A properly filled-out waste tag provides valuable information to labs and waste vendors about the waste inside the container so it can be handled safely and grouped into waste types. Each container of hazardous waste generated by laboratories must have a filled out and readable ID tag.
Sample Tag with Instructions
Do not make stuff up!
- Ask your manager for help filling out the tag.
- Make sure the information is accurate.
- Waste handlers rely on tag information.
- If tag is not complete, waste can't be accepted
Helpful Waste Tag Tips
At SF State, there is very little true "mixed waste", which is hazardous waste mixed in with other regulated waste types. If you believe you do have "mixed" waste, please contact EH&S for assistance and proper classification.
Each hazardous waste stream has an associated profile filed with the vendor. Do not write information like that listed below as it is irrelevant to the hazard properties of the waste for disposal or treatment purposes:
- xray (doesn't make anything radioactive)
- trace cell or tissue content in solvent waste (doesn't make the waste a biohazard)
- trace amounts of uranium (that came from natural sources is not regulated).
Example
Animal tissue preserved in formalin or ethanol solution.
The procedure is to pour off the preservative solution into a hazardous waste container. This gets sent out as hazardous waste. Small amounts of residual tissue is not an issue so be sure to leave this information OFF the tag.
The tissue itself is collected in a separate containers as biowaste. It gets sent out for treatment or disposal as pathology waste with a biowaste contractor. Preservative solution that was absorbed by tissue is not an issue, so don't include chemical information on the blue biowaste tag.
Filling out the Tag: What Each Entry Means
Waste Accumulation Dates
Write in the date the first drop of waste enters the container OR the date the generator designates a container of material as “waste”.
Use the accumulation start date line whether or not the waste is accumulating in the container over time.
If you are accumulating waste in a container over time, using satellite accumulation rules, write in the date that is ten months from accumulation start date.
If this waste is not accumulating over time in a satellite area, leave this blank. These are some examples:
- Material you are ready to discard
- Spill clean-up materials
- Product you no longer need
Generator Information
SFSU Generator Name is the name of the person to whom the waste belongs. It can be the person who is either generating the waste by themselves or the person in charge of the lab when more than one person is putting waste in the container.
Note
In some cases, the lab name is acceptable if it is a group generated waste. The PI or Staff Manager is the official Generator in this case.
Department is the administrative group to which the generator belongs.
If the waste is generated as part of an academic class, then it is helpful to put in the class number. For example, CHEM 101.
Fill in building and room/area the waste is from.
This is the name of the person filling out the tag. It does not have to be the same person as the generator of the waste, but does need to be someone familiar with the waste.
Waste Description and Properties
Waste (Product) Description is the name of the product or pure chemical name.
Note
If it is a commercial product, write in the product name. If it is an unwanted bottle of 100% acetone, then put 100% acetone.
Don't fill out both 1A and 1B, choose one based on the material.
Chemical Components is where you put in the approximate percentage of waste components.
Notes
Include percentage of water, if known, to help the contractor know how concentrated the components are in the container. Total percentage should equal approximately 100%. For the percentages, make an educated guess if you aren’t sure.
Example of Chemical Components section: Note that ranges are okay.
- Acetone 20-30%
- Ethanol 20-30%
- Water 40-60%
In the above case, you would circle the hazard properties Flammable and Toxic.
Circle only one of the choices.
A solid is essentially mostly dry material. Examples include lab trash, moist paper towels, bench liners, powders, contaminated objects.
A liquid can be a liquid or an extremely wet material. Contaminated muds, sludges, semi-solids with pourable water are examples.
Circle one or more of the relevant hazardous properties.
- Flammable/Ignitable
- Corrosive (pH <2.5 or > 9.5)
- Reactive (strongly reacts with water, air, or movement to produce energy that can damage the container during handling)
- Toxic (Most waste will have this property circled. Note: This is the default if none of the other hazard properties apply to this waste.)
Waste contractor need this information to properly segregate the waste for shipment.
Optional: Record other relevant hazard information if it will help the contractor handle the waste.
Do write in the pH if it is less than 2.5 or more than 9.5.