Chemical Waste

Special Cases

• Laboratory Close-Outs

  All wastes and unwanted chemicals should be routinely purged from a chemical storage area. This practice becomes more critical when a facility is scheduled for relocation or renovation. All chemical users that are scheduled to move must consider waste chemical removal as part of their relocation plans and provide OESO with as much advanced notification as possible. Since lab close-outs are beyond the scope of normal OESO operations, the use of an outside contractor may be used to complete the cleanout. The associated contractor costs may be charged to the department for which the clean out was performed.

• Requirements for Cylinders and Compressed Gases

  Users wishing to dispose of compressed gas cylinders should first contact the cylinder manufacturer or supplier and request they accept the unwanted materials as returned stock. If the manufacturer will not accept a return, the gas may be submitted to OESO for chemical waste disposal. As part of the cylinder disposal request, please include: the complete gas and percent composition contained within the cylinder, the approximate cylinder size, and whether the cylinder is full or empty. Any dissolved or liquefied gas submitted for chemical waste disposal should be accompanied by temperature parameters (if appropriate) as well as any solvents contained in the cylinder.

• Potentially Unstable Substances

  A potentially unstable substance presents a threat to life and health if it is moved. A few examples of potentially unstable substances are dry picric acid, dry perchlorates, elemental phosphorus, and old ethyl ether. These items are initially packaged for safety, but sometime after use they may become unstable.

  Due to their potential hazard, these materials require additional inspection by OESO EP personnel and they may require additional preparation or treatment by trained reactives specialists.

• Unidentifiable Chemical Wastes

  Unidentifiable chemical wastes should be labeled as "Waste Unknown", dated, and submitted to OESO EP for collection. Unknown chemical wastes must be removed from the generator's chemical waste storage area no later than 30 days after being designated as no longer needed.

• Off-Site Facilities

  Due to Department of Transportation rules pertaining to the transportation of hazardous materials on public roadways, OESO may transport waste containers only on Duke-owned roads or on roads bordering Duke-owned property contiguous with the Campus. Therefore, off-campus facilities will need to obtain their own individual EPA identification number, implement their own hazardous program and designate dedicated waste accumulation areas. OESO will help schedule an EPA permitted contractor to remove waste from the off-campus facility at the next available opportunity.

  OESO will provide support and advise in obtaining an EPA Generator identification number, programs development, and will assess off-site facility programs for compliance.

  Chemical Waste Management Practices for Off Campus Facilities - Details the regulatory standards for management of waste chemicals in all teaching, research and clinical laboratories and other operations at Duke University Health Systems off-campus facilities and the Duke University Marine Laboratories.