What you need to know
Request a one-time pickup of your waste by completing an Online Chemical Waste Collection request.
Chemical waste generated on a regular basis may be set up as routine pickup.
- To do this, fill out a New Routine Chemical Waste Collection Request.
- Your chemical waste will be assigned a routine number that will be linked to the waste composition and the pickup location.
- If you have questions about whether a waste qualifies for routine collection, email chmwaste@uw.edu or call 206.616.5835.
If you already have a routine number and want a pickup, fill out the online Routine Chemical Waste Collection Request with that number and the amount of waste.
There is no charge for hazardous chemical waste collection, except for unknowns and unstable peroxide forming chemicals. See the EH&S Guidelines for Peroxide Forming Chemicals for more information.
Chemicals that are corrosive, flammable, toxic or explosive are "hazardous." Some additional chemicals are managed as hazardous waste at UW because they are known, probable or suspected carcinogens, teratogens, irritants and/or sensitizers (see a current safety data sheet for the chemical to determine if the chemical is any of these.) For more information, refer to Section 3 of the Laboratory Safety Manual, take the Managing Laboratory Chemicals online training or call 206.616.5835. Also refer to local sewer discharge limits for some common laboratory chemicals.
Mixtures of chemicals may not be hazardous waste, depending on their concentration and toxicity. For information on how to calculate whether a mixture of chemicals is hazardous waste, see Section 3 of the Laboratory Safety Manual.
Waste Accumulation Rules
If you are unwilling or unable to determine if your chemical or chemical mixture is hazardous, fill out and send a Waste Evaluation Request and EH&S will send you the answer.
Containers with dangerous waste must remain closed, except when adding or removing waste.
-
Accumulate waste in a sturdy, compatible container with a screw top lid.
-
Label all containers with a completed UW Hazardous Waste Label (see FAQs below).
-
Leave some headspace in the container for temperature and vapor pressure changes.
-
Store waste in secondary containment to contain spills and leaks.
-
Make sure that the waste accumulation location is under your control (i.e. not in hallways).
-
Stay under maximum accumulation limits for each type of waste (54 gallons for most chemical waste, 1 quart for extremely hazardous waste.
-
Do not accumulate the same type of waste in two different containers at the same time.
-
Documented required training for chemical waste management.
-
Laboratory staff should take the online training for Managing Laboratory Chemicals or periodic classroom training.
-
Shops and facilities staff should use the Chemical Waste Guide for Facilities Services as training; the last page of the guide serves as training documentation.
-
Clinical staff should take the Hazardous Waste Management for Clinical and Hospital Staff online training.
-
If you don’t follow these regulations, we will delay your pick up until the problem has been corrected. If you have any questions, please contact the EHS collection person assigned to your area.
We have created a self-audit checklist to help you evaluate your compliance with the hazardous waste regulations. The Hazardous Waste Checklist was developed by EH&S to help UW staff prepare for periodic hazardous waste inspections by the Department of Ecology, but it can be used at any time.
