Waste Management: Consolidating hazardous and non-hazardous wastes
Posted on Wed, Sep 09, 2009 @ 11:00 AM
By Ian Lanza, Life Sciences Operations Coordinator
Consolidating hazardous and non-hazardous waste in SAAs and MAAs can improve compliance and reduce waste costs. Waste consolidations are an effective technique for reducing hazardous waste disposal costs. By combining like waste streams into larger shipping containers generators can reduce the number of units shipped. This often translates into lower costs. Also, by consolidating smaller waste containers into a larger container, reduces your compliance liability because there are fewer containers to inspect and fail inspection.
Before consolidating hazardous and non-hazardous waste consider the following:
• Are the chemicals being consolidated compatible? Consolidating incompatible waste can lead to dangerous unwanted reactions. Consult MSDS and trained hazardous waste technicians and managers before consolidating waste for compatibility.
• Are the chemicals being consolidated regulated by OSHA? Will the employee consolidating the hazardous and non-hazardous wastes be exposed to permissible exposure limits (PEL)set by OSHA? Consult with hazardous material managers and industrial hygienists before consolidating wastes.
• Are there proper engineering controls in place to consolidate the waste. Often hazardous and non-hazardous waste can pose health hazards and physical hazards if the correct engineering controls are not in place. Consult with hazardous material managers and industrial hygienists before consolidating wastes.
• Are the technicians consolidating the waste wearing appropriate personal protective equipment(PPE)? PPE is often required by OSHA to reduce exposure levels and protect against physical hazards when consolidating hazardous and non-hazardous waste. Consult with hazardous material managers and industrial hygienists before consolidating wastes to select proper PPE.
Once all of the chemical compatibility issues have been resolved and there are proper engineering and PPE controls in place to protect technicians, the community and the environment, you can begin consolidating your waste.