S.H.W.-L13-14: Hazardous Waste Characterization
Determine whether the following is a RCRA hazardous waste. An empty pesticide container that a homeowner wishes to discard.
No, household hazardous wastes are exempt from control (federal) system.
Determine whether the following is a RCRA hazardous waste: Municipal wastewater containing 2.0 mg/L selenium.
No, selenium is not a solid
European Waste Catalogue:
. A core list of 850 types of waste . Of these around 420 are classified as hazardous wastes . These are divided into 19 main categories
On-site Storage selection:
-In waste generator premises -Not subject to flooding -Away from manufacturing/processing areas -Away from employee activities
Properties of Hazardous Waste: Corrosiveness
-. Acids or alkalis that are capable of dissolving human flesh and corroding metal such as storage tanks and drums. -. Corrosive substances: e.g., hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, and sulfuric acid, cuasing the leakage of harmful materials. -. A corrosive is anything liquid with a pH of less than or equal to 2 or greater than or equal to 12.5, or has the ability to corrode steel.
Properties of Hazardous Waste: Reactivity
-. Reactive wastes are unstable under 'normal conditions' -They can cause: 1) Explosions 2) Toxic fumes 3) Gases or vapors -. Examples: Peroxide solutions; Hypochlorite solutions or solids
Under the US EPA Regulations:
-. The waste is listed in EPA regulations -. The waste is tested and meets one of the four characteristics established by EPA: Ignitable / Corrosive / Reactive / Toxic -. The waste is declared hazardous by the generator
Record keeping and inspection (for):
-Accidental injury e.g., equipment, containers falling, fires, explosions -Chemical or biological harm e.g., respiratory problems, skin complaints Systemic effects: -Nausea -Headaches -Cancer
Properties of Hazardous Waste: Ignitability
-Can create fires under certain combustible or are spontaneously combustible -Examples: waste oils; used solvents; organic cleaning materials; paint wastes
RCRA: Regulations, Guidance and Policy
-EPA translates the RCRA "the Act" passed by congress into regulations -Guidance documents are issued to provide instructions on how to implements RCRA requirements -Policy statements outline EPA's position on a topic or give instructions on how a produce should be conducted
How are HHW (household hazardous waste) now collected and disposed of in your community? What plans have been developed to reduce the toxicity of the commingled MSW from your community further?
-If your community doesn't have a year-round collection system for HHW, see if there are any designated days in your area for collecting HHW at a central location to ensure safe management and disposal. -If your community has neither a permanent collection site nor a special collection day, you might be able to drop off certain products at local businesses for recycling or proper disposal. Some local garages, for example, may accept used motor oil for recycling. Check around. Some quick tips for the safe handling of household hazardous wastes include: Follow any instructions for use and storage provided on product labels carefully to prevent any accidents at home. Be sure to read product labels for disposal directions to reduce the risk of products exploding, igniting, leaking, mixing with other chemicals, or posing other hazards on the way to a disposal facility. Never store hazardous products in food containers; keep them in their original containers and never remove labels. Corroding containers, however, require special handling. Call your local hazardous materials official or fire department for instructions. When leftovers remain, never mix HHW with other products. Incompatible products might react, ignite, or explode, and contaminated HHW might become unrecyclable.
Off-site Storage selection:
-Not subject to flooding -Away from residential area -Ideally in industrial area -Good access to public infrastructure e.g., roads, emergency services
Inspection:
-To ensure proper handling and storage -To check integrity of storage
RCRA = Resource Conservation and Recovery Act: Goals
-To protect human health and environment from the potential hazards of waste disposal -To conserve energy and natural resources -To reduce the amount of waste generated -To ensure that wastes are managed in an environmentally sound manner
Record Keeping:
-To provide a record of waste generation and movement -To inform a subsequent disposal option -To serve as "chain of custody" document -To comply with regulations -To ensure duty of care
Properties of Hazardous Waste: Toxicity
-Toxic wastes are harmful or fatal when ingested, inhaled or absorbed through the skin -It's measured in Acute oral Toxicity Examples: a) Spent cyanide solutions b) Waste pesticides
Hazard Labels:
-in shape of a square at 45 degrees -required for most dangerous goods except magnetized materials
Storage Site design criteria 1:
-minimize risk of explosion or unplanned releases -keep incompatible wastes separate -NOT < 15 m from site boundary (where possible) -Away from foot and vehicular traffic -impermeable base material -leak and spill containment
Storage Site design criteria 2:
-protection from climate -good ventilation -limit height of stacked containers -eye wash station -provide drainage system or elevate -adsorbent material for spills -repackaging area -comply with regulations
Types of Storage
1) Containerized 2) Bulk liquid in tanks 3) Bulk liquids in bunkers, silos, skips
Storage site selection:
1) On-site storage 2) Off-site storage
Basel Convention:
45 categories of wastes that exhibit one or more hazardous characteristics (e.g., flammable, oxidizing, posionous, infectious, corrosive, ecotoxic)
Why define waste?
