California waste regulations will allow labs to conduct limited bench top treatment provided that certain requirements are followed. The treatment of hazardous waste may still result in the generation of residuals which may have to be managed as hazardous waste.
The treatment of hazardous waste in labs is allowed only if approved by Environment, Health and Safety (EH&S). The following is a summary of State requirements for treatment of waste in laboratories:
- The treatment occurs in a lab.
- The purpose of the treatment is to minimize the generation of hazardous waste or enhance lab safety.
- The quantity of hazardous waste and the treatment methods is in accordance with "Prudent Practices in the Laboratory 1995" (p. 160-171)*, National Research Council procedures, or other peer-reviewed scientific publications. In addition to the above, the quantity of waste treated in one batch cannot exceed 5 gallons of liquid or 18 kilograms of solid or semi-solid.
- The hazardous waste treated is from one experiment, or a set of experimental processes, and is of similar composition with no mixing of incompatible waste.
- The person conducting the bench top treatment complies with all applicable requirements for management and disposal of the waste resulting from the treatment.
- The person conducting the bench top treatment is one of the operators of the experimental process and is adequately trained in the treatment method, waste handling procedures and emergency procedures and documentation of this training is on file in the lab for three years; the bench top treatment is conducted within ten (10) working days of completion of the laboratory process.
- All residual hazardous waste is handled according to UCLA hazardous waste policy.
