Purpose
The purpose of this chapter is to manage waste generated by laboratory operations in a compliant and sustainable manner.
Scope
This chapter guides Jefferson Lab Staff, Users, and subcontractors to information that can assure wastes are appropriately managed.For clarity, the word "waste" is defined as: a material, substance, or byproduct eliminated or discarded as no longer useful or required after the completion of a process.
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Process Steps:
Planning:
Step 1:
- Step 1: Apply pollution prevention (P2) methods during all procurement and activity planning. P2 is any practice which reduces, eliminates, or prevents pollution at its source. This includes the generation of waste. By reducing the total amount of waste generated, and reducing the toxicity of the waste, there is less to control, treat, or dispose of, and there are less hazards posed to public health and the environment.
There are several systems in place that assure the lab purchases, to the greatest extent possible, environmentally-friendly products and limits its purchase of materials that could lead to hazardous waste. Please contact Industrial Hygiene if you would like a pollution prevention evaluation completed on your specific process or chemicals.
- Step 2: Step 2: Once it is determined that waste will or has been generated, it must be categorized in order to be managed in a compliant manner. The best method for identifying hazards is to review a material's Safety Data Sheet (SDS) if one is available. Jefferson Lab activities result in four general types of waste:
- Non-Hazardous - includes municipal solid waste (trash), construction debris and industrial waste not falling under other categories.
- Hazardous - includes materials specifically determined by EPA to ignitable, corrosive, reactive, toxic or generated by specific industrial activities. This also includes Universal Waste, commonly encountered at JLab in the form of batteries, pesticides, thermostats and fluorescent bulbs.
- Special - includes items such as asbestos and used oil.
- Radioactive - Solid, liquid, or gaseous material that contains radionuclides regulated under the Atomic Energy Act.
- Step 3: Management of Non-Hazardous waste - see https://www.jlab.org/fm/
- Step 3: Management of Non-Hazardous waste - see https://www.jlab.org/fm/
- Step 4: Management of Hazardous waste - see IH 700-01
- Step 5: Management of used oil - see IH 700-01
- Step 6: Management of Radioactive waste - see Jefferson Lab Radiation Control Manual Chapter 4: Radioactive Materials and Sources
Storage
All waste storage containers shall be inspected at least annually to ensure structural integrity. Do not use containers that are structurally unsound or made of inappropriate material. Ensure that the contents are clearly identified on the container's label in indelible ink. Please note that there may be more than one label on a container (such as a NFPA label).
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Responsibilities:
Note: Management authority may be delegated to a task qualified Jefferson Lab employee at the discretion of the responsible manager.
Everyone at Jefferson Lab
- Know the nature of all waste materials you generate. Request assistance and guidance regarding wastes and recyclables from your Supervisor, Division Safety Officer (DSO), or ES&H staff.
- Reduce waste generation, reuse materials with value to the Lab mission, and recycle materials to the extent possible.
- Anticipate waste generation during the planning process of all projects and experiments.
Supervisor/ Responsible Line Manager
- Identify and characterize the waste streams for which you are responsible.
- Ensure that waste and recyclables collection in your area is being performed properly.
ES&H
- Assist staff in identifying regulated materials, handling procedures, storage and disposal options and other special concerns.
- Assist line management with minimizing the environmental impacts that could result from potential spill events.
- Manage proper storage, collection, and disposal procedures for radioactive and hazardous waste.
Jefferson Lab Industrial Hygienist (IH)/Jefferson Lab Hazardous Waste Coordinator (HWC)
- Review hazardous or regulated purchases to maintain awareness of large changes in site use of materials.
- Assist line management in control and containment of large spills including those extending beyond a building's confines.
- Coordinate and contract for cleanups.
Facilities Management & Logistics
- Pursue contracts with waste haulers and recycling firms to maximize recycling.
- Track waste and recycling amounts, as required by DOE Order.
- Manage and dispose of non-hazardous and non-radioactive waste.
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