provides a cost effective program to assure compliance will all Federal, State, and local programs. The goal of this waste management program is to develop an operational strategy for managing hazardous wastes generated in teaching laboratories, research laboratories, facilities maintenance, construction operations, and all other operations that involved with the university. This shall establish consensus for policies and procedures that are practical and cost effective as well as promoting excellence in environmental stewardship among students, lab employees and other workers, as well as scientists and academic leaders. The program should promote cooperation, understanding, and mutual respect between environmental protection agencies, academic institutions, and science and academic leaders. This is also a means to develop a plan for implementing policies and procedures for managing hazardous wastes.

(https://www3.epa.gov/recyclecity/dropoff.htm)

Hazardous Waste Disposal Illustration

For household hazardous waste disposal, Waste Management states that items that should not be disposed of in the regular disposal of trash should include any automotive products (antifreeze, fluids, motor oil, filters, gasoline, polish, and wax), batteries (home and vehicle), electronics (TVs, computers, cell phones, and more), fluorescent light bulbs, household cleaners (ammonia, drain cleaner, rust remover, tile/shower cleaner, and more), thermometers/thermostats, paint products (oil paints, latex paint, spray paint, wood preservative, and more), garden chemicals (pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, and more), sharps (needles), and swimming pool chemicals. Home pickup, return by mail recycling kits, and community collection and drop off are all options for household hazardous waste disposal. For any of these materials listed, they should not be regarded as regular household trash, but instead separated and must avoid dumping down the drain. Waste Management offers a program to develop a community hazardous waste program which involves working with the community in organizing a regular drop-off program and retailer take-back events for everyone in the surrounding area to participate and become aware of the dangers of disposing hazardous materials. If improper hazardous waste collection services are done wrong or inappropriately, they have the ability of contaminating ground water supplies and possibly the land the hazardous waste sits on.