Certain liquid chemical categories are consolidated by the EH&S Hazardous Waste Team into drums. During routine pickups, spent solvents are evaluated to determine if they meet consolidation criteria for drumming prior to transport to off-site incineration or fuel-blending facilities.
Solvent and/or aqueous mixtures that do not meet these criteria are “lab-packed” in their original form before being sent off-site for incineration.
Please note at this time we are limiting the amount of methylene chloride (dichloromethane) we are consolidated. This is in response to the EPA finalized prohibitions and workplace protections under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for methylene chloride to protect human health.
Reusable containers that do not meet consolidation criteria may be subject to rejection upon submission or may not be returned once submitted.
Reusable Containers
Carboy or solvent cans can be submitted to the EH&S Hazardous Waste Team at your routine pick up for return reuse.
Container must be labeled in permanent ink with the following to ensure it is returned:
- Lab Name
- Contact phone#
- Building and Room
Affix a plastic envelope (available on our truck) to the exterior of the container without sealing it so that the hazardous waste tag can be removed.
- Chemically compatible
- No greater than 20 Liters
- Carboy with screw top (not glass or metal)
- Safety or solvent cans:
- are rated container of no more than 5 gallons (20 liters) capacity
- having a screen or strainer in each fill-and-pour opening
- having a spring-closing lid and spout cover designed to safely relieve internal pressure when exposed to fire
- they should be UL or FM approved as well as OSHA approved.
- Marked with fill line at the 90% level with permanent ink
We may reject your container submissions for any of the following:
- Visible exterior contamination
- Over-filled (greater than 90%)
- Damaged including dented, rusted, cracked, leaking, or broken lid
- Unsealed containers
- Incompatible containers, metal, or glass,
- Cans with no strainers
- Containers containing reactive materials such sodium azide
- Containers containing methylene chloride or dichloromethane
- Container with solid debris
- Containers containing methylene chloride (dichloromethane)
What chemicals are accepted?
We accept flammable aqueous solvents. We ask when possible to segregate halogenated solvents from non-halogenated. The reason for this is non-halogenated solvents are recycled for fuel to assist in minimizing the amount of hazardous waste that is disposed of. The following are the different types of materials we accept for consolidation:
We accept container with formaldehyde for consolidation within the following parameters:
- Liquids with not solids, if solids present see our resource page on Tissues or Specimens in Chemical Fixatives
- Blood < 20% of mixture
- Ethanol < 5%
- Formaldehyde < 30%
- Methanol < 15%
- Phenol < 5%
- Water < 95%
We accept container for flammable base consolidation within the following parameters:
- Physical State: Liquid with No Solids
- pH: > 12.5
- Corrosive component no greater than 50% of mixture
- Flammable solvent total < 70%
- Water < 40%
We accept container for flammable acid consolidation within the following parameters:
- Physical State: Liquid with No Solids
- pH: < 2
- Corrosive component no greater than 50% of mixture
- Flammable solvent total < 70%
- Water < 40%
We accept container for flammables for consolidation to be recycled for fuel within the following parameters:
- Physical State: Liquid with No Solids
- pH: 7 Neutral
- No oils
- Flammable solvents not exceeding 75% of constituents
- Water < 40%
When possible segregate halogenated from non halogenated solvents. We accept container for flammables (halogenated) for consolidation to be incinerated with the following parameters:
- Physical State: Liquid with No Solids
- pH: 7 Neutral
- Flammable solvents not exceeding 75% of constituents
- Water < 40%
- can not contain methylene chloride or dichloromethane
Consolidation for YH/MSB is done on site. We only consolidate flammable solvents on site any containers with other chemicals for consolidation would be returned the following week. Please see above for container criteria and rejection.
