Hazardous Waste Determination Flowchart

Department of Environmental Health & Safety Hazardous Waste Management

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Master Flowchart
START HERE
Is your material a WASTE? Refer to: Waste Definition
YES

Is your waste a SPECIAL WASTE? Refer to: Special Waste

NO

Is your waste REACTIVE? Refer to: Reactivity

NO

Is your waste CORROSIVE ? NO Refer to: Corrosives

NO

YES YES

Your waste is:

YES YES YES

Is your waste IGNITABLE? Refer to: Ignitability Your waste is NOT a Hazardous Waste?
NO NO

HAZARDOUS WASTE
Contact EH&S @ 2-6410 for proper disposal

Is your waste an OXIDIZER? Refer to: Oxidizing

NO

LIQUID

Physical State

SOLID

Is your waste TOXIC? Refer to: Toxicity

NO

Is your waste a Medical Waste? Refer to: Medical Waste

NO

Continue to: Drain Disposal

Deface container label. Dispose in regular trash

STOP
Still think your waste might be HAZARDOUS?
YES

Consider your waste HAZARDOUS and have a Waste Determination completed. Contact: EH&S @ 2-6410 2

Waste Definition

START

Can the material be used by someone else?

NO Is the material: Intended to be discarded ( i.e. the material is abandoned, recycled or inherently waste-like) EPA views old chemicals that have not been used in years and which are unlikely to be used in the foreseeable future as waste. YES

YES

Give the material to another authorized laboratory or user.

NO

If your material is not a WASTE, then it is not a Hazardous Waste.

Material meets the definition of WASTE Continue on Master Flowchart

Special Waste
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Is your waste RADIOACTIVE?
or
YES

Refer to: Radioactive Waste Flowchart Refer to: Paint Waste Flowchart Refer to: Asbestos Waste Flowchart Refer to: Compressed Gas Cylinders & Aerosols Flowchart Refer to: Empty Container Flowchart Refer to: Scrap Metal Flowchart Refer to: Photographic Chemicals Flowchart Refer to: Waste Oil & Antifreeze Flowchart Refer to: Used Batteries Flowchart

Is your waste PAINT?

or

YES

Does your waste contain ASBESTOS?

or

YES

Is your waste a GAS CYLINDER or AEROSOL CAN?

or

YES

Is your waste an EMPTY CONTAINER?

or

YES

Is your waste a METAL?

or

YES

Is your waste a PHOTOGRAPHIC CHEMICAL?

or

YES

Is your waste an OIL or ANTIFREEZE?

or

YES

Is your waste a BATTERY? (i.e., NiCd, Lead Acid, etc.)

NO

YES

Material is NOT a SPECIAL WASTE. Continue on Master Flowchart.

Radioactive Waste
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Is this symbol (with or without wording): displayed on the waste or waste container?
or

YES

Does the waste contain any: RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL? Does the waste contain any isotope of an element that undergoes nuclear transformations emitting a form of radiation?
or

Your waste is a
YES

RADIOACTIVE WASTE.
Contact EH&S @ 2-6410 For further assistance

YES

Does the waste contain any: URANIUM or THORIUM COMPOUNDS?

(i.e., uranium dicarbide, uranium dioxide, uranium hexafluoride, uranium hydride, uranium monocarbide, uranium tetrafluoride, uranocene, Uranyl acetate, uranyl nitrate or thorium acetylacetonate, thorium carbide, thorium chloride, thorium dioxide, thorium disulfide, thorium fluoride, thorium nitrate, thorium oxalate, thorium sulfate) or

Your waste MAY BE a Is the waste a: Self-Illuminated Exit Sign? Smoke Detector? Electron Capture Detector (ECD) or Static Eliminator?
NO

YES

RADIOACTIVE WASTE.
Contact EH&S @ 2-6410 For further assistance

Your waste is NOT a RADIOACTIVE WASTE. Continue on Special Wastes Flowchart. If you believe you still have a radioactive waste, contact EH&S @ 2-6410.

Paint Waste
START HERE

Is the waste: Paint Related Waste? (including Latex Paint, Oil Based Paint, Lacquer Based Paint, Paint Solvents and Thinners)
YES

NO

Continue on Special Wastes Flowchart

Latex Paint

Type of Paint Related Waste

Oil Based Paint Lacquer Based Paint Paint Solvents & Thinners

Your waste is a: There are alternative disposal options for latex paint. Please contact EH&S @ 2-6410 for further information.

HAZARDOUS WASTE
Contact EH&S @ 2-6410 to schedule a pickup. Please note that Air Quality Regulations do NOT allow us to dry-out oil based paints or solvents for the purpose of disposal.

