Disposal Information and Procedures
Hazardous Waste Identification
What is a Hazardous Waste

The disposal of hazardous chemicals is strictly regulated under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations CFR 40, parts 100 - 399. Individuals who do not follow procedures in complying with state and federal regulations are individually responsible for possible fines and/or imprisonment.

According to RCRA, a Hazardous waste is a solid, a semi-solid, a liquid, or a contained gas that, "because of its quantity, concentration , or physical, chemical, or infectious characteristics, it may cause, or significantly contribute to, an increase in mortality or an increase in serious irreversible, or incapacitating reversible, illness or pose a substantial present or potential hazard to human health and the environment when improperly treated, stored, transported, or disposed of, or otherwise managed. "

There are tens of thousands of wastes that can be hazardous for many different reasons. RCRA regulations identify hazardous wastes based on their physical characteristics and also provide lists of specific hazardous wastes. EPA regulations require that all waste generators evaluate their wastes to determine if any of the four hazardous characteristics are exhibited.


Characteristic Wastes


A waste is hazardous if it exhibits one or more of the following characteristics:

Ignitability EPA waste code D001 - Ignitable wastes can create fires under certain conditions. These materials give off heat, smoke, soot and may disperse toxic pollutants and by-products into the air. Examples include liquids, such as solvents that readily catch fire, and friction-sensitive substances. Ignitability applies if the waste is :

*     A Liquid with flashpoint less than 140° F. (60° C), or
*     The material is not a liquid and it can cause a fire by friction, absorption of moisture or spontaneous chemical changes AND,       when ignited burns so vigorously and persistently that it creates a hazard, or
*     The material is is an ignitable compressed gas (Flammable gas), or
*     The material is an Oxidizer.

CorrosivityEPA waste code D002 - Corrosive wastes include those that are acidic, wastes that can cause injury to the skin or body, or destroy their own containers (corrode metal) or other materials and be released into the environment. Corrosivity applies if the waste is:

*     Aqueous (water-based) with pH < 2.0 or pH > 12.5, or
*     Liquid and corrodes steel at > 0.25 inch / year, at 55° C.

Reactivity EPA waste code D003 - Reactive Materials can react violently or give off poisonous gases when exposed to light, air, water or other materials. Reactivity applies if the waste is:

*     Normally Unstable and readily undergoes violent change without detonating, or
*     Reacts violently with water, or is capable of generating toxic gases or vapors or explosive mixtures when combined with water, or
*     A Cyanide or Sulfide containing material capable of releasing dangerous amounts of poisonous gas when mixed with corrosives, or
*     Capable of detonation or explosive decomposition, is a DOT Forbidden, Class A, or Class B explosive.

Toxicity EPA waste codes D004 - D042 - Toxic wastes are harmful or fatal when ingested or absorbed. When toxic wastes are disposed of on land, contaminated liquid may drain (leach) from the waste and pollute ground water. Toxicity is identified through a laboratory procedure using the Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) test. If your waste contains one or more of these contaminants (pesticides, organic constituents, metals) at or above the regulatory level, it is a hazardous waste

     *Underlying Constituents- Certain Trace amounts of materials, called underlying constituents, require additional processing to remove the contaminant(s) to a level called the Universal Treatment Standard (UTS) for the constituents. This table lists the underlying hazardous constituents for D001-D043 wastes.
     *A wastewater is any waste with less than1% by weight total organic carbon (TOC) and less than 1% by weight total suspended solids (TSS). All other wastes are       nonwastewater.

Listed Wastes



EPA has already determined that some specific wastes are hazardous. These wastes are now incorporated into lists published by EPA. The lists are organized into three categories:

*     Source-Specific Wastes  EPA Waste Codes K001-K148 - This list includes wastes from specific industries such as petroleum refining and wood preserving. Sludges and waste waters from treatment and production processes in these industries are examples of source-specific wastes.
*     Non-Specific Source Wastes EPA Waste Codes F001 – F039 - This list identifies wastes commonly produced by manufacturing and industrial processes.   Examples from this list include spent halogenated solvents used in degreasing and wastewater treatment sludge from electroplating processes as well as dioxin wastes, most of which are acutely hazardous wastes due to the danger they present to human health and the environment.
*     Commercial Chemical Products P List (Acutely Hazardous) and U List - This list includes specific commercial chemical products such as creosote and some pesticides.

