A hazardous waste is a waste with properties that make it dangerous or capable of having a harmful effect on human health or the environment. A waste is determined to be a hazardous waste if it is specifically listed on one of four lists (the F, K, P and U lists) found in title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) in section 261. Listed wastes are wastes from common manufacturing and industrial processes, specific industries, discarded commercial products, laboratories, and maintenance operations.
Another type of hazardous waste is characteristic hazardous wastes. These wastes exhibit any one or more of the following characteristics: ignitability (D001), corrosivity (D002), reactivity (D003) or toxicity (D004-D043).
The waste generator will determine if a waste is hazardous or not. If the waste meets the criteria of a hazardous waste it should be placed in a temporary storage area known as a Satellite Accumulation Area (SAA).
A Satellite Accumulation Area (SAA) is an EHS approved location in your laboratory or work space utilized for storing hazardous waste. The SAA must be located at or near the point of generation, remain under the control of the operator of the process generating waste, maintain an emergency management plan and have an SAA sign posted. A generator is allowed to accumulate as much as 55 gallons of non-acute hazardous waste and/or one-quart liquid or 1 Kg (2.2 lbs.) of solid acute hazardous waste in the SAA.
An Acute Hazardous waste is listed on the EPA’s P-list waste as well as six F-list wastes, F020, F021, F022, F023, F026 and F027.
Satellite accumulation containers must be:
In good condition:
- If the container begins to leak the generator must immediately transfer the hazardous waste to a container in good condition that does not leak. TIP: Use secondary containment for liquids
Compatible with the hazardous waste being stored:
- The container may be made of or lined with materials that will not react with, and are otherwise compatible with, the hazardous waste to be accumulated, so that the ability of the container to contain the waste is not impaired.
- Incompatible wastes, or incompatible wastes and materials, must not be placed in the same container.
- Waste must not be placed in an unwashed container that previously held an incompatible waste or material
- A container holding a hazardous waste that is incompatible with any waste or other materials accumulated nearby in other containers must be separated from the other materials or protected from them by any practical means.
Closed during storage except when:
- Adding or removing or consolidating waste
- Temporary venting of a container is necessary
- To prevent dangerous situation such as build-up of extreme pressure
- For proper operation of equipment
Contain a UA hazardous waste label that identify:
- The contents of the containers (full chemical names only/no chemical symbols or molecular formulae)
- The primary hazard (corrosive, oxidizer, etc.)
- The approximate percentages of each component totaling 100%
Date:
- When a container meets one of the following criteria mark that date on the container:
- No longer in use and disposal ready
- Full or exceeds 55 gallons of non-acute hazardous waste and/or 1 qt. of liquid or 1 kg of solid acute hazardous waste
Submit a waste disposal request as soon as the above mentioned criteria are met
- This hazardous waste MUST be removed within three days (72 hours)
The Department of Environmental Health and Safety is responsible for the management of hazardous waste generated by The University.
Once a waste disposal request is submitted EHS retrieves the hazardous waste and transports the waste to the Central Storage Facility (CSF). The container is processed and a final waste determination made. The University of Alabama is a large quantity generator and may store hazardous wastes in the CSF for 90 days. At the end of the 90 days, hazardous wastes are removed and disposed of by a permitted waste management company.
All personnel and students, who work in a lab with chemicals, make waste determinations or are responsible for the oversight of an SAA must complete SAA training. Please submit and online request. Once received the SAA training will be assigned to your academy account.
- SAA Signage
- SAA Hazardous Waste Container Label small
- SAA Hazardous Waste Container Label large
- Waste Disposal Request Form
- Additional SAA Information
*** In the case of a hazardous condition related to a laboratory space, contact EHS by phone at 205-348-5905 (during working hours), or UAPD at 205-348-5454 if immediate assistance is needed.***