Hazardous Chemical Waste Tag FAQ
A Hazardous Chemical Waste Tag must be used by all IUB generators of hazardous waste to provide generator information and properly identify the contents of individual containers.
"How do I fill out the Hazardous Chemical Waste Tag?"
"Why do we even need to fill out a waste tag?"
"I’m a busy researcher and don't have time to fill out
tags. Why can't UOEHSM do it?"
"What is wrong with using chemical formulas or
abbreviations?"
"Why do I need to figure out the percentages of
chemical constituents?"
"When filling out the chemical composition, do you want
the initial reactants or the final products?"
"What does signing the certification mean?"
"What if I don't know what the waste is or how much of
what is there?"
"Why do we even need to fill out a waste tag?"
The Hazardous Chemical Waste Tag serves many important functions in the proper disposal of chemicals. It provides UOEHSM information on the exact constituents of the waste so that we may make the determination of how it is to be managed. When chemicals are labpacked (left in their containers and placed in a drum for removal by a waste company), the top copy of the tag remains at IU for our records, and the bottom copy remains on the bottle for further management by our waste contractor.
"I’m a busy researcher and don't have time to fill out tags. Why can't UOEHSM do it?"
We understand that at times, filling out Tags may seem to be a time-consuming process. However, you must keep in mind that we are responsible for the entire IUB campus and process thousands of chemicals. In addition, it is you, the researcher/generator, who has the most information on the type of waste that goes into a container.
"What is wrong with using chemical formulas or abbreviations?"
While chemical formulas and abbreviations can be a useful shorthand version for some tasks, we ask that you write out the full chemical name. Not everyone uses the same abbreviations for the same chemicals. In addition, we are not all chemists and may not decipher chemical formulas properly. Also, the lives of our data entry people are made easier when full chemical names are written out legibly. Thank you.
"Why do I need to figure out the percentages of chemical constituents?"
When you are asked to provide the percentages of the chemical constituents, it is not necessary to break out the calculator. A good estimate of the approximate percentage is sufficient. Percentages make it easier for us to determine in what hazard category the chemical should be placed. This is also one of the reasons that we ask that you include the amount of water and/or solvents that are present. The percentage of specific chemicals will determine how the waste will eventually be treated for disposal.
In the event that there is less than 1% of a chemical present, "trace" may be used in place of a percentage. If the chemical is highly toxic, then list as ppm (10,000 ppm = 1%).
If at all possible with mixed waste, the final products are desired. Depending on the initial reactants, the final products may exhibit a different hazard or more than one hazard. Both of these will have an effect on how we classify the chemical and how the chemical will ultimately be disposed of.
"What does signing the certification mean?"
Federal and state regulations require generators of hazardous waste to sign a certification stating that they are practicing waste minimization. In addition, by signing the certification, you are assuming the responsibility that the waste generated is accurately described in the chemical composition section and that the waste was generated by a university activity.
"What if I don't know what the waste is or how much of what is there?"
While we understand that unknowns may occasionally be found, the generation of unknowns may be prevented. This is simply a matter of good housekeeping and labeling. All bottles of chemicals or waste should be labeled in some manner, be it the original label, a waste tag, or some other way of identifying what is already in the container and what is added. In the event you find an unknown, you should try to find out who generated the waste and what is in the container. If this fails, enter chemical composition as "unknown" and give the waste to UOEHSM for proper management. The cost of determining an unknown by our waste company is $50+ per container, and all effort should be given by the researcher/generator to determine what the waste is, before bringing it to us for disposal.