Hazardous Waste Management

Policy Summary

Employees who generate, handle, store, transport or dispose of hazardous wastes are responsible for following the guidelines and procedures set forth in the university’s Hazardous Waste Management Program. 

Related Regulations

The purpose of this policy, and of the Hazardous Waste Management Program, is to provide a framework for safe, efficient and environmentally sound hazardous waste management in compliance with the 1976 Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, the D.C. Hazardous Waste Management Act of 1977, the District of Columbia’s Municipal Regulations (20 DCMR Chapters 40-54), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations (40 CFR 260-273), and the Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments of 1984.  Regulatory requirements, as well as environmental protection and escalating disposal costs, underline the importance of waste generators doing their part to properly manage wastes at the University. 

Who is Governed by this Policy

• Students
• Staff
• Faculty

Policy

Responsibility for compliance with hazardous waste regulations begins with the person generating the waste material, and follows through to disposal. The university’s Hazardous Waste Management Program provides the complete and specific procedures and framework for compliance with regulatory requirements regarding hazardous waste determinations, labeling and container management, hazardous waste storage areas, contingency planning, and employee training. The Hazardous Waste Management Plan also provides definitions of roles and responsibilities.  

Chemical Hygiene Officer Responsibilities 

Each university department that generates hazardous waste must designate an individual as the Chemical Hygiene Officer (CHO).  CHOs are responsible for departmental compliance with hazardous waste regulations, and for implementing the Hazardous Waste Management Program in their department.  CHOs must attend annual training sessions given by the Office of Health and Safety. CHOs are to establish waste storage areas in their department with the assistance of Health & Emergency Management Services.   

Additionally, CHOs are to send waste pickup requests to Health & Emergency Management Services no later than 60 days after the accumulation start date. Hazardous waste must be removed from all campuses in a timely manner, not to exceed their respective timeframes from the accumulation start date.  Health & Emergency Management Services will not remove any material that is not clearly labeled as hazardous waste and does not have the exact contents identified as part of the label.  Contractors and Project Managers are responsible for removing all unused hazardous chemicals, substances or materials from construction project areas. 

Departmental Responsibilities 

Equipment, information, and training for students will be administered by the individual academic departments with the assistance of Health & Emergency Management Services.  

Definitions

Chemical Hygiene Officer: An individual designated by a hazardous waste-producing department that is responsible for ensuring that their department complies with hazardous waste regulations.   

Accumulation: The date in which the first drop of hazardous waste Start Date is placed into the container. 

Related Information

• Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 
• D.C. Hazardous Waste Management Act of 1977 
• District of Columbia’s Municipal Regulations (20 DCMR Chapters 40-54) 
• Environmental Protection Agency 
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations (40 CFR Parts 260-273) 
• Chemical Hygiene Policy 
• Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments of 1984 
• Hazardous Waste Management Program 
• 1976 Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) 

Contacts