COMPLIANCE INFO_PRE 2019 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

0 0 Section 1 Hazardous Waste What is a hazardous waste? First, it must be determined if you have a waste or not. • If you do not regularly use this product, it is a waste. • If it is past its useful life, it is a waste. • If it is generated by our industrial processes and not a product or commodity that we sell. • You cannot accumulate waste products because they might become useful later. Once you have determined that you have a waste, you can then decide if it is hazardous. A hazardous waste is any substance that that is harmful to humans, animals or the environment and must be managed differently than normal solid waste. The US EPA and various states have specific lists of chemicals and products that are hazardous wastes. Additionally, any waste can be hazardous if it exhibits one or more of the following characteristics: • Ignitability (products that easily catch fire) Examples include: Paint thinner, propane cylinders, gasoline soaked absorbent, flares, • Corrosivity (water based solutions with a pH of less than 2 or more than 12.5) • Reactivity (items that react violently with air, water, other chemicals to produce explosions, toxic gases, etc) Examples include: Sodium metal, explosives, phosphorous, Muriatic Acids, Bleach, etc. • Toxicity (wastes containing specific chemicals listed by the US EPA and States or substances that pose long term health threats to humans, animals, or the environment.) Examples include: waste with mercury, lead, chromium, and certain electrical transformers that include PCB's, used motor oil (CA only), etc. Various states, (such as California) have their own hazardous waste characteristics. The APG EHS department can assist you if you have a waste that you believe may be hazardous. Applicability by state Most states have adopted US EPA Hazardous waste rules; however some states have chosen to go beyond what the federal government requires. California has its own list of hazardous wastes, most notably being used motor oil and used coolant. Your regional EHS engineer will help you determine what hazardous waste rules apply to your location. How to Store & Label Hazardous Waste If possible, store any hazardous waste in the original container. The labels and marking are useful in identifying how it should be handled and disposed of. Have a designated "Hazardous Waste Storage Area" at your facility. Hazardous waste should be stored in a compatible, spill proof container, approved by the Department of Transportation and EPA. (contact EHS for assistance with this)