Depending on their specific characteristics, hazardous wastes generated at ISU are either recycled, disposed of through a hazardous waste broker, or treated on site.  Treatment on site is limited to neutralization of certain acids and bases and certain types of water based latex paint solidification.  These three groups all have different requirements for packing, labeling, and handling.  Unregulated, non-hazardous wastes are either recycled or disposed of as ordinary trash.

2.1  Programs Goals
      The ISU Hazardous Waste Management Program is designed to achieve three major objectives for ISU:

• protection of human health, safety, and the environment;
• sound management of hazardous waste on the ISU campus, including waste minimization; and
• compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

2.1.1  Protection of Human Health
      Health and safety information on specific waste streams can be obtained from many sources.  Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs), provided either by the manufacturer, MSDS sites on the internet, the TSO’s webpage http://www.physics.isu.edu/health-physics/tso/msds.html or physical copies from the TSO, are the most common places to start.  The TSO also has other resources for health and safety information about hazardous waste that is available upon request.  Proper identification, labeling, and characterization of a waste protects the health and safety of all those who come in contact with it through normal procedures, inspections, or emergency response.  Proper training of individuals who handle hazardous materials and hazardous waste is also vital for meeting this objective.  Hazardous waste training from the TSO is available to all campus personnel upon request. 

2.1.2  Reduction of Hazardous Waste on ISU's Campuses
     The quantity of hazardous waste generated at ISU can be reduced significantly by:

• substituting non-hazardous material for hazardous material whenever possible;
• recycling unused material between teaching and research laboratories and between departments;
• defining and performing waste reduction chemistry as part of the process being used in the laboratories;
• monitoring of departmental purchases to identify and minimize the quantities of those materials that may become chemical hazardous waste;
• not accepting donated or “free” materials;
• proper classification and labeling of wastes and separation into appropriate waste categories for disposal.

2.1.3  Compliance With Laws and Regulations
     The policy of ISU is to comply fully with Federal, State, and local regulations regarding the accumulation, storage, identification, recycling, packaging, shipment, and disposal of hazardous wastes.  Since many agencies may be involved with a specific waste type and its use, it is important to have a good understanding of these laws and regulations to meet the objectives stated above.  If you are uncertain about what these rules are, or how they apply to you, contact the TSO at x2310 for assistance.

2.1.4  Waste Management References
     There are hundreds of thousands of specific materials and millions of mixtures.  Many of these materials do not possess hazardous properties; a small number, however, can be extremely harmful to human health and the environment, and must be respected.  Information is available on these hazardous materials, either in printed form or on electronic media.  Material Safety Data Sheets are required to be supplied by the chemical manufacturer and it is highly recommended that these sheets remain, in an organized fashion, with the chemical.  Assistance with hazardous material properties and the proper storage, handling, waste disposal, and regulatory requirements is available through the TSO.

Technical Safety Office Idaho State University Campus Box 8106 785 S. 8th St. PS Rm 101  Pocatello, ID 83209 Phone: (208) 282-2310 or 282-2311 Fax: (208) 282-4649