: To decide whether or not that was should be controlled > important for the geenrator as well as the regulator
Definition of Hazardous Waste
A waste that has the potential to cause an unacceptable risk to: public health & the environment.
What regulations and policies are currently in place in your community (for region) to reduce or eliminate the discharge of hazardous wastes with other solid wastes from commercial sources?
EPA regulates household, industrial, and manufacturing solid and hazardous wastes under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). RCRA's goals are to protect us from the hazards of waste disposal; conserve energy and natural resources by recycling and recovery; reduce or eliminate waste; and clean up waste that which may have spilled, leaked or been improperly disposed of.
Properties of Hazardous Waste: Eco-Toxicity
Eco-toxic wastes are harmful or fatal to other species or to the ecological integrity of their habitats (e.g. risk to aquatic species) -Examples: a) Heavy metals b) Detergents c) Oils d) Soluble salts
Properties of Hazardous Waste:
Ignitability, Corrosiveness, Reactivity, Toxicity/Eco-Toxicity
Hazardous waste compatibility:
The ability of two or more materials to exist in close association with each other without the formation of harmful chemical or physical reactions.
Lethal dose (LD 50)
The amount of an ingested substance that kills 50% of a test sample - expressed in mg/kg or mg of a substance per kg of body weight
LC 50:
The concentration of the chemical in air that kills 50% of test animals during the observation period.
IC 50:
The half maximal inhibitory concentration is a measure of the potency of a substance inhibiting a specific biological or biochemical function
UNEP:
Wastes other than radioactive wastes which, by reason of their chemical activity or toxic, explosive, corrosive or other characteristics cause danger or are likely to cause danger to health or the environment
Why does federal EPA exempt HHW from subtitle C regulation?
When enacting RCRA, congress indicated that the federal HW program should not regulate household wastes Nevertheless, EPA recommends that collected HHWs be managed as HW Also recommend that sponsors contact with HW management professionals Remember: states may be more stringent and may require that collected HHWs be managed as HW
Examples of Hazardous Waste Classifications:
a) Basel Convention b) UNEP c) Under US EPA Regulations d) European Waste Catalogue
Some wastes may be excluded from the legal definition of hazardous wastes and thus not subject to controls. These exclusions from control systems include:
a) Hazardous waste from households - outside the controls in many countries b) Small quantity generators - often placed outside the system, at least initially c) Aqueous effluents - discharged to sewer or treated on-site-controlled separately from hazardous waste in most counties d) Sewage sludge - excluded in some countries e) Mining wastes - often excluded f) Agricultural waste - often excluded g) Nuclear waste - always excluded
Different methods of classification:
a) Lists: Basel Convention Annex I, Basel List A, EU European Waste Catalogue, US EPA list b) Origin: Base Convention Annex II c) Hazardous Characteristics: Toxicity, Reactivity, Basel Convention Annex III d) Chemical and Physical Properties: e.g. inorganic, organic, oily, sludges
EPA uses the following as guidelines to assist generators: Dealing w Reactivity
a) Unstable and routinely experience violent change without detonating b) Potential for explosive mixture or violent reaction when combined with water c) Toxic gasses are released when mixed with water
Handling and storage are part of an integrated system - need to:
a. Choose/design storage site carefully b. Ensure waste compatibility c. Consider storage duration and types of storage d. Select appropriate packaging materials and containers e. Ensure proper marking and labelling f. Keep accurate records and make regular inspections g. Consider hazards for personnel
Land Disposal Restrictions (LDRs)
a. Complements the unit-specific technical standards -Physical barriers to protect ground water b. Requires that HW undergo a physical or chemical change before land disposal (40 CFR 268) -Disposal prohibition: prior to land disposal, the HW must meet concentration based standards (e.g., combustion, stabilization, biodegradation) -Dilution prohibition: cannot dilute HW to circumvent proper treatment -Storage prohibition: cannot indefinitely store hazardous waste
Solid Wastes (Subtitle C)
