ASTM D4447-21
(Guide)Standard Guide for Disposal of Laboratory Chemicals and Samples
Standard Guide for Disposal of Laboratory Chemicals and Samples
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 “Stand-alone” laboratories rarely generate or handle large volumes of hazardous substances. However, the safe handling and disposal of these substances is still a matter of concern. Since the promulgation of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) of 1976, more attention has been given to the proper handling and disposal of such materials. States may adopt more stringent requirements than required under RCRA. To keep track of this, EPA classifies state regulatory language as: (1) authorized, (2) procedural/enforcement, (3) broader in scope, and (4) unauthorized, and it publishes notices concerning the first three in the Federal Register.
4.2 Laboratory management should designate an individual who will be responsible for waste disposal and must review the RCRA guidelines, in particular:
40 CFR 261.3—definition of a hazardous waste,
40 CFR 261.33—specific substances listed as hazardous,
40 CFR 262—generator requirements and exclusions, and proper shipping and manifesting procedures.
4.3 Because many laboratory employees could be involved in the proper treatment and disposal of laboratory chemicals and samples, it is recommended that a safety and training program be designed and presented to all regarding procedures to follow in the treatment and disposal of designated laboratory wastes. This recommendation is required in the United States by the EPA (40 CFR 265.16). For those who pack and ship, Hazardous Materials Shipper training is also required by DOT (49 CFR 172.203).5
4.4 If practical and economically feasible, it is recommended that all laboratory waste be either recovered, re-used, or disposed of in-house. However, should this not be the case, other alternatives are presented. This guide is intended only as a suggested organized method for classification, segregation, and disposal of chemical laboratory waste. A university can set up its own chemical distributor to take orders from departments, order in economical quantities, sell ...
SCOPE
1.1 This guide is intended to provide the chemical laboratory manager, chemical laboratory safety officer, and other relevant staff with guidelines for the disposal of small quantities of laboratory wastes safely and in an environmentally sound manner. This guide is applicable to laboratories that generate small quantities of chemical or toxic wastes. Generally, such tasks include, but are not limited to: analytical chemistry, process control, and research or life science laboratories. It would be impossible to address the disposal of all waste from all types of laboratories. This guide is intended to address the more common laboratory waste streams.
1.2 This guide is primarily intended to support compliance with environmental laws in the United States of America; however, the information contained herein can be useful to laboratories in other geopolitical jurisdictions. Some of these laws provide for states to take over regulation of air quality or natural water quality with the approval of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Other matters, such as laboratory waste tracking, disposal as household garbage, and use of sewers, are handled at the state, local, or provider level throughout the country. Examples of providers are air scrubber services, municipal sewer systems, municipal and private garbage services, and treatment, storage, or disposal facilities (TSD). Unfortunately, it is not possible for any one source to provide all the information necessary for laboratories to comply with all regulations. To ensure compliance, the laboratory manager must communicate with regulators at all four levels.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.4 This ...
General Information
Buy Standard
Standards Content (Sample)
This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: D4447 − 21
Standard Guide for
1
Disposal of Laboratory Chemicals and Samples
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4447; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
1.1 This guide is intended to provide the chemical labora-
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
tory manager, chemical laboratory safety officer, and other
relevant staff with guidelines for the disposal of small quanti-
2. Referenced Documents
ties of laboratory wastes safely and in an environmentally
2
sound manner. This guide is applicable to laboratories that
2.1 Department of Transportation Regulations:
generate small quantities of chemical or toxic wastes.
49 CFR 172 Hazardous Materials Tables and Hazardous
Generally, such tasks include, but are not limited to: analytical
Materials Communications Regulations
chemistry, process control, and research or life science labo-
49 CFR 172.203 DOT Hazardous Materials Table, Addi-
ratories. It would be impossible to address the disposal of all
tional Description Requirements
waste from all types of laboratories. This guide is intended to
49 CFR 173 Shippers—General Requirements for Ship-
address the more common laboratory waste streams.
