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A chemical waste is considered hazardous if it is either listed on one of the lists found in Federal or State regulations or if it exhibits one or more of the four following characteristics:
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Ignitable - ignitable wastes generally are liquids with a flash point below 60°C or 140°F (however, just because a material has a higher flash point, it still cannot be drain disposed).
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Corrosive - corrosive wastes are generally aqueous wastes with a pH less than or equal to two (2) or greater than or equal to 12.5 (although UCLA policy includes any waste that is not neutral).
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Reactive - reactive wastes are those wastes that are unstable, explosive, capable of detonation or react violently with water.
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Toxic - a chemical that poses a hazard to health or the environment (this can be a gray area).
Determining if a waste is a hazardous waste can be difficult. It is UCLA's policy that faculty, staff, and students assume all chemicals are hazardous and must be managed through the Environment, Health and Safety (EH&S) Chemical Waste Management Program. Strict sewer, air emissions and landfill regulations require that hazardous waste is not drain disposed, evaporated in fume hoods or disposed of in the normal trash. Contact EH&S for help in classifying waste as hazardous or non-hazardous.
Hazardous chemical waste also include the following:
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Chemicals that can no longer be used for their intended use (e.g. aged or surplus inventory)
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Mislabeled or unlabeled chemicals
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Abandoned chemicals
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Material in deteriorating or damaged containers
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Residuals in chemical containers
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Diluted solutions containing hazardous chemicals
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Used photographic fixer and developer
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Debris contaminated with a hazardous material (rags, paper towels, lab diapers, gloves, etc.)
Note: If it is a chemical, manage it as a hazardous waste.
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