*     If your wastes material exhibits any of the four characteristics, or if it is a listed waste (F, K, P, or U list), it is a Hazardous Waste and it is subject to EPA's Subtitle C hazardous waste regulations.

*     All listed wastes are presumed to be hazardous regardless of their concentrations and must be handled according to EPA's Subtitle C hazardous waste regulations.

TC Waste (Toxicity Characteristic)
The D List
If your waste contains one or more of these contaminants at or above the regulatory level, it is a hazardous waste.


Maximum Concentration of Contaminants for the Toxicity Characteristic

EPA Waste #

Contaminant

CAS No.

Regulatory Level (mg/L)

D004

Arsenic

7440-38-2

5.0

D005

Barium

7440-39-3

100.0

D018

Benzene

71-43-2

0.5

D006

Cadmium

7440-43-9

1.0

D019

Carbon tetrachloride

56-23-5

0.5

D020

Chlordane

57-74-9

0.03

D021

Chlorobenzene

108-90-7

100.0

D022

Chloroform

67-66-3

6.0

D007

Chromium

7440-47-3

5.0.

D023

o-Cresol

95-48-7

*200.0

D024

m-Cresol

108-39-4

*200.0

D025

p-Cresol

106-44-5

*200.0

D026

Cresol

---

*200.0

D016

2,4-D

94-75-7

10.0

D027

1,4-Dichlorobenzene

106-46-7

7.5

D028

1,2-Dichloroethane

107-06-2

0.5

D029

1,1-Dichloroethylene

75-35-4

0.7

D030

2,4-Dinitrotoluene

121-14-2

0.13

D012

Endrin

72-20-8

0.02

D031

Heptachlor (and its epoxide)

76-44-8

0.008

D032

Hexachlorobenzene

118-74-1

0.13

D033

Hexachlorobutadiene

87-68-3

0.5

D034

Hexachloroethane

67-72-1

3.0

D008

Lead

7439-92-1

5.0

D013

Lindane

58-89-9

0.4

D009

Mercury

7439-97-6

0.2

D014

Methoxychlor

72-43-5

10.0

D035

Methyl ethyl ketone

78-93-3

200.0

D036

Nitrobenzene

98-95-3

2.0

D037

Pentachlorophenol

87-86-5

100.0

D038

Pyridine

110-86-1

5.0

D010

Selenium

7782-49-2

1.0

D011

Silver

7440-22-4

5.0

D039

Tetrachloroethylene

127-18-4

0.7

D015

Toxaphene

8001-35-2

0.5

D040

Trichloroethylene

79-01-6

0.5

D041

2,4,5-Trichlorophenol

95-95-4

400.0

D042

2,4,6-Trichlorophenol

88-06-2

2.0

D017

2,4,5-TP (Silvex)

93-72-1

1.0

D043

Vinyl chloride

75-01-4

0.2

*     If the o-, m-, and p-Cresol concentrations cannot be differentiated, the total Cresol (D026) concentration is used. The regulatory level of total cresol is 200 mg/l.

Non-Specific Source Wastes
The F List

Code

Description

F001

The following spent halogenated solvents used in degreasing: Tetrachloroethylene, trichlorethylene, methylene chloride, 1,1,1_trichloroethane, carbon tetrachloride and chlorinated fluorocarbons; all spent solvent mixtures/blends used in degreasing containing, before use, a total of ten percent or more (by volume) of one or more of the above halogenated solvents or those solvents listed in F002, F004, and F005; and still bottoms from the recovery of these spent solvents and spent solvent mixtures.

F002

The following spent halogenated solvents: Tetrachloroethylene, methylene chloride, trichloroethylene, 1,1,1_trichloroethane, chlorobenzene, 1,1,2_trichloro_1,2,2_trifluoroethane, ortho_dichlorobenzene, trichlorofluoromethane, and 1,1,2_trichloroethane; all spent solvent mixtures/blends containing, before use, a total of ten percent or more (by volume) of one or more of the above halogenated solvents or those solvents listed in F001, F004, and F005; and still bottoms from the recovery of these spent solvents and spent solvent mixtures.

