Regulated Waste Management and Disposal
Regulated waste refers to any type of waste that is subject to government regulations regarding its proper handling, storage, transportation and disposal. This includes:
- Universal waste
(ex. fluorescent and metal halide bulbs, rechargeable batteries, and pesticides) - Biological waste
(ex. infectious waste and sharps) - Hazardous/chemical waste
(wastes that present a physical or health hazard to people or the environment).
Each waste stream must be managed and disposed of in accordance with the regulations and guidelines established by regulatory agencies, including the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Regulated Waste Management and Disposal documents are available via Google Drive. You must be logged into your CNU email account in order to access the Google Drive folders linked below.
- Determine if you can reuse or recycle this waste in your laboratory. If so, there is no need to dispose of the material through EHS.
- If you have unopened or uncontaminated containers in a usable form, you should attempt to find another user. This will avoid the cost of disposal, the environmental impact of disposal, and needless cost to another user incurred through the purchase of new chemicals.
- Separate solids and liquids. All liquids must be free of solid material and or sludge to facilitate consolidation, recycling and proper disposal. If solids cannot be separated from liquids, the identification and quantity of the solid component must be listed on the Hazardous Waste Disposal Request form. Every effort should be made to separate solids and liquids.
- Consolidate similar wastes. Effort should be made by the waste generator to consolidate same-type waste into as few containers as possible.
- Properly package the waste. Make sure containers are compatible with the material inside and if not, perform a transfer to a new container. Containers must be leak free, have a tight cap and be clean on the outside. Stoppers and corks are not suitable. Containers should be no more than 90% full to avoid spills.
- Label all waste containers with the appropriate waste labels. Information on the labels must be legible, complete, and agree with the information on the waste disposal request form.
The EHS Department uses Campus Optics software to track and manage the regulated waste removal and disposal process. Accurate and complete information is essential to maintaining regulatory compliance. The removal request form must be completed and submitted only by the waste generator. By submitting the removal request form, the waste generator is affirming the proper waste identification, characteristics, and hazards, as well as the accumulation location and volume. This information is transmitted to the waste management company and becomes part of the official documentation for the regulated waste disposal process. Any questions should be directed to ehs@cnu.edu.
Universal Waste
Universal wastes are common products that exhibit hazardous waste characteristics but are regulated differently than other hazardous (chemical) waste to reduce the regulatory burden on waste generators. These items include fluorescent tubes, high-intensity (HID) lamps, compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs, mercury-containing equipment, and pesticides.
Please note:
- Batteries should be removed through the Warehouse surplus process. The Warehouse coordinates sustainable disposal through our eWaste vendor.
- Aerosol cans should be punctured using the puncture unit located in the Grounds Department, the empty punctured cans should be removed through the Warehouse surplus process. The Warehouse coordinates the sustainable disposal of scrap metal.
Complete and submit the Universal Waste Disposal Request Form according to the instructions provided on the form. The EHS Department will review the information and coordinate removal.
Biological Waste
Biological waste, also known as biomedical waste, refers to any waste material that contains potentially infectious or biohazardous substances. These items include anatomical material, biologically contaminated laboratory materials, materials saturated with blood and body fluids, and sharps (regardless of whether or not they are contaminated with infectious material).
Complete and submit the Biological Waste Disposal Request Form according to the instructions provided on the form. The EHS Department will review the information and coordinate removal.
Hazardous (Chemical) Waste
Hazardous waste refers to any type of waste material that has properties that make it potentially harmful or dangerous to human health or the environment. This includes waste that is toxic, flammable, corrosive, reactive, or otherwise hazardous.
Complete and submit the Hazardous (Chemical) Waste Disposal Request Form according to the instructions provided on the form. The EHS Department will review the information and coordinate removal.