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:

Responsible Person: The individual accountable for the room or area (e.g., the Principal Investigator (PI) for laboratories).

Contact Information: Email address and phone number for the responsible person.

Funding Entity: The university, agency, or company funding the work that generates the waste (e.g., AgriLife, TEEX, TTI, SSC).

Department: The managing department (e.g., Chemistry, Biology, Residence Life).

Location: Building name/number and room number(s).


Note:

  1. A single responsible person may have several rooms or areas registered under their name.

  2. If the research generating the waste is dual-funded (by more than one agency), please provide that information.

Chemical Waste Disposal Informational

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

Instructions for Hazardous Chemical Waste Disposal Tags


  1. Tagging Containers

    • Attach a green Hazardous Waste Disposal Tag to each container immediately after the waste is added.
    • Ensure the tag is securely affixed using a string or rubber band.

  2. Recording Constituents

    • List every chemical constituent added to the container.
    • Include water and any other dilutants – nothing should be omitted.
    • Use full chemical names only (no abbreviations, formulas, or common/trade names)

  3. Indicate Percentage

    • For each listed chemical, record its approximate percentage (%) in the mixture.
    • The percentage should reflect the best estimate of the composition and must total 100%.

  4. Identifying Hazards

    • At the bottom of the tag, clearly indicate all applicable hazard characteristics:
      • Ignitable
      • Corrosive
      • Reactive
      • Toxic 
A brown bottle in a container with a green label attached around the lid.
Relevant Documents

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:

  1. Containers with other hazards, such as Biohazard or Radioactive Material, will not be accepted by this program.  Even if they have an associated chemical hazard, the other hazards must be managed in a manner acceptable by BioSafety (bohp@tamu.edu) or Rad Safety before they can be disposed of as chemical waste. 
  2. Larger containers (55-gallon drums) may be requested by contacting chemdisposal@tamu.edu.
Note

Containers with other hazards, such as Biohazard or Radioactive Material, will not be accepted by this program. Even if they have an associated chemical hazard, the other hazards must be managed in a manner acceptable to BioSafety (link) or RadSafety (link) before they can be disposed of as chemical waste. Larger containers (55-gallon drums) may be requested by contacting chemdisposal@tamu.edu.

Preparing a Container for Waste Accumulation

  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 Disposal Tag and indicate any substances added to the container (do not use abbreviations, formulas, or common/trade names).
  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 at about 90% of its capacity.

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

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.