Hazardous Waste Management

• What kind of waste needs to be disposed of properly?

  Any Pharmaceutical, Biological, Radioactive, Construction, Asbestos, or Hazardous (Chemical) waste produced by Clemson University must be handled and disposed of properly.

• Hazardous Waste Information and Pickup

  Hazardous waste is defined as a waste that is dangerous or potentially harmful to our health or the environment. Hazardous wastes can be liquids, solids, gases, or sludges. They can be discarded products, like cleaning fluids or pesticides, or the by-products of research processes.

  Hazardous Waste at Clemson will be managed in two categories:

  • Hazardous Waste (RCRA) - Any chemical/hazardous material/hazardous substance/dangerous good that meets the definition of Characteristic or Listed under the South Carolina Hazardous Waste Management Regulation (SCHWMR) 61-79 (PDF).
  • Hazardous Waste (Non-RCRA Regulated) - All other chemicals/hazardous materials/hazardous substances/dangerous goods that do not meet the above RCRA characteristics and/or listed wastes but are required to carry any GHS hazard pictogram, Department of Transportation Hazard Class (PDF) or any other materials deemed hazardous by Clemson University (PDF).

  Pharmaceutical waste and the Prohibition on Sewering Pharmaceuticals

  • The prohibition on sewering hazardous waste pharmaceuticals, while part of Subpart P, is unique in that EPA promulgated this provision under the authority

    of the 1984 Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments(HSWA). HSWA rules go into effect in all states, Indian country, and territories on the federal effective date

    (August 21, 2019). That means that the sewering prohibition is currently in effect in all states, regardless of whether a state has adopted Subpart P. In addition

    to the sewering prohibition of hazardous waste pharmaceuticals, EPA encourages facilities to discontinue drain disposal of all pharmaceutical

    waste, whether or not it meets the definition of a RCRA hazardous waste. Prior to Subpart P, reluctance to commingling hazardous and non-hazardous waste

    was due to concerns regarding increasing generator status to LQG. EPA hopes that removing hazardous waste pharmaceuticals managed under Subpart P

    from the calculation of generator status, in addition to easing the waste code requirements on containers and manifests, will incentivize healthcare and other facilities to no longer dispose of their non-hazardous waste pharmaceuticals down the drain.

  Other Helpful Information:

  • In South Carolina, people who generate hazardous wastes (“Generators”) are required to have training. Hazardous Waste training can be found on our Training Page.
  • Click the button blow or the link here to access the Waste Pickup Request Form or click the button below in kind.
• Biohazardous Waste Information and Pickup

  Overview

  Biohazard Waste consists of both Infectious Biological waste and Non-Infectious Biological Waste. 

  Infectious Biohazardous Waste is regulated by SC Department of Health and Environmental Control (SC DHEC) under the Infectious Waste Management Regulation 61-105 (PDF). Infectious waste under these regulations is material that was used in healthcare, research or postmortem exams. It includes:

  • Sharps - any waste that may cause a puncture or cut
  • Microbiological specimens - culture dishes, vaccines and other waste that has been exposed to human pathogenic agents
  • Blood and blood products - unabsorbed blood or blood products or absorbed blood when the absorbent is supersaturated (drips when squeezed)
  • Pathological waste - parts removed from the human body (unless preserved by a preserving agent) and certain body fluids
  • Contaminated animal waste - parts, bodies and bedding of animals exposed to human pathogens
  • Isolation waste - waste from Biosafety Level 4 agents
  • Other waste - any other waste designated as infectious or any material that has come in contact with infectious waste.

  Non-Infectious Wastes are biohazardous wastes that are not infectious to humans or animals but do pose an environmental hazard such as animal carcasses not exposed to human pathogens, plant materials, etc.

  The generation and disposal of infectious biohazardous waste is regulated by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SC DHEC). Clemson University is permitted as a generator of biohazardous waste by SC DHEC.

  Disposal Options

  The disposal of Infectious Biohazardous waste is regulated under the SCDHEC Regulations. At Clemson University, there are two options for proper disposal:

  • Treatment of Infectious Biohazardous Waste in the labs by chemical disinfection or steam sterilization. If you use this option, you must keep a log consisting of the date, type/amount and treatment process. This log must be turned in to the Biosafety Officer. For more information or questions about this option should also be directed to the Biosafety Officer.
    • Please note that this option of treating onsite MUST not be used for animal carcasses exposed or not to human pathogens.
  • Shipment of both Infectious and Non-Infectious Biohazardous waste for offsite incineration. Biohazardous Waste will be packaged in shipping containers supplied by OES Hazardous Materials/Environmental Compliance Program. Once the containers are filled, you will use the waste pickup request form to notify OES that the waste is ready for pickup from the lab. For more information or questions about this option, please contact the Hazardous Materials/Environmental Compliance Manager.

  The infectious and non-infectious waste labels can be found on the waste pickup request form page or you can access them from the Manuals, Guides and Labels page.

  Sharps containers

  Sharps management is an important part of any biosafety program.  Any lab generated sharp, except for broken glass and chemically contaminated sharps, MUST be managed as infectious biohazardous waste.  Sharps containers are provided free of charge by Occupational and Environmental Safety.  Just fill out the biohazardous waste pick up request form and indicate the need for sharps containers in the comment section.

• Asbestos Waste Information and Pickup

  Do not touch Asbestos if you have not been trained.

  Please see our Asbestos Management page for more information.

• Radioactive Waste Information and Pickup

  Please see our Radioactive Materials page for more information.

Hazardous Materials Blog & Events

Clemson Research News