Asbestos Waste
START HERE Does the waste: Contain > 1% Asbestos?
Examples of Materials Commonly Containing Asbestos (but not limited to): Sheet Rock Taping and Joint Compound Fire Door Core Material Roofing Felt Floor Tile and Mastic Transite Sheets (Cementious Panels) Sprayed-on Ceiling Materials Boiler Insulation Pipe Insulation Brake Pads Clutch Pads Gaskets Electrical Wire Insulation Thermal Insulation on Electrical Appliances NO

Your waste is a: YES

HAZARDOUS WASTE
Contact EH&S @ 2-6410 to schedule a pickup

Continue on Special Wastes Flowchart

Compressed Gas Cylinders & Aerosols

START HERE
Is the waste: An aerosol container? YES

Is the container: Completely emptied of the contents to the maximum extent practical under normal use (which is atmospheric pressure) (i.e., the spray mechanism is not defective)? YES NO Did the container: Formerly contain an Hazardous Waste? (refer to P-Listed Wastes) NO

Your waste is a: NO

HAZARDOUS WASTE
Contact EH&S @ 2-6410 to schedule a pickup

YES
Or Dont Know

Your aerosol container even if completely empty is a:

HAZARDOUS WASTE
Contact EH&S @2-6410 to schedule a pickup

Dispose of in regular trash

Is the waste a: Compressed gas cylinder or a single use propane canister? (including gas cylinders, lecture bottles or refillable LPG canisters) NO

YES

Contact the Supplier or Manufacturer and arrange to have the compressed gas cylinder returned to them for proper disposal. If not returned to the Supplier or Manufacturer, your waste is a:

HAZARDOUS WASTE
Contact EH&S @2-6410 to schedule a pickup.

Continue on Special Wastes Flowchart

Empty Containers
START HERE
Is the waste: An empty container that formerly contained a hazardous material?
YES NO

Continue on Special Wastes Flowchart

Does the waste: Meet the definition of EMPTY? For containers that held a pourable hazardous material No further material can be poured or drained from the container when it is held in any orientation. For containers that held a non-pourable hazardous material No hazardous material remains in the container that can be removed by physical methods.
YES

NO

Did the empty container: Formerly contain a material that had an oral LD50 < 50 mg/kg? (refer to the Toxicity section on Material Safety Data Sheet)
NO

Your waste container, even if completely empty, is a:

YES

HAZARDOUS WASTE
Contact EH&S @ 2-6410 to schedule a pickup

Did the empty container: Formerly contain an Extremely Hazardous Waste? (refer to P-Listed Waste)
NO

YES or DONT KNOW

All containers must be triple rinsed before disposal. If the container held a strong-smelling material, rinse with an appropriate solvent. If the cleaning solvent is a hazardous material, collect & dispose of as a hazardous waste. Deface label and mark triple rinsed. Recycle glass, bottles and cans where possible. Under no circumstances may a container labeled with the international radioactive symbol or with the words Hazardous Waste be disposed of in the regular trash.

Scrap Metal

START HERE

Is the waste: A solid metal?

YES

NO

Is the metal: Aluminum, Copper, Iron, Lead, Steel, or Zinc?

YES When you have accumulated more than 5 pounds of material, Contact EH&S @ 2-6410 to schedule a pickup.

Your waste cant be recycled as Scrap Metal. Continue on Special Wastes Flowchart.

NO

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Photographic Chemicals
START HERE
Is the waste: A chemical product used for photography? YES Has the photographic chemical been used? NO

NO

Continue on Special Wastes Flowchart

Unused photographic chemicals may be a: HAZARDOUS WASTE. Refer to the Corrosives Flowchart and Toxicity Flowchart or Contact EH&S @ 2-6410 for assistance.

YES Is the waste: Fixer, Bleach-Fixer (Blix), Color Developer, or Color Stabilizer? NO Is the waste: Selenium Toner or Sepia Toner? NO Is the waste: Stop Bath or Hypo Cleaning Agent? NO Contact EH&S @ 2-6410 to assist with the proper disposal of your photographic chemicals. YES YES

YES

Your waste should be recycled in the silver recovery units. Contact EH&S @ 2-6410 for assistance. Your waste is a:

HAZARDOUS WASTE
Contact EH&S @ 2-6410 to schedule a pickup. Contact EH&S @ 2-6410 to discuss disposal.

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START HERE
Is the waste: an Oil or Antifreeze? YES
Is your waste: Motor Oil Automatic Transmission Fluid Power Steering Fluid Diesel Fuel Gear Oil Turbine Engine Oil Hydraulic Oil Fuel Oil Kerosene (#3, #4, & #6) Oils can NOT be disposed down the drain (even if they are not hazardous waste).

