|
Hazardous materials are part of our lives. Most businesses and households use them. For example, if you use any of the following materials, you probably create hazardous wastes:
- dyes, paints, thinners, solvents or cleaning fluids
- materials that burn or itch on contact with skin
- materials that dissolve metal, wood, paper or clothing
- pesticides
- products with a warning label such as flammable, caustic, danger, hazardous or poison.
|
Hazardous wastes require special handling. You can't put them in the dumpster, pour them down the drain or allow them to evaporate into the air. You can't take them to the transfer station. If you are a business, you can't take them to a household hazardous waste facility. |
No matter how little hazardous waste you generate, you need to comply with regulations. Which regulations you must comply with depends on how much waste you produce or store. |
The requirements for how to handle hazardous waste are spelled out in the state dangerous waste regulations (Chapter 173-303 WAC). The regulations address how hazardous waste must be stored, handled, transported and disposed. Businesses that produce large amounts of hazardous waste must comply with more requirements than businesses that produce small amounts. |
How much you produce is important.
Your business is a small quantity generator (SQG) if you create less than 220 pounds (about half a 55-gallon drum) of hazardous waste a month (or batch) and never accumulate more than 2,200 pounds (about five 55-gallon drums). The limit is 2.2 pounds for certain wastes. (For the most part, these are certain chemicals on the Discarded Chemical Products List found in Chapter 173-303 WAC.) |
This table lists the steps that a small quantity generator should take to manage hazardous waste. |
You are a regulated generator if you exceed the limits for a small quantity generator. Regulated generators fall into two categories - medium and large quantity generators. Regulated generators should call the Department of Ecology at (425) 649-7000 for more information. |
What is "hazardous waste?"
The owner of a business must first decide if something is a waste, and if so, whether it is hazardous. |
A material is a waste if:
- you don't want it - and no one else can use it
- it's old or outdated
- it can't be used in your process anymore
- you spilled it.
In the state of Washington, waste is hazardous if it's listed in the state's dangerous waste regulations, Chapter 173-303 WAC, or meets characteristics or criteria described in the regulations. Hazardous wastes require special handling. They cannot be put in the dumpster, poured down the drain or evaporated into the air. |
How to find out if your waste is hazardous.
"Waste designation" is the process of deciding if a certain waste is hazardous and selecting the applicable dangerous waste codes. Designation often involves identifying the hazardous chemicals or other constituents in the waste and helps ensure that the waste is labeled and handled properly. |
The specific procedures for designating waste are found in the dangerous waste regulations, WACs 173-303-070 through 173-303-100. Dangerous waste numbers are listed in WACs 173-303-090, 173-303-104, and 173-303-9903 - 9904. The dangerous waste numbers are codes that correspond to the hazardous properties in the waste. For example, D008 means the waste contains lead; WT02 means the waste is toxic; D002 means the waste is corrosive. |
A "waste profile" is a written description of chemical ingredients in your waste and the dangerous waste numbers assigned to it. Firms that transport, broker, reclaim or ultimately dispose of hazardous waste need the profile so that they can manage the waste safely and legally. Most companies - and even solid waste landfills - that receive your waste will require a profile or other identification before accepting it. |
Should your waste be tested?
Testing is done to determine whether a particular substance is present, how much of it there is and other criteria about the waste. In some cases testing is necessary before designating the waste. Used oil is often field-tested to detect the presence of chlorinated solvents. Other wastes can be designated without testing. For example, used, untreated photo fixer is typically assumed to contain enough silver to designate as hazardous waste and isn't tested. |
Most waste handlers will profile your waste and can arrange to have it tested, if necessary. Doing a little research on your own may save you money on testing. Here are some tips:
- explain how you created the waste
- find the chemical ingredients from container labels, material safety data sheets (available from the supplier or manufacturer) or by contacting the manufacturer
- list anything that you mixed with your material, like water or solvents
- list any contaminants that are picked up in your process, like oil or metal shavings
- don't run tests for substances that couldn't possibly be there
- don't run tests for substances you know are definitely there in large amounts
- don't run tests on outdated (past expiration date) chemicals. You should already know what they are from the label and material safety data sheets
- do run tests for hazardous substances that might be there, but you're not sure.
|
Just remember that after the profile is filled out, you are the one who signs it (not the waste handler). Because you are ultimately responsible for the proper disposal of the waste you produce, an accurate profile is important. |
Example
A shop mixes concentrated cleaner with water and uses the solution to clean oily, corroded auto parts. The shop's waste management firm suggests testing the solution for solvents and heavy metals. Last year the shop eliminated all solvents from their cleaning process. The shop shows the material safety data sheets to the waste management firm and explains their "no solvent" policy. The firm agrees that solvent testing is unnecessary. Because parts are corroded before cleaning, it is a good idea to test for heavy metals.
Return to top |
