Laboratories
Industry Overview
Not all laboratories produce hazardous waste. If, however, you
use ignitable compounds, strong acid or alkaline solutions, sol-
vents, heavy metals, or toxic organic constituents, the waste you
generate might be hazardous. If you generate hazardous waste, you
might be subject to Resource Conservation Recovery Act
(RCRA) requirements covering the generation, transportation, and
management of hazardous waste.
Laboratories that use chemicals are likely to generate hazardous
waste. These laboratories include:
• Research and development laboratories, such as
government labs (e.g., National Institutes of Health,
Food and Drug Administration) and industrial labs
(e.g., chemicals, Pharmaceuticals)
• Commercial testing laboratories, including labs that
analyze hazardous waste samples
• Academic laboratories, such as university and high
school labs, and labs of educational or scientific
organizations
• Medical laboratories, including hospital and dental
labs.
Hazardous Wastes from Laboratories
A large variety of wastes are generated by laboratories. The fol-
lowing wastes are commonly generated:
Spent solvents used in cleaning, extraction, or
other processes
Unused reagents that are no longer needed, do not
meet specifications, are contaminated, have exceeded
their storage life, or are otherwise unusable in the lab
Reaction products of known or unknown
composition, which are often produced by research
and academic labs. (To facilitate disposal, labs should
try to identify or characterize reaction products to the
extent possible and label them with this information.)
Testing samples that are not entirely consumed
by the test procedure
Contaminated materials such as glassware,
paper, and plastic products.
If you generate 100 kilograms (220 pounds or about half of a
55-gallon drum) or more of hazardous waste per month, you must
fill out a Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifest when you ship haz-
ardous waste off your property. The Manifest requires the proper
Department of Transporation (DOT) description for each waste.
Table 1 lists DOT shipping descriptions for some wastes gener-
ated by laboratories. Table 1 is not a comprehensive list. If you
do not find your waste here but suspect it is hazardous, contact
your EPA Regional office or state hazardous waste management
agency for additional information.
Radioactive waste, which is generated by some laboratories, is
generally regulated under the Atomic Energy Act and in many
cases is excluded from RCRA regulation. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission and DOT regulations might apply. Contact the
Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the DOT Materials Transport
Bureau, or your state transportation agency for more information
concerning proper transport and disposal of radioactive waste.
Waste Minimization
An effective waste minimization program can reduce the costs,
liabilities, and regulatory burdens of hazardous waste manage-
ment, while potentially enhancing efficiency, product quality, and
community relations. Waste minimization techniques that can
help you reduce the amount of hazardous waste that you generate
include:
• Production planning and sequencing
• Process/equipment adjustment or modification
• Raw material substitution
• Loss prevention and housekeeping
• Waste segregation and separation
• Recycling.
Training and supervision of employees implementing waste
minimization techniques is an important part of your successful
program. Call the RCRA/Superfund Hotline toll-free at 800-424-
9346 (or TDD 800-553-7672 for the hearing-impaired) for waste
minimization information and publications.
EPA/530-SW-90-027m
Printed on recycled paper
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Table 1
Laboratories Waste Descriptions1
Waste Type
SOLVENTS
Acetone
Benzene*
Chloroform*
Trichloromcthane
Designations/Trade Names
DOT Shipping Name
Waste Acetone
Waste Benzene
Waste Chloroform
Hazard Class
Flammable Liquid2
Flammable Liquid
ORM-A
UN/NA
ID Number
UN1090
UNI 114
UN1888
1,4-Dioxane
Dieihylcne Ether
l.f-Dielhylcne Oxide
Diethylcne Oxide
Dixyethylcne Ether
Ethanol
Ethyl Alcohol
Grain Alcohol
Eihyl Ether
Ether
Diethyl Ether
Dicthyl Oxide
Formalin
Formaldehyde Solution
(1) flash point greater than
141T
(2) flash point less than or
equal to 141°F
Hcxane
n-Hcxane
hopropanol
Isopropyl Alcohol
TPA
Dimethyl Carbinol
2-PropanoI
Mcthanol
Methyl Alcohol
Wood Alcohol
Methyl Ethyl Kctone*
MEK
2-Butanonc
Methylene Chloride
Dichloromethane
Pcntane
Petroleum Ether
Tctrahydrofuran
THF
Toluene
Toluol
Methyl Benzene
Xylcne
Xylol
Dimethyl Benzene
Waste Dioxane
Waste Ethyl Alcohol
Waste Ethyl Ether
Waste Formaldehyde Solution
Waste Formaldehyde Solution
Waste Hexane
Waste Isopropanol
Waste Methyl Alcohol
Waste Methyl Ethyl Ketone
Waste Dichloromethane (or Waste Methylene
Chloride)
Waste Pentane
