The purchase of chemicals is handled by the individual departments, preferably in consultation with the TCU Safety Department. All chemical purchases must include a request for a material safety data sheet (MSDS). The MSDS is required to be sent by the vendor to the buyer within 30 days of receipt of the chemical. The department must maintain a copy of each MSDS, accessible to all employees.

All incoming chemicals must be properly labeled. Whenever a chemical is transferred from its original container, the new container is required to be properly labeled. Employee training is required by federal and state law for all new chemical hazards introduced into the workplace.  Each department or college must maintain a training program and provide written documentation upon request.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) encourages pollution prevention. The Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 promotes an integrated environmental ethic stressing pollution prevention. The goal is to prevent pollution before it becomes a problem. Pollution prevention practice in the research and educational environment will develop in students an awareness of proper waste management. Research and educational institutions have unique waste management problems. Waste volume is not large, but the diversity of wastes is considerable. Differing wastes are generated in chemistry, biology, geology, physics, psychology, arts, printing, maintenance, custodial, and photography environments.

All hazardous waste generators are responsible for the safe cradle-to-grave management of any hazardous waste they may generate. Many labs are reassessing existing chemical waste management to alleviate the consequences of disposal costs, aggressive enforcement, and future liability. The best way to manage the waste problem is to prevent waste where applicable. Sample EPA waste-reduction practices include:

• Microscale experiments

• Increase use of instrumentation and alternative teaching methods (interactive video chemistry labs)

• Substitution of less toxic/hazardous compounds and/or use of entirely different experiment

• Eliminate waste during experiments (reuse material for other reactions)

• Pre-weigh chemicals

• Reuse or recycle spent solvents

• Onsite distillation and reuse

• Segregate waste streams

• Provide a designated waste storage area

• Label incoming chemicals

• Maintain labels

• Develop a running inventory of unused reagent chemicals for use by other labs

The best way to manage hazardous waste is to prevent waste whenever possible.

All TCU academic areas participate in a centralized chemical inventory system managed by the Chemistry Purchasing Agent (x7207).  All chemical purchases must go through the Purchasing Agent for inventory control purposes.

Hazardous material and hazardous waste are defined as follows:

Hazardous Material: Any identified chemical capable of causing physical hazard (flammable or explosive) or a health hazard (irritant or corrosive) that is currently in use or stored for use within an appropriate/authorized period.

Hazardous Waste: A solid or liquid material that is intrinsically, or has become hazardous due to a combination of or use of hazardous material and has been designated to be either thrown away or stored until quantity or time parameters require disposal. The EPA defines waste hazardous if it has certain properties that could pose dangers to human health and the environment after it is discarded. The waste also possesses certain characteristics, such as: ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity, or toxicity.

You may generally be able to tell if your waste is hazardous by reviewing its label, its Material safety Data Sheet, or the EPA Hazardous Waste Regulations.

If you are uncertain about whether a product is hazardous, contact the Risk Management Department (x7220).

Preparing Waste Containers for Disposal

Packaging:

1. Package chemicals only in compatible containers. Tops to the container should also be compatible with the chemical.

2. For lab pack shipments, the largest acceptable container is a metal, five gallon container. One gallon plastic, glass, or metal containers are acceptable.

3. Do not mix chemicals unless they are mixed in the experiment or are the same.

4. Do not fill containers completely full.

5. All containers must have screw-type tops or caps capable of sealing the container so that the possibility of spillage will not occur unless the container itself is broken.

6. Since the disposal company will not pick up containers that appear to have leaked, only containers that are clean on the outside will be picked up.

Labeling of Containers:

1. All containers must be clearly labeled identifying the contents and the words "hazardous waste."

2. Any labels which are incorrect should be defaced or, preferably, removed.

Notification for Removal:

1. Complete a   Hazardous Waste Tag and attach with a metal wire, tie-wrap, or heavy-duty tape.

2. Small quantities of waste should be delivered to the Chemistry Stockroom (SWR 474) and placed on the red "Hazardous Waste" shelves.  Contact Risk Management at 257-7220 for large quantity disposal arrangements.

3. Waste containers should be stored in a  "satellite accumulation site" until the time of pick-up. This will reduce the possibility of accidental mixing of non-waste and waste material.

        ********Special Note Concerning Inventory Control Numbers********

• Inventory Control Numbers on containers being designated as "waste" should remain affixed so it may be removed from the Chemical Inventory System upon disposal. 

• Inventory Control Numbers on empty containers must be removed and submitted to the Purchasing Agent for removal from the Chemical Inventory System.

Preparing Specific Wastes

1. Automotive or lead-acid batteries - Such products are considered hazardous waste unless recycled. Do not place such batteries in dumpsters or regular trash for disposal. For recycling, contact the Safety Department (7220).

2. Used paint thinners, mineral spirits, naptha, and similar solvents - Such products can be recycled. do not pour these products down the drain or clean brushes in the sink. Place spent materials into a container no larger than five gallons and prepare it for disposal as required above.

3. Excess paint - The best method for controlling this type of waste is to purchase only what is needed at the time of use. Do not purchase paints (or other products) because of bulk discount prices and a possibility of use in the future. Compatible paints (such as oil-based) can be placed into 5-gallon containers an prepared for disposal as required above. Empty containers can be disposed as regular trash if they are allowed to dry before disposal.

4. Hydraulic fluids, pump oils, cutting oils, and other similar mineral oils - In most cases, these oils can be recycled as non-hazardous waste unless they are contaminated by another product (i.e. magnesium, lead, cadmium, etc.) considered hazardous. Departments other than Physical Plant will need to place used material into a container no larger than five gallons and prepare it for disposal as required above. Segregate the different types of oils into separate containers. list any contaminants which might be in the oil on the orange Hazardous Waste Tag.

5. Motor oils - Like automotive batteries, this product is considered non-hazardous waste if it is recycled. Do not pour this product down any drain. Used motor oil generated by departments other than Physical Plant will need to place used material into a container no larger than five gallons and prepare it for disposal as required above.

6. Gas cylinders and lecture bottles - Cylinders under pressure are considered to be hazardous waste unless they are emptied and at standard atmospheric pressure. Many cylinders can be returned to the manufacturer when its' use is completed. It is the responsibility of the generator to return emptied or partially emptied cylinders. Like paints, only enough product should be purchased to perform the operations needed at the time. Do not store gas cylinders for extended periods due to the corrosion of valves by some chemicals. Gas cylinders and lecture bottles are extremely expensive to dispose.

7. Mercury - This product has also become extremely expensive to dispose. The cost of disposing mercury contaminated waste can be four times as expensive as other types of hazardous waste. Extreme care is needed in the storage, use and cleanup of spills of this chemical because of the high costs. Store this product only in fire cabinets. Use only the amount needed at any point in time. Do not leave large quantities out for extended periods of time.