Hazardous Chemical Waste

Liquid or Solid Hazardous Chemical Waste

University Environmental Health & Safety provides lab and shop hazardous waste management guides that are posted in most labs and shops. Hazardous waste rules are enforced by university Environmental Health & Safety to comply with government regulations, waste removal contractor requirements, and best practices to protect safety staff and custodial staff. 

Submit a College of Science chemical waste pickup request when a chemical waste container is full or approaching 9 months of accumulation. The College Safety Team will arrange to pick up the waste within 3 business days.

  • Hazardous Chemical Waste Costs: University Environmental Health & Safety pays for almost all hazardous chemical waste disposal on campus. If an egregious hazardous waste management error occurs, the university may charge back to lab/shop supervisors, departments, or colleges.
  • Chemical Waste Containers: The College Safety Team or the Moss Landing Marine Labs Safety Officer provides chemical waste containers upon request. Container material type must be compatible with the waste it will hold.
  • Chemical Waste Labels: Chemical waste must be collected in containers with appropriate chemical waste labels. Safety staff will reject a pickup if the waste label is not completed. Regulatory agencies can fine labs/shops if waste labels are not complete.
  • Chemical Waste Disposal Reminders: Improper waste disposal has caused serious accidents at SJSU!
    • Read the label and check if the bottle is the correct waste stream prior to placing your chemical in the bottle.
    • Safety Data Sheets should be carefully consulted to ensure correct disposal of any particular chemical.
    • Utmost care must be taken to avoid combining incompatible waste materials in the same container. Contact the lab/shop supervisor and/or the College Safety Team if you need help BEFORE you mix wastes together. Inappropriate mixes can be unsafe and/or very expensive to dispose of through our campus waste vendors. 
    • Promptly clean up any spills on the outside of the waste container. You must immediately replace the hazardous waste label if damaged. 
    • Do not overfill waste containers. Always leave headspace inside the container to account for the thermal expansion of liquids.
    • Use funnels to help prevent spills and more easily transfer chemicals. Remove the funnel and close the lid immediately after waste collection is completed. If the waste container has an Eco-funnel or similar safety funnel, the funnel can remain mounted on the hazardous waste container but the lid must be securely closed immediately after waste collection is completed.
  • Evaporating Hazardous Waste: Do not intentionally evaporate hazardous wastes into the chemical fume hood or other exhaust systems. Doing so requires a permit from the California Department of Toxic Substances Control.
  • Transporting Hazardous Waste: Hazardous waste may only be transported from labs/shops to the Environmental Health & Safety waste accumulation areas by staff with specialized training. Do not transport hazardous waste outside of the usual scope of your lab/shop without assistance from safety staff. Do not drop off hazardous waste at safety staff offices.
  • Drums: Request a hazardous waste pickup when drums reach 75% capacity due to the additional logistical requirements for drum pickups and disposal through the campus waste contractor. The College Safety Team will reach out to coordinate pickup and replacement before the drum reaches full capacity. 
  • Empty Chemical Containers: If you are uncertain about the safety of empty chemical containers, request a hazardous waste pickup to avoid putting any custodial staff at risk. If you are confident that you can render a container non-hazardous through standard lab protocols, then proceed with the instructions on the lab and shop hazardous waste management guides from university Environmental Health & Safety.

Drain Disposal: 

Do not dispose of any chemical waste into sanitary sewer drains without approval from university Environmental Health & Safety (ehs@sjsu.edu). Never dispose of any chemical in a stormwater drain.

Compressed Gas and Cryogenic Liquid Wastes:

  • Lecture Bottles: Disposal must be arranged by submitting a college hazardous waste pickup request. Lecture bottles are not reusable, so they must be disposed of as hazardous waste.
  • SJSU Main Campus: Department staff are responsible for the return of empty or unnecessary cylinders and dewars to the vendor.
  • Moss Landing Marine Labs: Lab/shop supervisors are responsible for the return of empty or unnecessary cylinders and dewars to the vendor.