Hazardous Waste Management FAQs

EH&S HazMat has a dedicated portal that outlines: (a) the main waste streams generated at USC, (b) proper waste management and disposal, and (c) environmental compliance.

Find more information at https://ehs.usc.edu/hazmat-mgmt/ and the Hazardous Waste Management Manual.

Visit the Request a Hazardous Waste Pickup website for details. Research and non-research areas can submit requests via online forms.

Allow 3 to 5 business days for processing the request and removal of the waste.

If the waste is in an established waste accumulation area (WAA), then it is not required for someone to be present.

Waste storage locations other than WAA that are locked during normal business hours need to have representatives present when EH&S HazMat arrives.  Contact hazmat@usc.edu or (323) 442-2200 to re-schedule a pickup if personnel will not be available.

EH&S provides the following containers:

• Poly safety cans for flammable/combustible and halogenated solvent recycling
• Bio red bags and poly containers
• Red sharps containers
• Green sharps containers (for chemically-contaminated sharps)
• Pharmaceutical and Chemotherapy containers
• Pathological waste containers
• Fiber drums
• Poly bags
• Used battery containers

To request supplies, follow instructions in the EHSA SOP Waste Pickup + Supplies document (only for EHSA users) or by completing the Waste Supply Request Form on the EH&S Hazmat Website.

EH&S DOES NOT provide the following:

• Clean broken glass boxes or sturdy cardboard boxes
• Secondary containers/containment for stock chemicals, reagents, or waste storage (see Hazardous Waste Prep and Staging Guide Sheet)
• All other containers not supplied by EH&S.

Refer to the Hazardous Waste Guide Sheet for additional information on proper disposal.

Recycling programs for labs at USC are in development. However, below are a few viable options for labs.

Pipet Boxes

1. Ensure that pipet boxes are autoclavable and decontaminate for reuse/redistribution.
   • Store small tools/items.
   • Offer the decontaminated boxes to:
     • Department of Animal Resources (DAR) to house lab mice
     • Other groups/departments
     • Schools in the area through USC’s community partners
2. Recycle the boxes through the original manufacturer(s). (cost associated)
   • Fisher Scientific
   • USA Scientific
   • Corning, Falcon, or Axygen
   • Polycarbin – accepts any brand

Chemicals Exchange

• Share chemicals that are no longer needed with peer researchers.
• Donate chemicals to area schools.

Follow instructions at the Spill Response and Clean-Up web page. For notifications, follow steps here: Spill Notification Procedure.

EH&S does not relocate chemicals if labs are moving to a new building on campus. Labs should contact their schools and/or contract with external vendors to assist with the move. However, Hazmat can assist with any hazardous waste that needs to be discarded prior to or after the move. In some instances, if your lab is moving to a new space within the same building, Hazmat may be able to assist. In all cases, please fill out the Lab Closeout Request Form to initiate the dialogue with Hazmat and Research Safety teams.

Option 1: Decant PFA into a separate labeled hazardous waste container. Discard the tissue in an approved bio container – see Hazardous Waste Disposal Guide Sheet.

Option 2: Treat the samples as chemical waste – see Waste Hierarchy. Note on the hazardous waste label that the container has bio tissue.

Non-research facilities/labs can request a pick-up of certain hazardous materials (visit the Universal Waste web site for the list) by completing and submitting the Universal Waste Supply Request Form.

Labs that generate substantial quantities of silica gel waste can use fiber drums with poly bag liners supplied by EH&S HazMat.

Sealed tubes and ampules that contain liquids are placed in Ziploc/sealed bags (double bag if heavy) with a proper chemical waste label. DO NOT place these tubes/ampules with liquid in the sharps container.

It is NOT urgent to remove waste containers from your lab prior to the inspection. Ensure that expired/unwanted waste is properly labeled and submitted for disposal before the inspection. Consult the Hazardous Waste Prep and Staging Guide Sheet for more information.

EH&S safety inspectors will request proof of submission during the inspection.

• If the lab coats are soiled with biohazards:
  • Option A: Discard them directly into the solid biohazards bin with red bag.
  • Option B: Launder them through USC’s vendor-provided laundering services and then discard in regular trash.
• If the lab coats are contaminated with chemicals:
  • Option A: Discard them as hazardous waste directly into a labeled poly bag. Request a hazardous waste pickup.
  • Option B: Launder them through USC’s vendor-provided laundering services and then discard in regular trash.

• Bio-contaminated glass pipets – red bio sharps container
• Bio-contaminated plastic pipets – bio red bag/polycontainer
• Chemical-contaminated glass pipets – non-infectious green sharps container
• Non-contaminated glass pipets – clean broken glass box
• Non-contaminated plastic pipets – poly bag for solid waste

• Uncontaminated disposable gloves may be placed in regular trash.
• Bio-contaminated gloves are placed in bio red bag/polycontainer.
• Chemical-contaminated gloves are placed in a poly bag.

• Cardboard box lined with clear plastic. Hazardous waste label on the outside
• Green sharps container (e.g., small glass shards, razor blades, and needles)
• 30-gallon or 55-gallon drums for quartz tubes

See the Hazardous Waste Disposal Guide Sheet for more information.

EH&S HazMat does not pick up old lab equipment (including lab refrigerators). The equipment must first be decontaminated by the owner and certified by EH&S HazMat prior to FPM pick-up. Follow instructions listed in the Lab Move or Close-Out SOP Section 6.3.1 Decontamination.

Once EH&S HazMat certifies the lab equipment for removal, contact FPM Customer Resource Center (213) 740-6833 UPC (323) 442-8005 HSC to pick-up and manage the disposal of the equipment.

To dispose of refrigerators, contact FPM Customer Resource Center (213) 740-6833 UPC (323) 442-8005 HSC to pick-up and manage the disposal of the refrigerators. 

NOTE: Lab refrigerators must first be decontaminated by the owner and certified by EH&S HazMat prior to FPM pick-up. Follow instructions listed in the Lab Move or Close-Out SOP Section 6.3.1 Decontamination.

To dispose of small kitchen appliances and office equipment (e.g., copiers, printers), complete and submit the Universal Waste Pickup Request Form. Consult the Universal Waste Management Fact Sheet for more information.

Fume hood maintenance is handled by FPM. Contact FPM Customer Resource Center (213) 740-6833 UPC (323) 442-8005 HSC.

Chemical fume hoods are evaluated by HazMat and based on the assessment, HazMat will provide services or outsource the work. Contact hazmat@usc.edu for an evaluation.

All clean glass waste must be submitted to FPM at 213-740-6833 (Customer Service Resource Center).

• FPM will charge for the labor.
• Labs will need to provide an IBR # for payment when they submit the work order.

Labs may choose to take the clean glass waste to a recycling bin on campus.