Hazardous Waste
Management
Engr. Jessa Mae A. Gomez
What is a Hazardous Waste?
The term “Waste” means; any form of
liquid, semi-liquid, solid, or gaseous
material which no longer serves the
purpose for which it was originally
intended and is not excluded by law.
What is a Hazardous Waste?
Hazardous wastes include discarded
chemicals, reagents, oil paints and thinners,
unusable chemicals, unidentified chemicals,
chemicals who’s properties have changed with
time, and left-over reagents and by-products
from previous employees, students, and
professors.
What is a Hazardous Waste?
“Hazardous Waste” is a waste which could potentially
threaten human health or the environment.
This includes waste which exhibit one of four hazardous
characteristics:
Ignitability (flammability)
Corrosively
Reactivity (oxidizer)
Toxicity (poison)
Where are Hazardous Wastes found?
Hazardous wastes obviously occur in labs, but can also
be found in art, facilities, grounds, and other non-
laboratory locations.
What is a Hazardous Waste?
A waste exhibits the characteristic of Ignitability (flammability)
if it:
has a flash point less than 60 C (140 F).
is a solid capable of causing fire through friction,
absorption of moisture/water or spontaneous chemical
change
It is an oxidizer.
It is an ignitable compressed gas.
What is a Hazardous
Waste?
A waste exhibits the characteristic of Corrosively if it is:
aqueous and has a PH less than or equal to 2 or
greater than or equal to 12.5
corrodes steel at a rate greater than 6.35 mm (0.250
inch) per year
Solid when mixed with an equivalent weight of water
has a PH less than or equal to 2 or greater than or
equal to 12.5.
What is a Hazardous
Waste?
A waste exhibits the characteristic of Reactivity (e.g.
Oxidizer) if it is:
Normally unstable
Reacts violently with water/moisture
Forms an explosive mixture with water
Generates toxic gases when mixed with water
Capable of detonation when subject to a strong initiating force
Readily capable of detonation or explosive decomposition or
reaction at a standard temperature and pressure.
What is a Hazardous
Waste?
A waste exhibits the characteristic of Toxicity (e.g. poison)
if it:
Contains a listed carcinogen at a concentration greater
than or equal to 0.001% by weight.
Has an acute LD50 or LC50 less than the specified levels
of 2,500 mg/Kg 10,000 ppm or 500 mg/l or LD 50 dermal
less than 4,300 Mg/Hg.
Experience or testing has shown it to be toxic.
Carcinogenic vs.
Mutagenic
Carcinogenic are cancer causing where
as mutagenic causes biological changes
in children or offspring.
TCLP (Toxicity Characteristic
Leaching Procedure) is used to
determine the mobility of organic and
inorganic compounds.
What is a Hazardous
Waste?
Government and the States prohibit
pouring/dumping of Hazardous Wastes down
the drain, in the trash, on the ground, into
bodies of water, or into storm drains.
Management of Hazardous Wastes is strictly
regulated to prevent poisoning people and the
environment.
Universal Hazardous Waste
Typical Hazardous Waste
Reactive
Flammables
Toxics
e.g. poisons, pesticides, herbicides, rodenticides,
fungicides, insecticides
Water Insoluble
Used oil, grease
Corrosives
Acids, bases, alkaline materials, lead storage
batteries
These wastes are generated throughout campus
Laboratories, maintenance shops, auto shops,
medical examination/treatment rooms, in offices and
in the application of pesticides/herbicides, etc.
Other Hazardous Waste
Categories
Treated Wood Waste
Universal Waste
includes E-Waste
Treated Wood Waste
(TWW)
What is TWW?
Wood treated with preserving chemicals
Protecting the wood
•Insect attack
•Fungal decay
Examples include
•Fence posts
•Landscape timbers
•Pilings
•Railroad ties
•Guardrails
•Decking
Treated Wood
Waste (TWW)
Management & Handling
Dispose of as hazardous waste
and not discarded in regular trash
or to a landfill
Do not
burn, recycle, reclaim or reuse
Shall not be stored for more than
90 days on site
Not treated on site
Universal Hazardous Waste
Sub Cateogory
Universal Hazardous Waste are:
Batteries
Electronic Devices or Consumer
Electronic Devices
Computers, computer peripherals,
telephones, answering machines,
radios, stereo equipment, tape
players/recorders, phonographs,
video cassette players/recorders,
compact disc players/recorders,
calculators, etc.
Fluorescent Lights and Lamps
Containing Mercury
Sodium Vapor Lamps
Universal Hazardous Waste
Sub Category
Mercury Thermostats
Mercury Switches
Aerosol Cans
Dental Amalgam Wastes
Pressure or Vacuum Gauges Containing Mercury
Mercury-Added Novelties
Shoes with flashing lights
Mercury Counterweights and Dampers
Mercury Thermometers
Dilators and Weighted tubing
Mercury-Containing Rubber Flooring
Mercury Gas Flow Regulators
Options for Hazardous
Waste Management
• Eliminate or reduce
waste quantities
• Reclaim and recycle the
waste
• Stabilize the waste
• Incinerate the waste
• Apply modern land
disposal methods
Hazardous waste vs.
Hazardous materials
Toxic Substance Control Act
(TOSCA) manages hazardous
materials so that they won’t become
hazardous waste.
Toxic vs. Hazardous
• Hazardous material/waste
must be listed as such by
federal regulations
• Hazardous waste must
cause death or serious
illnesses
• Any waste that contains a
listed hazardous waste,
regardless of the quantity
is hazardous
Hazardous Waste
Treatment Method
• Incineration - Thermal & Chemical process which causes a
molecular change due to extreme high temperatures and a
reduction in volume.
• Exceptions would be heavy metal (it just vaporizes).
• TCLP test is required for the residual material after burning,
and to insure safety in landfills.
• Equipment includes rotary kiln, fluidized bed incinerator,
multiple-hearth furnace, etc.
Biological Treatment
Process
• Genetically Engineered Bacteria – useful for
breaking down organic waste from the petroleum
industry.
• Land farming or Land treatment – mixing waste in
soils that are non-agriculture but have high levels of
microorganisms and nutrients for bio-degradation.
• Using plants in contaminated water to absorb
contaminants.
Physical Treatment
Process
• Solidification and Encapsulation by
mixing with a concrete, asphalt, or plastic.
• Soil Vitrification Process (melting soils at
1600 to 2900 F).