Waste Petroleum Ether
Waste Tetrahydrofuran
Waste Toluene
Waste Xylene
Flammable Liquid UN 1165
Flammable Liquid
Flammable Liquid
UN1170
UNI 155
ORM-A (or UN2209
Combustible Liquid if
shipped in containers
larger than 110
gallons)
ORM-A (or UNI 198
Combustible Liquid if
shipped in containers
larger than 110
gallons)
Flammable Liquid UN1208
Flammable Liquid UN1219
Flammable Liquid UN1230
Flammable Liquid UNI 193
ORM-A
Flammable Liquid
Flammable Liquid
Flammable Liquid
UN1593
UN 1265
UN1271
UN2056
Flammable Liquid UN1294
Flammable Liquid UN1307
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I dOl6 1 (continued)
Laboratories Waste Descriptions1
Waste Type Designations/Trade Names
Carbon Tetrachloride*
Carbon Tet
Tetrachloromethane
Perchloromethane
Ignitable Liquids
ACIDS/BASES
Acetic Acid
Hydrochloric Acid
Nitric Acid
Perchloric Acid
Sulfuric Acid
Oleum
Fuming Sulfuric Acid
Ammonium Hydroxide
Ammonia Solution
Aqueous Ammonia
Potassium Hydroxide
Caustic Potash
Sodium Hydroxide
Caustic Soda
Lye
NON-SPECIFIC WASTES
Corrosive Liquids
Corrosive Solids
Oxidizer, Corrosive,
Liquid
Oxidizer, Corrosive, Solid
Oxidizer
Poisonous Liquid5
Poisonous Solid
Corrosive, Poisonous
DOT Shipping Name
Waste Carbon Tetrachloride
Waste Flammable Liquids, NOS3
Waste Combustible Liquids, NOS
Waste Acetic Acid, Glacial
Waste Acetic Acid, Solution
Waste Hydrochloric Acid
Waste Nitric Acid, over 40%
Waste Nitric Acid, 40% or less
Waste Nitric Acid, Fuming
Waste Perchloric Acid, not over 50% acid
Waste Perchloric Acid,
exceeding 50% but not exceeding 72% acid
Waste Perchloric Acid, exceeding 72% acid
Waste Sulfuric Acid
Waste Sulfuric Acid, Spent
Waste Oleum
Waste Ammonium Hydroxide, containing less
than 12% ammonia
Waste Ammonium Hydroxide, containing not
less than 12% but not more than 44% ammonia
Waste Potassium Hydroxide, Solid
Waste Potassium Hydroxide, Liquid
Waste Sodium Hydroxide, Solid
Waste Sodium Hydroxide, Liquid
Waste Corrosive Liquids, NOS
Waste Corrosive Solid, NOS
Waste Oxidizer, Corrosive, Liquid, NOS
Waste Oxidizer, Corrosive, Solid, NOS
Waste Oxidizer, NOS
Waste Poison B, Liquid, NOS
Waste Poison B, Solid, NOS
Waste Corrosive Liquid, Poisonous, NOS
Hazard Class
ORM-A
Flammable Liquid
Combustible Liquid
Corrosive Material
Corrosive Material
Corrosive Material
Oxidizer
Corrosive Material
Oxidizer
Oxidizer
Oxidizer
Forbidden4
Corrosive Material
Corrosive Material
Corrosive Material
ORM-A
Corrosive Material
Corrosive Material
Corrosive Material
Corrosive Material
Corrosive Material
Corrosive Material
Corrosive Material
Oxidizer
Oxidizer
Oxidizer
Poison B
Poison B
Corrosive Material
UN/NA
ID Number
UN1846
UN1993
NA1993
UN2789
UN2790
UN1789
UN2031
NA1760
UN2032
UN1802
UN1873
UN1830
UN1832
NA1831
NA2672
NA2672
UN1813
UN1814
UN1823
UN1824
UN1760
UN1759
NA9193
NA9194
UN1479
UN2810
UN2811
UN2922
Liquid
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I 3D 16 1 (continued)
Laboratories Waste Descriptions1
Waste Type
Poisonous, Corrosive
Solid
Poisonous, Oxidizing
Liquid
Poisonous, Oxidizing
Solid
Hazardous Waste Liquid6
Hazardous Waste Solid
Designations/Trade Names
DOT Shipping Name
Waste Poisonous Solid, Corrosive, NOS
Waste Oxidizer, Poisonous, Liquid, NOS_
Waste Oxidizer, Poisonous, Solid, NOS
Hazardous Waste, Liquid, NOS
Hazardous Waste, Solid, NOS
Hazard Class
Poison B
Oxidizer
Oxidizer
ORM-E
ORM-E
UN/NA
ID Number
UN2928
NA9199
NA9200
NA9189
; NA9189
* Toxicity Characteristic constituent. Any waste that results in a TCLP extract containing a Toxicity Characteristic constituent equal to or above regulatory
levels is hazardous.
1 These descriptions may change given variations in waste characteristics, conditions or process modifications. Note that the DOT shipping name, hazard
class, and UN/NA ID number do not directly correspond to RCRA categories of hazardous waste.
2 Substances with a flash point less than 100°F are classified as "Flammable Liquid"; substances with a flash point greater than or equal to 100°F and less than
2WF arc classified as "Combustible Liquid."
3 NOS - Not Otherwise Specified.
4 Forbidden materials arc prohibited from being offered or accepted for transportation.
5 Certain gases and volatile liquids (e.g., cyanogen, phosgene) are classed as Poison A. The gases and liquids have a different UN/NA ID; NA 1953 for
poisonous liquid or gas, flammable, NOS; or NA 1955 or poisonous liquid or gas, NOS.
6 Materials (e.g., disposable labware) contaminated with small quantities of a variety of hazardous substances generally can be classified as Hazardous Waste,
NOS, unless a more specific DOT shipping name applies. The entire weight of the contaminated materials, not just the weight of the substance(s) making it
hazardous, is considered when determining quantity.
For further information call the RCRA/Superfund Hotline 1-800-424-9346
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