a. Federal regulations for generators, transporters and treatment, storage and disposal facilities - 40 CFR 260-266, 268, 270-272 - A state can be authorized by EPA to run the subtitle C program: EPA reviews each state's program, and if it is at least as stringent as the federal program, the state is granted the authority to run its own program in lieu of the federal program b. There are no RCRA regulations that are specifically directed toward hospitals or other health care facilities -Health care facilities must comply with the same RCRA generator requirements as any other industry
Long term storage:
a. For long term storage, different controls needed b. If storage may be indefinite, controls should be similar to those for final disposal facilities c. Long term straw may be a practical solution to the problem of a shortage of hazardous waste treatment and disposal facilities d. Important to avoid 'storage' becoming an excuse for uncontrolled disposal
Hazardous Waste Generators
a. Generators (40 CFR 262) are divided into 3 categories depending on the amount of HW produced per month -Large quantity generator (LQG) -Small quantity generator (SQG) -Conditionally-Exempt Small Quantity Generator (CESQG) b. It is the responsibility of the generator to identify and appropriately manage hazardous waste c. Link a "user friendly: document which organizes all of the requirements before generator status
Container selection criteria
a. Inert: will not react with contents, is impervious to attack from contents b. Robust and able to absorb impact c. Good condition, free of leaks, structural defects or rust, clean d. Able to be kept closed except when waste material being added or removed e. Contents will not escape in normal handling f. Suitable for quantity/volume of wastes - not over filled
Hazardous Waste Transporters
a. Move HW from the generator's site to a facility that recycles, treats and/or disposes the waste b. Requirements (40 CFR 262)- obtain an EPA identification number, comply with the manifest system: set of forms, reports, and procedures that track HW, respond to HW discharges, comply with DOT regulations
Packaging Materials
a. Must be inert and not react with hazardous waste b. Must be able to absorb impact c. Materials which can be used: steel, aluminum, natural wood, metal, glass, etc.
Where Do Household Pharmaceutical Wastes Fall Under RCRA?
a. Non-hazardous household wastes are regulated under subtitle D of RCRA (local level) b. Household hazardous wastes (HHWs) are exempt from federal subtitle C regulations (40 CFR 262.4(b)(1))
Sold Wastes (Subtitle D)
a. Non-hazardous solid wastes -garbage, refuse, sludges, industrial waste and other discarded metals -solid wastes can be solid, semi-solid or gaseous b. Sold waste management is predominantly regulated at the state/local level c. EPA recommends a hierarchical approach SW management: source reduction, recycling/reuse, treatment
Treatment, Storage, and Disposal Facilities (TDSF)
a. TDSF Requirements (40 CFR 264 and 265) -Air emissions: TSDF's are required to control the emission of VOCs -Unit Specific Technical Requirements (e.g., tank standards) -Closure -Corrective Action/HW cleanup -Financial Water Monitoring -Ground Water Monitoring -Land Disposal Restrictions -Permits
What is a Hazardous Waste under RCRA?
a. To be a RCRA hazardous waste the waste: -must first be considered a solid waste -then it must either be specifically listed (F, K, P, or U-like) or exhibit a hazardous waste characteristic (ignitable, corrosive, reactive or toxic) Note: estimated that only 5-10% of the pharmaceuticals on the market are federal RCRA hazardous waste, biohazardous waste and hazardous drugs are not considered as hazardous waste
Duration of hazardous waste storage:
a. storage should be for as brief a period as possible b. permitted temporary storage duration varies from country to country -Western Europe: typically 298 or 90 days -USA: up to 90 days and 180 days for large and small quantity generators
Hazardous waste compatibility: Need compatibility between
a. waste & container b. wastes stored together c. wastes stored close to each other d. wastes & environment
Types of Containers
bags, boxes, drums, jerry canes, combination packaging, composite packaging
The Basel Convention's list of hazardous waste categories identifies wastes from specifies processes such as
clinical wastes, wastes from the production and use of organic solvents, residues from industrial waste disposal operations
The hazard associated with a waste depends on:
composition, physical form, physical/chemical/biological properties
Acute Toxicity:
describes the adverse effects of a substance that result either from a single exposure or from multiple exposures in a short period of time (usually less than 24 hours)
Types of Labels
hazard labels, handling labels
Handling Labels:
in various rectangular shapes, required either alone or in addition of hazard labels for some dangerous goods