ments and Packagings
49 CFR 173.12(b) DOTShippers’General Requirements for
1.2 This guide is primarily intended to support compliance
Shipments and Packagings. Exceptions for Shipment of
with environmental laws in the United States of America;
Waste Materials: Lab Packs
however, the information contained herein can be useful to
49 CFR 178 Shipping Container Specifications
laboratories in other geopolitical jurisdictions. Some of these
49 CFR 179 Specifications for Tank Cars
laws provide for states to take over regulation of air quality or
3
natural water quality with the approval of the Environmental
2.2 EPA Regulations:
Protection Agency (EPA). Other matters, such as laboratory
40 CFR 261 Protection of Environment. Identification and
waste tracking, disposal as household garbage, and use of
Listing of Hazardous Waste (includes 261.2, Definition of
sewers, are handled at the state, local, or provider level
solid waste
throughout the country. Examples of providers are air scrubber
40 CFR 261.3 Definition of Hazardous Waste
services, municipal sewer systems, municipal and private
40 CFR 261.33 Discarded Commercial Chemical Products,
garbage services, and treatment, storage, or disposal facilities
Off-Specifications Species, Container Residues, and Resi-
(TSD). Unfortunately, it is not possible for any one source to
dues Thereof
provide all the information necessary for laboratories to
40 CFR 261.5 Special Requirements for Hazardous Waste
comply with all regulations. To ensure compliance, the labo-
Generated by Small Quantity Generators
ratory manager must communicate with regulators at all four
40 CFR 262.34 RCRA Standards Applicable to Generators
levels.
of Hazardous Waste. Accumulation Time
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the 40 CFR 262.40 EPA Standards Applicable to Generators of
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the Hazardous Waste. Recordkeeping and Reporting: Record-
keeping.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter- 40 CFR 262.42(b) EPA Standards Applicable to Generators
of Hazardous Waste. Recordkeeping and Reporting: Ex-
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.4 This international standard was developed in accor- ception Reporting.
40 CFR 262.44 EPA Standards Applicable to Generators of
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the Hazardous Waste. Recordkeeping and Reporting: Special
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D34 on Waste
2
Management and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D34.01.01 on Available from PHMSA, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 7th Street,
Planning for Sampling. SW, Washington, DC 20590; http://hazmat.dot.gov/regs/rules.htm
3
Current edition approved Feb. 1, 2021. Published February 2021. Originally Available from United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Ariel
approved in 1984. Last previous edition approved in 2015 as D4447 – 15. DOI: Rios Bldg., 1200 Penn
...
This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: D4447 − 15 D4447 − 21
Standard Guide for
1
Disposal of Laboratory Chemicals and Samples
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4447; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 This guide is intended to provide the chemical laboratory manager, chemical laboratory safety officer, and other relevant staff
with guidelines for the disposal of small quantities of laboratory wastes safely and in an environmentally sound manner. This guide
is applicable to laboratories that generate small quantities of chemical or toxic wastes. Generally, such tasks include, but are not
limited to,to: analytical chemistry, process control, and research or life science laboratories. It would be impossible to address the
disposal of all waste from all types of laboratories. This guide is intended to address the more common laboratory waste streams.
1.2 This guide is primarily intended to support compliance with environmental laws in the United States of America; however,
the information contained herein can be useful to laboratories in other geopolitical jurisdictions. Some of these laws provide for
states to take over regulation of air quality or natural water quality with the approval of the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA). Other matters, such as laboratory waste tracking, disposal as household garbage, and use of sewers, are handled at the state,
local, or provider level throughout the country. Examples of providers are air scrubber services, municipal sewer systems,
municipal and private garbage services, and treatment, storage, or disposal facilities (TSD). Go to the EPA home page, click Wastes
> Regions/States/Tribes > States to get help locating state regulations. Unfortunately, it is not possible for any one source to provide
all the information necessary for laboratories to comply with all regulations. To ensure compliance, the laboratory manager must
communicate with regulators at all four levels.
1.3 Though it would be convenient to cite each reference by its Universal Resource Locator (URL), this guide eschews that
(because such references are too labile) with the exception of http://www.epa.gov for the United States Environmental Protection
Agency, http://www.dot.gov or http://www.hazmat.dot.gov for the United States Department of Transportation, and http://
thomas.loc.gov to follow pending federal legislation in the United States. Intra-site links suggested here are also subject to
obsolescence. However, one can enter in the web site search box the title of the document cited to locate it.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety safety, health, and healthenvironmental practices and determine the
applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.4 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 Department of Transportation Regulations:
49 CFR 172 Hazardous Materials Tables and Hazardous Materials Communications Regulations
49 CFR 172.203 DOT Hazardous Materials Table, Additional Description Requirements
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D34 on Waste Management and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D34.01.01 on Planning for
Sampling.
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2015Feb. 1, 2021. Published December 2015February 2021. Originally approved in 1984. Last previous edition approved in 20102015
as D4447 – 10D4447 – 15. DOI: 10.1520/D4447-1510.1520/D4447-21.
2
Available from PHMSA, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 7th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20590; http://hazmat.dot.gov/regs/rules.htm
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1
---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D4447 − 21
49 CFR 173 Shippers—General Requirements for Shipments and Packagings
49 CFR 173.12(b) DOT Shippers’Shippers’ General Requirements for
...
Questions, Comments and Discussion
Ask us and Technical Secretary will try to provide an answer. You can facilitate discussion about the standard in here.