Missouri State University

Hazardous Waste

Op2.07-7 Hazardous Waste
  1. Purpose:  To provide guidelines for the identification of spent, used, or unwanted excess substances of materials and determine applicable disposal procedures.
  2. All faculty and staff involved in the use of hazardous materials shall be trained to be able to identify waste generated as hazardous or non-hazardous. Sources of identification shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
    1. Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) – information on all hazardous materials is available on the internet and as paper copy in the workplace.
    2. 40 CFR 261(Hazardous Waste Identification - Federal Regulations).
    3. Waste generation guidance provided by the Director of Environmental Management.
    The Director of Environmental Management shall be available to assist in making the determination.
  3. Common hazardous waste generated on the campuses of Missouri State include but are not limited to:
    • Laboratory wastes
    • Spent solvents
    • Photographic solutions
    • Waste paint
    • Waste floor strippers
    • Out-dated chemicals and pesticides

  4. All faculty, staff, and students shall use the following guidelines, which are based on federal and state regulations and must be followed for compliance and prevention of illegal disposal of hazardous waste, to determine if waste generated is hazardous or non-hazardous.

    Hazardous waste, as defined in 40 CFR 261, is a solid waste (solid or liquid) that exhibits any one of the following characteristics:

    1. Ignitability
    2. Corrosivity
    3. Reactivity
    4. Toxicity
    or that is listed in 40 CFR 261.31, 261.32, or 261.33:
    1. P-Listed wastes- acute hazardous waste regulated at 2.2 pounds
      1. Commercial chemical or off-specification product
      2. Residue remaining in a container of P-listed chemicals
      3. Spill residue from clean-up of P-listed material
    2. U-Listed wastes - listed commercial and off-specification chemical products
    3.  F-Listed wastes - materials from non-specific sources.
    The following substances, when excess, spent, used, or no longer wanted, are not considered hazardous however the Environmental Management Department may determine that they should be collected for disposal:
    1. Organics: Any organic compound not classified as hazardous under 40 CFR 261.

    2. Inorganics:  Compounds of any combinations of the following cations and anions that are strongly acidic or basic need to be neutralized to a pH of 5-12.5 and then can be safely disposed of down the drain (see Waste Neutralization Policy)

      1. Cations: Aluminum, Ammonium, Calcium, Hydrogen, Iron, Lithium, Magnesium, Potassium, Sodium, Tin, Zinc, Zirconium
      2. Anions:  Borate, Carbonate, Chloride, Hydroxide, Iodine, Nitrate, Phosphate, Sulfate.
    3. Solids: Filter paper, gloves, rags, towels, or masking tape that are free of any hazardous residue and contain no free liquids, may be disposed in a waste basket.
    It should be noted however that many non-hazardous wastes will be shipped out with the hazardous wastes to prevent unnecessary exposure to persons or threats to the environment.  A copy of 40 CFR 261 is available upon request from the Director of Environmental Management Office at 836-8334.