Policy: Container Disposal
Appendix VI (adapted from NMSU Lab Guide - dls 06/02)

NMSU Policy:   

  CHEMICAL CONTAINER DISPOSAL AS ORDINARY TRASH

No shipping and/or materials container or an inner liner removed from a container that has held hazardous chemicals shall be disposed of until:

- The chemical name and all hazard symbols have been removed or rendered unrecognizable,

  and

- All contents have been removed that can be removed using the practices commonly employed to remove materials from that type of container, e.g., pouring, pumping, and aspirating, 

and

- the container or inner liner has been triple rinsed using a solvent capable of removing the commercial chemical product or manufacturing chemical intermediate, or cleaned by another method that has been shown in the scientific literature, or by a test conducted by the generator, to achieve equivalent removal, RCRA Section 261.7 (b).

 

PESTICIDE CONTAINER DISPOSAL AS ORDINARY TRASH

Any user disposing of pesticide containers is required to triple rinse each emptied container in accordance with RCRA Section 261.7 (b) (3) and dispose of the pesticide residues in a manner consistent with the disposal instructions on the pesticide label, RCRA Section 262.70.

 

RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS CONTAINER DISPOSAL AS ORDINARY TRASH

No user shall dispose of used radioactive shipping and/or material containers or handling devices as ordinary trash until:

- A radiation survey demonstrates that radioactivity of such items has been reduced to essentially background levels, 

and

- All radiation symbols have been removed or rendered unrecognizable, NMED RPRI, Section 4-350.

Since the majority of these containers are transported to a land fill that is subject to EPA regulation and vigilance, continued violation may jeopardize NMSU's access to the Las Cruces City Land Fill and solicit EPA citations and fines.

Lab Safety Guide

Table of Contents

Appendices

• I. Model Chemical Hygiene Plan
• IIa. Chemical Disposal Procedures
• IIb. Surplus Chemicall Procedures
• III. Model Infection/Expsure Control Plan
• IV. Biological Waste Procedures
• V. Radiological Wastes
• VI. Container Disposal
• VII Hazard Assessment/PPE

• VIII. Eye and Face Protection
• IX. Respiratory Protection Progra
• X Hazard Review Checklists
• XI. Wet Chemistry Practices
• XII. Laser Survey Forms
• XIII. First Aid
• XIV. Experiment Safety Plan 
            Prior Approval Forms
• XV. Glossary - MSDS & Safety Terms