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Hazardous Waste Segregation

Packaging Instructions

  1. Do not mix waste. Use a separate container for each waste.

  2. All material must be placed in appropriated container (container material will not be degraded by contents).

  3. The following containers are available without charge from the Environmental Safety Facility (ESF):

  1. 20 L Plastic drums(Halogenated Organic Solvents)
  2. 20 L Plastic drums(Aqueous Liquids)
  3. 20 L Plastic drums(Aqueous liquids)
  4. 4 L Glass bottles
  5. 1 L Plastic jugs
biowaste container

Bio waste containers

  1. Container must be sealed (leaking containers will not be accepted).

  2. Containers are to be labeled with UW waste label (available from ESF) and contents listed.

  3. Liquid containers should be only 80 % full.

  4. Store waste bottle in a secure area (not on floor)

  5. Unknown substances will be accepted (an account number is required for classification of unknown).

 

Waste Segregation

Waste

Description

Examples

Solvents
Non Halogenated Solvents

Non halogenated Solvents mixed with less than 20% water
  • Acetone
  • Alcohol
  • Hexane
  • THF
  • Acetonitrile
Halogenated Solvents

Halogenated Solvents mixed with less than 20% water
  • Perchloroethylene
  • Methylene chloride

Sample Vials
1. Halogenated

Organic compounds dissolved in halogenated solvents.

Specify solvent and class of compound.
  • Pesticide samples dissolved in methylene chloride
2. Non-Halogenated

Organic compounds dissolved in non-halogenated solvents.

Specify solvent and class of compound
  • Petroleum samples dissolved in toluene
3. Aqueous

Inorganic compounds dissolved in water.

Specify class of compound

  
4. Solid

Organic compounds used for testing
  • Organic Lab Samples

Aqueous Waste
1. Water contaminated with Non halogenated Solvents

Non halogenated Solvents mixed with more than 20% water
  • Groundwater contaminated with xylene
2. Water contaminated with halogenated Solvents

Halogenated Solvents mixed with more than 20% water
  • Groundwater contaminated with chloroform
3. Heavy metals

Heavy metals dissolved in water.

Please specify PH .
  • solutions containing arsenic
4. Inorganic Salts

Inorganic salts dissolved in water.
  • ferric chloride
  • sodium sulfate solutions
8. Cyanides

Solutions of cyanide compounds
  • Potassium Ferro cyanide
9. Organic material  
  • Ethydium Bromide

Oxidizers

  
  • potassium nitrate
  • hydrogen peroxide
  • potassium permanganate
  • bleach

Acids
1.

Mineral Acids

 Note: Concentrated acid mixtures (> 20%) need to be diluted and neutralized before being brought to the ESF. This includes piranha solutions (acid/peroxide mix) as well as aqua regia (nitric acid/hydrochloric acid mix) . Usually a 20 times dilution will work before neutralizing with calcium carbonate.
  • hydrochloric acid
  • nitric acid
  • sulfuric acid
  • perchloric acid
2. Organic Acids  
  • formic acid
  • acetic acid
  • propionic acid

Bases

  
  • sodium hydroxide
  • potassium hydroxide
  • ammonia

Metals

  
  • Mercury
  • Arsenic
  • Lead
  • Silver

Organic

  
  • formalin

Air Reactive

Material that produces flammable gases when mixed with water
  • Alkyl metals
  • Phosphorus

Water Reactive

Materials that produce flammable gases when mixed with water.
  • Sodium
  • Lithium

Paints
1. Latex paints  
  • Paints or stains
2. Oil Based or alkyd paints  
  • Paints or stains
3. Paint solvents  
  • Varsol

Monomers

 Un-linked monomers
  • Epoxy resin

Organic Peroxides

  
  • Epoxy hardeners

Silica

 Silica only with minimal amounts of sand, no filter paper or resins
  • Alumina contaminated with acetone

Solid Waste
1. Contaminated with organic compounds Solid material contaminated with organic compounds.
  • Filter paper or alumina contaminated with solvents
  • Ethidium bromide gels
2. Contaminated with inorganic compounds Solid material contaminated with inorganic material.
  • Filter paper contaminated with sodium sulfate

Bio-Waste
1. Medical

Solid material contaminated with blood or body fluids.

All material must be packed in bio-hazard containers supplied by the ESF.
  • Gauze pads
2. Sharps

All material must be packed in sharps containers supplied by the ESF.
  • Needles and syringes
3. Animal Frozen

Pick up must be arranged one week in advance.

All material must be packed in bio-hazard containers supplied by the ESF.

  
4. Animal Preserved

All formalin must be drained off.

All material must be packed in bio-hazard containers supplied by the ESF.

  
Radioactive Waste
1. Liquid

Separated by isotope. 

Only containers supplied by ESF will be accepted.

Radiation field must not exceed 2.5 mR.
  • P-32 solutions
2. Solid

Separated by isotope.

Only containers supplied by ESF will be accepted.

Radiation field must not exceed 2.5 mR
  • C-14 waste
3. Liquid Scintillation Vials

Full LSC vials with any isotope.

Only containers supplied by ESF will be accepted.
  • Scintillation vials containing C-14 and H-3
Carbon Nano-tubes

In solution the material should be labelled as such

Dry carbon nano-tubes or material that is contaminated with carbon nano-tubes should be double-bagged and properly labelled (any additional contaminants should be included on the waste label
  • Non-halogenate solvent (acetone) containing carbon nano-tubes
  • pipettes and gloves contaminated with carbon nano-tubes