| Overall Rating | Reporter - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | |
| Liaison | Bradley Flamm |
| Submission Date | July 31, 2012 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
West Chester University of Pennsylvania
OP-21: Hazardous Waste Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
Reporter |
Paul
Morgan Professor Professional & Secondary Education |
Does the institution have strategies in place to safely dispose of all hazardous, special (e.g. coal ash), universal, and non-regulated chemical waste and seek to minimize the presence of these materials on campus?:
A brief description of steps taken to reduce hazardous, special (e.g. coal ash), universal, and non-regulated chemical waste:
Guidelines for Reducing Waste
• Establish chemical use parameters before placing an order. This will minimize waste by
purchasing chemicals in the container size that permits maximum consumption.
• Purchase chemicals in small quantities. The contents of small containers are most likely to be
utilized than lost to contamination or degradation. Also, if disposal is required, volume and
expense will be minimized if waste is in small containers.
• Reduce the scale of the experiment if protocol permits. Less chemicals used equates to less
waste.
• Whenever possible, substitute less-hazardous chemicals for hazardous chemicals. Examples:
Substitute Latex paints for solvent (oil-based) paints, non-mercury thermometers for mercury
containing thermometers, etc.,
• Avoid stock piling of common chemicals. Stock piling involves the purchasing or
accumulation of chemicals in large quantities for use longer than needed. This practice
usually jeopardizes the chemicals’ properties over a period of time.
• When chemicals are received, take all precautions to store them according to manufactures’
recommendations such as by refrigeration or under an inert atmosphere. Following special
storage requirements not only creates a safer work environment, it can increase the shelf life
of chemicals.
• When chemicals are first received, date and store them in a manner that enables the older
chemicals to be used first. This will develop a rotational system so that chemicals will be
used before shelf life expires.
• Replace worn labels in a permanent, legible fashion. This will prevent an unknown chemical
from being generated. Unknown chemicals are difficult and expensive to manage as a waste.
• Label all containers and reaction flasks that contain or will contain chemicals. DO NOT use
abbreviations, trade names or chemical symbols. Only use the common chemical name or
nomenclature to identify each container’s contents. This will prevent an unknown chemical
from being generated.
• Replace faulty or damaged caps and lids. This will safeguard against the effect of air and
moisture contamination.
A brief description of how the institution safely disposes of hazardous, universal, and non-regulated chemical waste:
Problem Hazardous Waste
Gas cylinders, lecture bottles, aerosol cans
Make arrangements when purchasing gas cylinders that the manufacturer or supplier will accept return of cylinders
Shock sensitive materials - peroxidized ethers, dry picric acid
Naturally occurring radioactive materials - uranyl nitrate, thorium nitrate
Hazardous Waste Labeling Requirements
Use WCU hazardous waste label - (Contact EHS x3333 or George Zittle x2274 as specified above) you may make your own label as long as it contains all of the same information and wording as the university label
Be sure to clearly mark the accumulation start date for each container, the accumulation start date must be visible for inspection
Hazardous waste generator's name or responsible person (i.e. faculty, building administrator, shop foreman, employee, etc.), building/room# and phone#
Contents - Please write the full name of the compound(s) and the percentages of each and container size. Please do not use acronyms, chemical formulas or chemical structures.
If known, mark the chemical family code contents fall under on back of hazardous waste label (e.g. Inorganic 1-Metal, Hydrides, Organic 8-Phenols, Cresols)
Hazardous Waste Container Requirements
Container must be compatible with waste
Container must be kept closed except when adding or removing waste
Container must be handled and stored in a manner that will prevent rupture or leaks
Container must be inspected weekly for leaks or deterioration
Do not place incompatible materials in the same container or place waste into an unwashed container that contained an incompatible material
Hazard Class
A simple method for determining if your waste is hazardous is if it fits into the following hazard classes:
Flammable
Oxidizer
Reactive
Water reactive
Shock sensitive
Light, heat reactive
Corrosive Acid - mineral
Corrosive Acid - organic
Corrosive Base
Toxic-poison/irritant/carcinogen etc.
Gas cylinders - segregate by hazard class
Segregation by Hazard Class
Use the following resources to determine the hazard class of your waste:
MSDS
Original Container Label
Manufacturers catalog
International Chemical Safety Cards
The website URL where information about hazardous materials management is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.