The disposal of regulated waste and other unwanted chemicals has become increasingly complicated. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state laws regulate the treatment and disposal of chemical wastes in New York. The purpose of this section is to help you better understand exactly what is and isn't regulated chemical waste. In providing this section we encourage you to design experiments with waste minimization in mind. EHOS expects that you will dispose of chemical waste generated in your laboratory in a manner consistent with the legal requirements of federal and state laws.
HAZARDOUS WASTE PICKUPS
Biological and chemical hazardous waste produced by research laboratories at CCNY is handled by the EHOS department. In order to schedule a pickup for biological or hazardous waste, send an email to ehos@ccny.cuny.edu and include a completed hazardous waste disposal manifest. Biological hazardous waste does not require the completion of a manifest.
BIOLOGICAL WASTE
Biological waste must be packed in designated red plastic bags, which are then placed in marked cardboard boxes. The box must be taped closed and labeled with the room number of the laboratory it was generated in. Custodial and EHOS staff are not permitted to pick up biological waste unless it is packed in the manner described, and waste boxes can only store up to 30 lbs. Additional boxes can be requested from EHOS at the listed email address.
Sharps containers may be picked up by custodial staff if the containers are locked and filled only to the designated allowable level. EHOS does not supply additional sharps containers.
All biological waste is stored on campus in the Main Accumulation Areas of the Marshak building and the Center for Discovery and Innovation to be removed by a waste management service on a biweekly basis.
CHEMICAL WASTE
Chemical waste produced by lab processes should be accumulated in compatible, sealable containers, such as glass or plastic bottles, plastic buckets and carboys. Wastes must be compatible when stored in the same container. Incompatibilities can be identified by referring to the respective Safety Data Sheets for the chemical constituents.
Store chemical waste containers together in secondary containment near the point of generation. The waste storage area must be labeled as a Satellite Waste Accumulation Area (SAA), and all waste containers must be labeled with the words Hazardous Waste, along with the hazards present. EHOS will provide additional printed Hazardous Waste labels at the request of lab personnel. The hazardous waste label should include the names of stored chemicals, hazard characteristics of the waste chemicals, the location of generation (e.g., room number), principal investigator name and the date the waste is removed from the lab (to be completed upon pickup). Ideal SAA locations are underneath fume hoods and in chemically resistant cabinets. A lab may not store more than 55 gallons of hazardous waste or 1 quart of acutely hazardous waste (P-listed wastes⧉) in the SAA. If this threshold is reached, contact EHOS immediately for a waste pickup.
In addition to chemical waste generated by a lab, waste-like chemicals that have been stored past expiration or are in poor condition may also be disposed of upon inspection by lab personnel or EHOS staff. Waste-like chemicals have one or more of the following characteristics:
- Rusted containers
- Cracked bottles
- Corroded or missing labels
- Missing, broken or corroded lids and bottle caps
- Visible crystallization around container opening
Contact EHOS to remove waste-like containers when identified in the lab. All waste containers will be kept in the Main Accumulation Area (MAA) and stored for a maximum of 90 days before removal to an external waste management facility.
HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT TRAINING
RCRA hazardous waste management training is required for individuals working in research laboratories that produce any quantity of hazardous chemical or biological waste. This training is offered on a monthly basis by the EHOS department. Additional information on RCRA and all other trainings is found on the EHOS training page.
QUICK GUIDE: HAZARDOUS WASTE DISPOSAL
The City College of New York policy requires all hazardous waste determinations to be made by the staff from the Office of Laboratory Safety on receipt of the material for disposal. All waste generated by laboratories are to be treated as hazardous waste, unless instructed by Laboratory Safety Staff.
Please contact EHOS Office with any questions at (212) 650-5080 or ext. 5080 or ehos@ccny.cuny.edu .
Containers and Storage
Containers - containers used for the collection of chemical waste must be compatible with the contained substances. Glass and plastic are appropriate for most laboratory waste. Do not use containers previously used for food substances to store waste.
Labeling - preprinted Waste labels are available from EHOS Office. The label must contain the words "Hazardous Waste" and clearly list the contents of the waste container, relative quantities, the hazards, and the PI name and location. Abbreviations and formulae are not permitted.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT HAZARDOUS WASTE
Q. Does my chemical waste need to be labeled?
A. Federal and New York State regulations require that the generator (person) label each waste container with the words "Hazardous Waste" and should include the names of stored chemicals, hazard characteristics of the waste chemicals, the location of generation (e.g., room number), principal investigator name and the date the waste is removed from the lab (to be completed upon pickup). The lab is responsible for identifying and labeling the chemical and waste containers in your work area, and maintaining those labels in good, readable condition.
Q. Can I dispose of chemical and/or waste down the drain?
A. Do not dispose of any chemicals down the drain. All sinks in the lab must have a signage to reinforce this.
Q. Where can I get the labels?
A. Please email us your request at
ehos@ccny.cuny.edu
for all waste labels and signage required for the lab.
Q. How do I request a hazardous waste pick-up?
A. In order to schedule a pickup for hazardous waste, send an email to
ehos@ccny.cuny.edu
and include a completed hazardous waste disposal manifest.
Q. Where do I store the hazardous waste generated in the lab?
A. Store chemical waste containers together in secondary containment near the point of generation. The waste storage area must be labeled as a Satellite Accumulation Area (SAA), and all waste containers must be labeled with the words Hazardous Waste, along with the hazards present. Ideal SAA locations are underneath fume hoods and in chemically resistant cabinets.
Q.Is there a limit for the hazardous waste stored in the Satellite Accumulation Area (SAA)?
A. Yes, a lab may not store more than 55 gallons of hazardous waste or 1 quart of acutely hazardous waste (P-listed wastes⧉) in the SAA. If this threshold is reached, contact EHOS immediately for a waste pickup.
Q. What do I do with the chemicals that are expired?
A. Waste-like chemicals that have been stored past expiration or are in poor condition may also be disposed of upon inspection by lab personnel or EHOS staff. Waste-like chemicals have one or more of the following characteristics: Rusted containers;
cracked bottles; corroded or missing labels; missing, broken or corroded lids and bottle caps; visible crystallization around container opening.
Contact EHOS at
ehos@ccny.cuny.edu
to remove waste-like containers when identified in the lab.
Q. What are the basic characteristics of a hazardous waste?
A. The four basic types are:
Biological and Radioactive Waste
Q. How do I dispose of the biological waste generated in the lab?
A. Biological waste must be packed in designated red plastic bags, which are then placed in marked cardboard boxes. The box must be taped closed and labeled with the room number of the laboratory it was generated in. Custodial and EHOS staff are not permitted to pick up biological waste unless it is packed in the manner described, and waste boxes can only store up to 30 lbs.
Q. How do I request a biological or radioactive waste pick-up?
A. In order to schedule a pickup for Biohazardous waste or radioactive waste, send an email to
ehos@ccny.cuny.edu
and include the number of boxes and location for pick-up.
Miscellaneous
Q. What do I do with electronic waste?
A. Facilities has a program for Recycling electronics. Contact facilities to dispose of your electronic.
Q. What if I move into a lab with unknown material?
A. If you “inherit” a lab that has unknown materials in it, please contact EHOS immediately. In most cases these materials can be identified and removed so they are no longer 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.
Last Updated: 05/30/2025 10:21