Waste Oil & Antifreeze

NO

Continue on Special Wastes Flowchart

YES

Your waste should be recycled . Contact EH&S @ 2-6410 for assistance

NO
Is your waste? Ethylene Glycol based Antifreeze Coolant from Chillers / HVAC systems Propylene Glycol based Antifreeze (freeze protection > 0o F)

YES

NO
Is your waste? Any type of oil contaminated with a hazardous chemical Chlorinated Solvents Metal working fluids Degreasing solvents Freon and Freon contaminated refrigeration oil Naptha Transformer Oil Brake Fluid Radiator Flush Deicers Oily Water Antifreeze with a freeze protection above 0o F

Your waste is a: YES

HAZARDOUS WASTE
Contact EH&S @ 2-6410 to schedule a pickup

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Used Batteries
START HERE
Is the waste: A Battery? YES Is your waste (not leaking/damaged)? Lead Acid Batteries Ni-Cd Rechargeable Batteries Lithium Batteries Mercuric Oxide Batteries Silver Oxide Batteries NO Is your waste (leaking/damaged)? Lead Acid Batteries Ni-Cd Rechargeable Batteries Lithium Batteries Mercuric Oxide Batteries Silver Oxide Batteries NO Is your waste: Alkaline Battery YES These are non-hazardous and can be placed in the regular trash, however, in an effort to become environmentally friendly you may choose to collect these batteries in a 1-gallon container for recycling purposes. Contact EH&S @ 2-6410 to obtain containers and schedule pickups.

NO

Continue on Special Wastes Flowchart

YES

Your batteries should be recycled according to the universal waste regulations. Contact EH&S @2-6410 for assistance.

Your waste is a: YES

HAZARDOUS WASTE
Contact EH&S @ 2-6410 to schedule a pickup

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Reactivity
START HERE
Does the waste: React violently with water, or form potentially explosive mixtures with water?
NO

Does the waste: Create toxic gases when in contact with water?
NO

YES

YES

Does the waste: React violently when exposed to air or form potentially explosive mixtures with air?
NO

YES YES YES YES

HAZARDOUS CLASS
REACTIVE Contact EH&S @2-6410 for assistance.

Does the waste: Create toxic gases when exposed to air?

NO

Is the waste: Unstable (readily undergoes violent change with or without detonating or exploding?
NO

Is the waste: A potential peroxide former that has either exceeded its open or shelf time limits or is stored in an undated container
NO

Material does NOT meet the definition of REACTIVE.

Continue on Master Flowchart

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Corrosives
START HERE

Aqueous Liquid Waste

Physical State of Waste

Non-Aqueous or Non-Liquid Waste

Waste has: A pH less than or equal to 2 (pH 2) NO Waste has: A pH greater than or equal to 12.5 (pH 12.5)

YES

HAZARD CLASS CORROSIVE ACID

Contact EH&S @2-6410 for assistance

YES

When mixed with an equivalent weight of water, the waste: Produces a solution having a pH less than or equal to 2 (pH 2) NO

YES

HAZARD CLASS CORROSIVE BASE

Contact EH&S @2-6410 for assistance

YES

When mixed with an equivalent weight of water, the waste: Produces a solution having a pH greater than or equal to 12.5 (pH 12.5)

NO

NO

YES

Waste has: The ability to cause destruction of living tissue or steel surfaces by chemical action

NO

HAZARD CLASS CORROSIVE

Contact EH&S @2-6410 for assistance

Material does NOT meet the definition of CORROSIVE

Continue on Master Flowchart

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Ignitability
START HERE

LIQUID

Physical State of Waste

SOLID

Is the flash point of the waste (or any single phase if multi-phase) 140oF (60oC)? NO Is the waste: An aqueous solution containing 24% alcohol?

YES

HAZARD CLASS IGNITABLE

Contact EH&S @2-6410 for assistance

YES

Is the waste: Capable of causing fire through friction, moisture absorption, or spontaneous chemical change?

YES

NO

Material does NOT meet the definition of IGNITABLE.

