LAWS AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING HAZARDOUS WASTE
Dangerous Waste Regulations Chapter 173-303 WAC
State and federal laws require businesses and industries that generate, store, or accumulate hazardous waste to comply with proper treatment, storage, and disposal practices. In the State of Washington, small quantity generators of dangerous wastes (DW) or extremely hazardous wastes (EHW) can simplify their responsibilities by delivering their regulated wastes to a State/Federally authorized treatment, storage, and disposal facility (TSD).
Even though the Pacific County's Moderate Risk Waste Facility is not a TSD, it is permitted to receive this waste due to a contract it has with a state/federally licensed TSD hazardous waste disposal contractor.
PROGRAM QUALIFICATIONS
Businesses qualify for this program and can be exempt from the full hazardous waste regulations that apply to generators of larger quantities if their total quantity of dangerous waste generated in one month, (counting both DW and EHW) does not equal or exceed 220 pounds.
Businesses will not qualify as a SQG if they accumulate more than 2,200 pounds of dangerous waste on site at any time.
HOW DO I GET STARTED?
The first step is to determine if your business generates hazardous waste in the first place.
The second step is to measure the amount of hazardous waste generated per month to determine if you business is a SQG.
Once you have determined that your business is a SQG, contact an
Environmental Health Specialist listed above to provide an inventory and quantities of waste you intend to bring in and to set an appointment to do so.
PROVIDING INFORMATION
You will need to furnish a clear,
complete description of your hazardous waste. This can be achieved by
keeping waste in its original container whenever possible. Containers
can provide valuable waste information for processing of materials. If
the waste is not in the original container, label the container clearly with the chemical contents, or bring the original container with you. Copies of the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), can provide the above information. A MSDS provides a breakdown of hazards associated with the product. We would like to receive copies of the MSDS for the wastes you are bringing. This information may be found at Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS).
Identify waste in the following manner:
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Chemical or Trade Name
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Physical and Chemical Characteristics
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Chemical Constituents and Percentages of Constituents
-
Description of the Process Generating the Waste
Description of how the Material was used
Care must be taken to keep certain wastes segregated.
Mixed wastes are harder to manage and can react with one
another resulting in explosion or production of lethal gas.
DISPOSAL COSTS AND PAYMENT
Pacific County charges companies the amount it costs to cover the disposal fees only. Businesses may pay by cash, check, or can be invoiced for the appropriate amount. For an estimate of costs, use the
SQG Cost Estimate worksheet
(excel form/pdf
version). Additional costs may apply and prices may vary.
TYPICAL HAZARDOUS WASTE GENERATED BY SMALL BUSINESSES