F003

The following spent non_halogenated solvents: Xylene, acetone, ethyl acetate, ethyl benzene, ethyl ether, methyl isobutyl ketone, n_butyl alcohol, cyclohexanone, and methanol; all spent solvent mixtures/blends containing, before use, only the above spent non_halogenated solvents; and all spent solvent mixtures/blends containing, before use, one or more of the above non_halogenated solvents, and a total of ten percent or more (by volume) of one or more of those solvents listed in F001, F002, F004, and F005; and still bottoms from the recovery of these spent solvents and spent mixtures.

F004

The following spent non_halogenated solvents: cresols, cresylic acid, and nitrobenzene; all spent solvent mixtures/blends containing, before use, a total of ten percent or more (by volume) of one or more of the above non_halogenated solvents or those solvents listed in F001, F002, and F005; and still bottoms from the recovery of these spent solvents and spent solvent mixtures.

F005

The following spent non_halogenated solvents: toluene, methyl ethyl ketone, carbon disulfide, isobutanol, pyridine, benzene, 2_ethoxyethanol, and 2_nitropropane; all spent solvent mixtures/blends containing, before use, a total of ten percent or more (by volume) of one or more of the above non_halogenated solvents or those solvents listed in F001, F002 or F004; and still bottoms from the recovery of these spent solvents and spent solvent mixtures.

F006

Wastewater treatment sludges from electroplating operations except from the following processes: (1) sulfuric acid anodizing of aluminum; (2) tin plating on carbon steel; (3) zinc plating (segregated basis) on carbon steel; (4) aluminum or zinc_aluminum plating on carbon steel; (5) cleaning/stripping associated with tin, zinc, and aluminum plating on carbon steel; and (6) chemical etching and milling aluminum.

F007

Spent cyanide plating bath solutions from electroplating operations.

F008

Plating bath residues from the bottom of plating baths from electroplating operations in which cyanides are used in the process.

F009

Spent stripping and cleaning bath solutions from electroplating operations in which cyanides are used in the process.

F010

Quenching bath residues from oil baths from metal heat treating operations in which cyanides are used in the process.

F011

Spent cyanide solutions from salt bath pot cleaning from metal heat treating operations.

F012

Quenching wastewater treatment sludges from metal heat treating operations in which cyanides are used in the process.

F019

Wastewater treatment sludges from the chemical conversion coating of aluminum except from zirconium phosphating in aluminum can washing when such phosphating is an exclusive conversion coating process.

F020

Wastes (except wastewater and spent carbon from hydrogen chloride purification) from the production or manufacturing use (as a reactant, chemical intermediate, or component in a formulating process) or tri_ or tetrachlorophenol or of intermediates used to produce their pesticide derivatives. (This listing does not include wastes from the production of hexachlorophene from highly perified 2,4,5_trichlorophenol.)

F021

Wastes (except wastewater and spent carbon from hydrogen chloride purification) from the production or manufacturing use (as a reactant, chemical intermediate, or component in a formulating process) of pentachlorophenol, or of intermediates used to produce derivatives.

F022

Wastes (except wastewater and spent carbon from hydrogen chloride purification) from the manufacturing use (as a reactant, chemical intermediate, or component in a formulating process) of tetra_ or penta_ or hexachlorobenzenes under alkaline conditions.

F023

Wastes (except wastewater and spent carbon from hydrogen chloride purification) from the production of materials on equipment previously used for the production or manuacturing use (as a reactant, chemical intermediate, or component in formulating process) or tri_ and tetrachlorophenols. (This listing does not includes wastes form equipment used only for the production or use of hexachlorophene from highly purified 2,4,5_trichlorophenol)

F024

Process wastes including, but not limited to, distillation residues, heavy ends, tars, and reactor clean_out wastes, from the production of certain chloronated aliphatic hydrocarbons by free radical catalyzed processes. These chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons are those having carbon chain lengths ranging from one to and including five, with varying amounts and positions of chlorine substitution. (This listing does not include wastewaters, wastewater treatement sludges, spent catalysts, and waste listed in Sections 261.31 or 261.32)

F025

Condensed light ends, spent filters and filter aids, and spent desiccant wastes from the production of certain chloronated aliphatic hydrocarbons, by free radical catalyzed processes. These chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons are those having carbon chain lengths ranging from one, to and including five, with varying amounts and positions of chlorine substitution.

F026

Wastes (except wastewater and spent carbon from hydrogen chloride purification) from the production of materials on equipment previously used for the manufacturing use (as a reactant, chemical intermediate, or component in a formulating process) of tetra_, penta_, or hexachlorobenzene under alkaline conditions.

