Faculty, instructors and principal investigators or their designees are responsible for wastes generated in laboratories under their oversight. Responsibilities include:

• Identify individual laboratory wastestreams being generated and keep them segregated unless authorized to combine specific wastestreams by the campus hazardous waste manager.
• Collect hazardous, biohazardous and radioactive wastes in separate, suitable containers.
• Properly label waste containers.
• Take measures to prevent spills or leaks from waste containers.
• Keep suitable spill control equipment readily available in the lab.
• Ensure that laboratory staff are aware of campus hazardous waste management procedures and their role in case of a spill or other chemical emergency.

1. Use only containers that are in good condition and compatible with the waste being stored.
2. Keep the waste containers closed at all time, except when adding or removing waste. An open funnel placed in the opening of a waste container is considered an open container by regulatory agencies.
3. Handle and store waste containers properly to prevent rupture or leakage:

   • Keep waste containers out of aisles or other heavily used areas of the laboratory;

   • Use secondary containment if there is a drain near waste containers;
   • Use secondary containment when moving waste containers from one location to another;
   • Do not overfill waste containers or store them under conditions that could cause container failure.

Once a waste container is full, contact staff in UWM's Environmental Affairs Program at x4999 or x2883 to request a waste pickup.

Every hazardous waste container must have the words "Hazardous Waste" conspicuously displayed. Also, clearly label waste containers and identify hazardous constituents as they are added to the container (e.g. "hazardous waste organic solvents, contains toluene and xylene"). If percentages or concentrations are known, identify them:

Example: acetone (60 %), toluene (40 %)
Example: Aqueous solution containing cadmium (~10 ppm)

If hazardous trace contaminants are known or suspected, list them last.

Example: Acetone (60%), toluene (40%), trace amounts of benzene

Laboratory personnel must know what is required of them by the campus emergency response plan should a spill occur. SOPs should address the following questions:

• What constitutes an emergency situation necessitating activation of alarms and evacuation? (Identify criteria or guidelines.)
• What other steps or notifications are required in an emergency?
• What non-emergency spills are within the capability of laboratory personnel to contain and clean-up and what spills require outside assistance?
• What notifications are required for a non-emergency spill?
• What spill control equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE) is kept on hand, where is it located, and under what circumstances should it be used?
• What emergency contact and resource phone numbers need to be posted by the phone?