Texas A&M University Environmental Health & Safety

Registering Your Workspace for Chemical Waste Removal

A workspace is any room or area where chemical waste is generated. Each workspace must be registered and assigned to a responsible individual familiar with the processes that generate waste.

To register a new workspace or to update information about a registration, send an email to chemdisposal@tamu.edu with the following information:

  • Person responsible for the room/area (Principal Investigator (PI) for labs)
  • Email address and phone number of the person responsible
  • University, Agency, or Company (such as AgriLife, TEEX, TTI, SSC, etc.) that funds the work generating the waste
  • Department (e.g., Chemistry, Biology, Residence Life)
  • Building and room number

Note:

  1. A single responsible person may have several rooms or areas registered to them.
  2. If the research is dual-funded (by more than one agency), please provide that information.
A gloved hand holds a multiwell plate beneath an automated pipetting machine in a laboratory environment.

Credit: Texas A&M University Division of Marketing & Communications

Obtaining Chemical Waste Disposal Tags

To request hazardous chemical waste disposal tags, please email chemdisposal@tamu.edu or call 979-845-2132. Be sure to include the following information in your message or call:

  • The number of tags you are requesting
  • Your name
  • Your mail stop number

Jason Ward

Manager

Instructions for Hazardous Chemical Waste Disposal Tags

  1. Tagging Containers: Attach a green Hazardous Waste Disposal Tag to the container as soon as waste is added.
  2. Recording Constituents: Write down each constituent of the waste added to the container, including water.
  3. Indicating Percentages: Include the percentage of each constituent to the right of the chemical name.
  4. Noting Hazards: At the bottom of the tag, indicate any associated hazards (ignitable, corrosive, reactive, or toxic).

Note: Each container must have its own unique hazardous waste tag. Avoid using abbreviations or common names.

 

A brown bottle in a container with a green label attached around the lid.
Relevant Documents

Lab Clean-Out Procedure for Disposing Chemical Waste

When a laboratory is being decommissioned or moved, personnel may need to dispose of a large number of chemicals. This process can take considerable time to complete the necessary Hazardous Waste Disposal Tags and disposal requests.

Before disposing of a large quantity of chemicals, please email chemdisposal@tamu.edu or call 845-3498. EHS has established protocols that may help streamline the process.

Close-up of two gloved hands cleaning a surface. One holds a spray bottle with a blue nozzle, and the other wipes the surface with a white paper towel.

Waste Container Guidelines

Choose an appropriate container that meets the following criteria:

Compatibility - Ensure the container is compatible with the waste (e.g., do not place corrosives in metal containers).
Condition - The container should be in good condition, free of rust, leaks, or defects.
Closure - The container must have an operable closure that will not leak if overturned.

 

Note

The original container of the product is often the best choice for waste disposal, provided the process that generated the waste did not alter its hazards.

Preparing a Container for Waste

  1. Labeling: Deface any existing labels or markings on the container and clearly label it as "Waste."
  2. Residue Check: Ensure that the container is free of any residue that could be incompatible with the new waste being added.
  3. Tagging: Attach the green Hazardous Waste Tag and indicate any substances added to the container (do not use abbreviations or chemical formulas).
  4. Closure: Keep the container closed unless you are actively adding waste material.
  5. Storage: Store chemical waste in a designated area and in secondary containment, under the generator's control.
  6. Filling Limits: A waste container is considered full when it reaches the neck of the chemical jug or is about 90% of its potential volume.

Note: Do not place chemicals that may react or are already reacting into the same waste container.

Person wearing protective gear holding two large white chemical containers with colored caps—one yellow and one red—in an industrial or laboratory setting.
Reference Links