Hazardous Waste FAQ’s
Annual training is required by federal, state, and local regulations, as well as University policy. Hazardous waste generators should contact their hazardous waste proctor or EH&S for training. EH&S presents monthly classroom training sessions that are open to new generators. View upcoming monthly classroom sessions or take the annual refresher training online.
Waste streams that include any kind of radioactive materials must be kept separate wherever possible. For any material that is or may be radioactive, please STOP and contact the Radiation Safety unit.
To dispose of your hazardous material/waste, you must complete the Hazardous Material/Waste (HMW) Tag as described in the Hazardous Waste Generators’ Guide. You will send EH&S the top white copy and attach both the card stock and secondary copy to the material/waste with the provided wire. Send the white copy only to 413 UCB.
The Hazardous Material/Waste (HMW) Tag simplifies procedures, minimizes paperwork, and expedites pickups. Each HMW Tag has a unique identifying number that allows the University to track the waste from cradle to grave. All generators must complete HMW Tags to have their material/waste removed. Tags must be firmly attached to each container using wire provided. The completed top white copy must be sent to EH&S at 413 UCB. Use caution to avoid contaminating the tag. Incomplete, illegible, or contaminated tags will delay container removal.
Tags are available through campus mail by either calling EH&S at 303-492-6025 or emailing your request toehs@colorado.edu. HMW tags are also available through the Chemistry, JSCBB, and MCDB stockroom.For more information on how to complete the HMW tag please visit the Hazardous Waste Generators’ Guide.
After the top copy of the tag is received by EH&S, it generally takes less than 10 business days for materials/wastes to be removed (15 business days for East Campus). If items are still around after this timeframe, or for special arrangements or time restrictions for waste removal, contact us.
Simple treatment of hazardous waste to render it non-hazardous is encouraged in laboratories when it’s part of an experimental process.
In all cases, prior-approval from EH&S is required and authorization from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), may be required before any treatment is sanctioned.
Where generators, in consultation with EH&S, are able to certify that generated, outdated, or treated materials are indeed non-hazardous (i.e., nonflammable, nontoxic, non-reactive, does not contain heavy metals, or EPA-listed hazardous waste constituents) and has a pH between 5.5 and 10.5, disposal in the sanitary sewer may be permitted. Please contact us to review your waste stream and discuss the most effective and responsible means of disposal.
Unknown or unlabeled hazardous materials create safety problems for laboratory, maintenance, and emergency personnel. The storage of unknown or unlabeled wastes is prohibited. EH&S will assist in the identification and classification of unknown chemicals to assure proper management and disposal. Fill out a HMW Tag with as much info as possible, for instance “unknown clear liquid, pH = 4, unknown yellow powder” etc. and submit to EH&S at 413 UCB. Where an unknown material requires substantial analysis, costs incurred may be the responsibility of the generating department.
If you “inherit” a lab that has unknown materials in it, please contact EH&S immediately. In most cases these materials can be identified and removed so they no longer represent a safety concern. Ignoring unknowns not only increases your safety risk but also reduces the chance of contacting a previous occupant, thereby making identification of the material that much harder.
For large volumes of surplus chemicals that need disposal, contact the Hazardous Chemicals and Waste Management unit for assistance and helpful suggestions. We have a pre-segregation process for large volumes of chemicals that can greatly reduce the number of HMW Tags that need to be completed.
Hazardous material/waste must be stored in non-leaking chemically resistant containers, capped, and separated by hazard class. If the waste stored has a strong odor, seal the cap with chemically resistant tape. While a container is being used to store waste in an SAA, it must have the words “Hazardous Waste” visibly labeled on the container. A HMW Tag attached to each container with the wire provided will fulfill this requirement while accumulating waste.
EH&S also currently supplies pre-printed stickers free of charge to label your containers as “Hazardous Waste” via their office or the stores at Chemistry and MCDB. To maximize program and cost efficiency, please match container sizes to the volume of hazardous material/waste collected. Leave air space at the top to allow for expansion. Do not overfill containers. Re-use containers that chemicals originally came in for disposal whenever possible as long as they are non-leaking and compatible with the waste. Chemistry stores currently sell 19L carboys which are appropriate for use as waste disposal containers. Examples of inappropriate collection containers include milk cartons, juice containers, mason jars, and soft cartons or plastic trash bags for sharps.
Generators are required to provide appropriate spill-prevention measures, such as secondary containment devices, and to segregate stored hazardous material/waste containers by chemical compatibility: oxidizers, flammables, and combustibles, acids, bases and reactives. EH&S can assist in the selection of secondary containment and has a limited supply of secondary containment devices that may be provided on a case-by-case basis.
Follow the guidance on empty container disposal.
When disposing of equipment via University Property Services and/or Facilities Management, the generator/client is responsible for cleanup or removal of any potential hazardous contamination. The Hazardous Materials and Waste Management Unit can provide guidance and recommendations on these procedures as needed.
For any questions regarding decontamination procedures for chemical hazards please call 303-492-7845.
Property Services has a program to recycle or resell all of these items.
Please call Property Services at 303-492-6524 for disposal of all electronic equipment including all CRT monitors, circuit boards, hard drives and/or any electronic devices or parts regardless of the condition of the item.
If you have questions or concerns, please contact us.
Deposit batteries in the various battery collection containers located around campus. Please see the Campus Battery collection site list for a listing of public battery collection sites on campus. Alternatively, you may collect, store, and dispose of batteries via the EH&S Hazardous Waste program using the HMW Tag. All small sealed battery types are accepted in the collection containers including: alkaline batteries, rechargeable batteries, lithium cells, nickel-cadmium, sealed lead acid, button-cell, cell-phone batteries, laptop batteries, etc. For large and/or unsealed battery types, use the HMW Tag for disposal.
Please apply tape to all battery terminals or place each battery separately into a plastic bag to prevent short circuits while in transit to the recycling facility. The University recycles all battery types.
Disposal of gas cylinders is extremely expensive! Please only order what you absolutely cannot do without. Order your gases in “rental” cylinders that can be returned vs. lecture bottles that need to be disposed of. Be aware that your department may be responsible for the cost of cylinder disposal. The EH&S hazardous waste facility is not permitted to store such vessels. Cylinders should be stored in a manner that limits access to unauthorized personnel and prevents them from falling. If you have cylinders to dispose of please contact the Hazardous Chemicals and Waste Management Unit for assistance at 303-492-7845 or via email.
All information needed to safely dispose of metal sharps can be found in the resource document: Segregation and Disposal of Metal Sharps.
All information needed to safely dispose of metal sharps can be found in the resource document: Segregation and Disposal of Broken Glass, Pipette Tips and other Plastic Puncture Hazards.
Controlled substances that are expired, surplus, or contaminated must be disposed of according to federal regulations and DEA policy. Controlled substances and other pharmaceuticals must never be drained, disposed of or thrown out in the regular garbage.
On the CU Boulder campus, the point of contact for the disposal of controlled substances is the Environmental Health and Safety Department – Hazardous Materials Group. If you no longer have a use for your controlled substances or they have become expired, you can start the disposal process by contacting the Hazardous Materials and Waste Management Unit.
All information needed to safely dispose of metal sharps can be found in the resource document: Disposal of Controlled Substances and other Pharmaceuticals.