Hazardous Waste Disposal

How do I dispose of hazardous waste?

Determine if the material to be disposed qualifies as a hazardous waste.
Visit the U of R Hazardous Waste Management Unit (HWMU) Website for more information. If you are still in doubt, contact the LLE Chemical Hygiene Officer Ken Marshall at 275-8247 or the HWMU office at 275-2056 for assistance.

Obtain proper containers to hold the waste material.
The container must be closed during storage and must be made of a material that is compatible with the stored waste. Glass solvent bottles are the best all-around choice for most waste materials; metal cans are also acceptable for use with noncorrosive wastes. Heavy-walled plastic bottles may also be acceptable for materials that react with both glass and metal (e.g., hydrofluoric acid). Empty containers suitable for collection of hazardous waste can be found at the Hazardous Waste Storage Area located in the LLE loading dock.

Affix a "Hazardous Waste" label to the container to identify its contents.
Federal and state laws require that all waste containers be clearly labeled as "Hazardous Waste" and list the date when waste was first added to the container (accumulation start date), the quantities, and full chemical names of wastes in the container. Preprinted hazardous waste container labels that satisfy this requirement are available in the Safety Library (Rm. 2821) or at the Hazardous Waste Storage Cabinet located in the LLE loading dock.
Since laboratories are legally defined as "satellite collection areas," limited interim storage of waste in laboratories is acceptable provided that

  • containers are kept closed except during addition of waste,
  • the area in which they are stored is clearly labeled as a "Hazardous Waste Accumulation Area," and
  • the maximum amount of accumulated waste does not exceed 5 gallons.


Collect different types of hazardous waste separately, as much as possible, to keep disposal options clear and cost effective.
The following categories can be used as guidelines:

  • Miscellaneous solid wastes
  • Aqueous wastes (water is the major constituent)
  • Acids
  • Bases
  • Halogenated solvents (methylene chloride, chloroform, freons)
  • Non-halogenated solvents (hydrocarbons, alcohol, acetone)
  • Oil (vacuum pump, motor)(list major contaminants, if any)
  • Special waste materials (cyanides, sulfides, pesticides, oxidizers, explosives, heavy metals) (These should be collected separately when possible.)


Obtain and fill out a blue "Hazardous Waste Tag" and attach it directly to the container.
Each container of hazardous waste submitted for disposal must bear one of these tags in addition to the hazardous waste label. The tags must contain the following information:

  • Full chemical name, trade name, or product name of all waste components
  • Total volume or weight in the container
  • Percentage, volume, or weight of each individual waste constituent
  • Name of the person responsible for the process that generates the waste
  • Department generating the waste

Since these tags are legal documents and subject to review by the EPA and DEC, they must be filled out as legibly, accurately, and completely as possible. Consult the U of R's "Learner's Guide for Responsible Hazardous Chemical Waste Management" in the Safety Library if you need assistance in filling out the tags. Hazardous wastes of unknown composition cannot be accepted for disposal. If an analysis by a private laboratory is required, the department generating the unknown will be charged the cost of the analysis, which can range from $1000 to $5000 per sample.

Transfer filled waste containers to the Hazardous Waste Storage Cabinet located in the LLE loading dock area.


Under no circumstances are waste containers to be left outside of the cabinet or is access to the cabinet to be physically blocked in any way, since both of these are violations of Federal and NY State regulations.

If the cabinet is filled, notify the person on duty in the Safety Library (x5-9213) or one of the Chemical Hygiene Officers so that a pickup can be scheduled.

U of R Hazardous Waste Management Unit