NO

Continue on Master Flowchart

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START HERE
Does the waste: Release oxygen when reacting with another chemical? NO Does the waste: React with organic materials (i.e., oils, greases, solvents, paper, cloth, wood, etc.) resulting in fire or the generation of heat? NO Is the waste: A member of one of the common oxidizer categories listed below ? or An aqueous solution of any of the common categories listed below which exhibits any of the oxidizing properties stated above? NO Material does NOT meet the definition of OXIDIZER YES

Oxidizing

HAZARD CLASS OXIDIZER

YES Contact EH&S @2-6410 for assistance

YES

Continue on Master Flowchart

Examples:
SOLIDS Bismuthates Bromates Chlorates Chlorites Chromates Chromium trioxide Dichromates Ferric sulfate Ferric chloride Ferric trioxide Ferriccyanides Hypochlorites Iodates Iodine Manganese dioxide Nitrates Perborates Perchlorates Periodic acid Permanganates Permangic acid Peroxides Persulfates

LIQUIDS Bromine Hydrogen peroxide Chromic acid (pH > 2)* Nitric acid (pH > 2)*
* Oxidizing mixtures having a pH 2 are classified as corrosive.

Perchloric acid (pH > 2)* Sulfuric acid (pH > 2)*

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Toxicity
START HERE

Toxic Hazardous Waste

Waste displays the toxicity characteristic if it exceeds certain concentration levels using specified test methods. The toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) is the specified test method for determining if a waste is a toxic hazardous waste. The TCLP simulates the conditions in a landfill and then analyzes the concentrations of specifically listed chemicals and heavy metals that could potentially leach into the groundwater. Examples of the most common toxic materials, their regulatory limits, and their corresponding waste codes are listed right.
Arsenic Barium Benzene Cadmium Chloroform Chromium Lead Mercury Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) Selenium Silver Tetrachloroethylene Trichloroethylene Vinyl Chloride Chloroform 5.0 ppm 100 ppm 0.5 ppm 1.0 ppm 6.0 ppm 5.0 ppm 5.0 ppm 0.2 ppm 200 ppm 1.0 ppm 5.0 ppm 0.7 ppm 0.5 ppm 0.2 ppm 6.0 ppm D004 D005 D018 D006 D022 D007 D008 D009 D035 D010 D011 D039 D040 D043 D022

Material does NOT meet the definition of TOXICITY.

Continue on Master Flowchart

NOTE: The 8 compounds that appear in boldface are referred to as the RCRA 8 metals and are among the most common toxic wastes generated at Stony Brook.

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START HERE
Is the waste: A fluid blood or blood product?
NO

Medical Waste

Is the waste: A cerebrospinal fluid, synovial fluid, pleural fluid, pericardial fluid, peritoneal fluid, amniotic fluid, saliva in dental procedures, any body fluid visibly contaminated with blood, biological materials in labs (etiologic), unfixed human tissue or organ?
NO

YES

YES

Is the waste: A culture of an agent infectious to humans?

NO YES YES YES YES YES

Is the waste: Generated from the treatment or immunization of animals or humans?

NO

Your Waste is a

Is the waste: Generated by research involving live or attenuated pathogenic organisms?

NO

Regulated Medical Waste.

Contact EH&S @ 2-6410 for further assistance

Is the waste: Used or unused sharps (i.e. hypodermic needle, scalpel, razor blades, pasteur pipettes), or any glass or plastic) contacted with infectious materials?
NO

Is the waste: Generated from work involving recombinant DNA?

NO

YES

Is the waste: Blood, tissue samples, organs, cadavers from infected experimental animals?
NO

YES

Is the waste: Chemotherapy Wastes (Wastes with a trace (<15cc) of chemo-waste or anti-neoplastic agents?
NO

Your waste is NOT a MEDIACL WASTE.

Continue on MASTER FLOWCHART

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START HERE
Is the waste: A Liquid? YES Does the waste: Contain any Radioactive Material? NO Is the waste: Aqueous with only one phase? NO

Drain Disposal
NO Waste CANNOT go down the drain.

YES

Waste CANNOT go down the drain. Waste is a RADIOACTIVE waste

YES

Waste CANNOT go down the drain. Waste is probably a Hazardous Waste

Does the waste: Contain significant toxics? (alcohols > YES 24%, metals, or other toxics?
NO Does the waste have a: pH 5 or pH 12.5 ? NO

Waste CANNOT go down the drain.

YES

Waste CANNOT go down the drain. Waste is a Hazardous Waste. Cannot neutralize, unless documented part of experimental procedure. Contact EH&S @ 2-6410 for approval.

Does the waste have a: Lab may be able to drain dispose as long as there pH 5 and pH 12.5? are no heavy metals or other hazardous (a strong acid or base more dilute than 0.01N) YES constituents. Not sure contact EH&S @ 2-6410 for confirmation.

Go back to MASTER FLOWCHART

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QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? CONCERNS? CALL THE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY DEPARTMENT @ 1-631-632-6410
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