F027

Discarded unused formulations containing tri_, tetra_, or pentachlorophenol or discardedd unused formulations containing compounds derived from these chlorophenols. (This listing does not include formulations containing hexachlorophene synthesized from prepurified 2,4,5_trichlorophenol as the sole component.)

F028

Residues resulting from the incinerations or thermal treatment of soil contaminated with EPA hazardous waste nos. F020, F021, F022, F023, F026, and F027.

F032

Wastewaters, process residuals, preservative drippage, and spent formulations from wood preserving processes generated at plants that currently use, or have previously used, chlorophenolic formulations [except potentially cross_contaminated wastes that have had the F032 waste code deleted in accordance with Section 261.35 (i.e., the newly promugulated equipment cleaning or replacement standards), and where the generator does not resume or initiate use of chlorophenolic formulations]. This listing does not include K001 bottom sediment sludge from the treatment of wastewater from wood preserving processes that use creosote and/or pentachlorophenol.

F034

Wastewaters, process residuals, preservative drippage, and spent formulations from wood preserving processes generated at plants that use creosote formulations. This listing does not include K001 bottom sediment sludge from the treatment of wastewater from wood preerving processes that use creosote and/or pentachlorophenol.

F035

Wastewaters, process residuals, preservative drippage, and spent formulations from wood preserving processes generated at plants that use inorganic preservatives containing arsenic or chromium. This listing does not include K001 bottom sediment sludge from the treatment of wastewater from wood preserving processes that use creosote and/or pentachlorophenol.

F037

Petroleum refinery primary oil/water/solids separation sludge _ Any sludge generated from the gravitational separation of oil/water/solids during the storage or treatment of process wastewaters and oily cooling wastewaters from petroleum refineries. Such sludges include, but are not limited to, those generated in oil/water/solids separators; tanks and impoundments; ditches and other conveyances; sumps; and storm water units receiving dry weather flow. Sludges generated in storm water units that do not receive dry weather flow, sludges generated in aggressive biological treatment units as defined in Section 261,31(b)(2) (including sludges generated in one or more additional units after wastewaters have been treated in aggressive biological treatment units), and K051 wastes are exempted from this listing.

F038

Petroleum refinery secondary (emulsified) oil/water/solids separation sludge _ Any sludge and/or float generated from the physical and/or chemical separation of oil/water/solids in process wastewaters and oily cooling wastewaters from petroleum refineries. Such wastes include, but are not limited to, all sludges and floats generated in induced air flotation (IAF) units, tank and impoundments, and all sludges generated in DAF units. Sludges generated in stormwater units that do nor receive dry weather flow, sludges generated in aggressive biological treatment units as defined in Section 261.32(b)(2) (including sludges generated in one or more additional units after wastewaters have been treated in aggressive biological treatment units), and F037, K048, and K051 wastes are exempted from this listing.

F039

Leachate resulting from the treatment, storage, or disposal of wastes classified by more than one waste code under Subpart D, or from a mixture of wastes classified under Subparts C and D of this part. (Leachate resulting from the management of one or more of the following EPA Hazardous Wastes and no other hazardous wastes retains its hazardous waste code(s): F020, F021, F022, F023, F026, F027, and/or F028.)

Source Specific Wastes
The K List

 

Code

Description

K001

Bottom sediment sludge from the treatment of wastewaters from wood preserving processes that use creosote and/or pentachlorophenol.

K002

Wastewater treatment sludge from the production of chrome yellow and orange pigments.

K003

Wastewater treatment sludge from the production of molybdate orange pigments.

K004

Wastewater treatment sludge from the production of zinc yellow pigments.

K005

Wastewater treatment sludge from the production of chrome green pigments.

K006

Wastewater treatment sludge from the production of chrome oxide green pigment (anhydrous and hydrated).

K007

Wastewater treatment sludge from the production of iron blue pigments.

K008

Oven residue from the production of chrome oxide green pigments.

K009

Distillation bottoms from the production of acetaldehyde from ethylene.

K010

Distillation side cuts from the production of acetaldehyde from ethylene.

K011

Bottom stream from the wastewater stripper in the production of acrylonitrile.

K013

Bottom streams from the actonitrile column in the production of acrylonitrile.

K014

Bottoms from the acetonitrile purification column in the production of acrylonitrile.

K015

Still bottoms from the distillation of benzyl chloride.

K016

Heavy ends or distillation residues from the production of carbon tetrachloride.

K017

Heavy ends (still bottoms) from the purification column in the production of epichlorohydrin.

K018

Heavy ends from the fractionation column in ethyl chloride production.

K019

Heavy ends from the distillation of ethylene dichloride in ethylene dichloride production.

K020

Heavy ends from the distillation of vinyl chloride in vinyl chloride monomer production.

K021

Aqueous spent antimony catalyst waste from fluoromethanes production.

K022

Distillation bottom tars from the production of phenol/acetate from cumene.

K023

Distillation light ends from the production of phthatlic anhydride from naphthalene.

K024

Distillation bottoms from the production of phthalic anhydride from naphthalene.

K025

Distillation bottoms from the production of nitrobenzene by the nitration of benzene.

K026

Stripping still tails from the production of methyl ethlyl pyridines.

K027

Centrifuge and distillation residues from toluene diisocyanate production.

K028

Spent catalyst from the hydrochlorinator reactor in the production of 1,1,1_trichloroethane.

K029

Waste from the product steam stripper in the production of 1,1,1_trichloroethane.

K030

Column bottoms or heavy ends from the combined production of trichloroethylene and perchloroethylene.

K031

By_product salts generated in the production of MSMA and cacodylic acid.

K032

Wastewater treatment sludge from the production of chlordane.

K033

Wastewater and scrub water from the chlorination of cyclopentadiene in the production of chlordane.

K034

Filter solids from the filtration of hexachlorocyclopentadiene in the production of chlordane.

K035

Wastewater treatment sludges generated in the production of creosote.

K036

Still bottoms from toulene reclamation distillation in the production of disulfoton.

K037

Wastewater treatment sludges from the production of disulfoton.

K038

Wastewater from the washing and stripping of phorate production.

K039

Filter cake from the filtration of diethylphosphorodithioic acid in the produciton of phorate.

K040

Wastewater treatment sludge from the production of phorate.

K041

Wastewater treatment sludge from the production of toxaphene.

K042

Heavy ends or distillation residues from the distillation of tetrachlorobenzene in the production of 2,4,5_T.

K043

2,6_dichlorophenol waste from the production of 2,4_D.

K044

Wastewater treatment sludges from the manufacturing and processing of explosives.

K045

Spent carbon from the treatment of wastewater containing explosives.

K046

Wastewater treatment sludges from the manufacturing, formulation, and loading of lead based initiating compounds.

K047

Pink/red water from TNT operations.

K048

Dissolved air flotation (DAF) float from the petroleum refining industry.

K049

Slop oil emulsion solids from the petroleum refining industry.

K050

Heat exchanger bundle cleaning sludge from the petroleum refining industry.

K051

API separator sludge from the petroleum refining industry.

K052

Tank bottoms (leaded) from the petroleum refining industry.

K060

Ammonia still lime sludge from coking operations.

K061

Emission control dust/sludge from the primary production of steel in electric furnaces.

K062

Spent pickle liquor generated by steel finishing operations of facilities within the iron and steel industry (SIC Codes 331 and 332).

K064

Acid plant blowdown slurry/sludge resulting from the thickening of blowdown slurry from primary copper production.

K065

Surface impoundment solids contained in and dredged from surface impoundments at primary lead smelting facilities.

K066

Sludge from treatment of process wastewater and/or acid plant blowdown from primary zinc production.

K069

Emission control dust/sludge from secondary lead smelting.

K071

Brine purification muds from the mercury cell process in chlorine production, in which separately prepurified brine is not used.

K073

Chlorinated hydrocarbon waste from the purification step of the diaphragm cell process using graphite anodes in chlorine production.

K083

Distillation bottoms from aniline production.

K084

Wastewater treatment sludges generated during the production of veterinary pharmaceuticals from arsenic or oragano arsenic compounds.

K085

Distillation or fractionation column bottoms from the production of chlorobenzenes.

K086

Solvent washes and sludges, caustic washes and sludges, or water washes and sludges from cleaning tubs and equipment use in the formulation of ink from pigments, driers, soaps, and stabilizers containing chromium and lead.

K087

Decanter tank tar sludge from coking operations.

K088

Spent potliners from primary aluminum reduction.

K090