Special Waste

Glen PughDepartment of Environment and ConservationDivision of Solid Waste ManagementPresentation to Solid Waste Advisory CommitteeJuly 5, 2007

What is Solid Waste?

"Solid waste" means any garbage, trash, refuse, abandoned material, byproducts, scrap, ash, sludge, and all discarded material including solid, liquid, semisolid, or contained gaseous material resulting from industrial, commercial, and agricultural operations, and from community activities. . .

What is a Special Waste?

Solid wastes that are either difficult or dangerous to manage

May include sludges, bulky wastes, pesticide wastes, medical wastes, industrial wastes, liquid wastes, friable asbestos wastes, combustion wastes, and hazardous wastes which are not subject to regulations under Department Rules 1200-1-11-.03 thru 1200-1-11-.07 (hazardous waste regs which refer to wastes such as household hazardous waste in small containers from households)

No Hazardous Waste

How does EPA define a hazardous waste?

Characteristic Hazardous Wastesignitability (flash point <140, gas, oxidizer)corrosivity (pH <2 or >12.5)reactivity (unstable, pressure, reacts with

water)toxicity (fails a TCLP test)

Listed Hazardous Wastesfrom electroplating, parts washing, other

industrial processes (can include solvents, chemicals, poisons, etc.)

Special Waste Approvals

Two ways to authorize disposal of special wastes:

1. Special waste approval letter

2. The facility permit

Special Waste Approval Process

Waste Generator Submits Application

Landfill Disposal Recordkeeping

DSWM Reviews application Reviews records Reviews disposal procedures

Special Waste Re-certification

The generator must annually re-certify by July 1 of each year the accuracy of the information on a form provided by the Department, certifying there has been no change in the waste stream since the original special waste approval was granted by the Department.

The definition of Special Waste and the approval Process are set forth in the Rule 1200-1-7.

Examples of Special Wastes

Untreated Medical Wastes Friable Asbestos Municipal Sewage Sludge Secondary Aluminum Smelter

Waste Mercury containing wastes, such

as thermostats and fluorescent bulbs

Dry cell batteries

Examples of Special Wastes

Ash Cathode ray tubes in TVs and

monitors Electronics (computers, cell

phones, etc) Recalled food waste Dead animals BSFR

Bulk Survey for Release (BSFR)

Quantities (at Middle Point) Between 1999 and 2007, a total of 12,000

tons

Note: Above tonnages are part of the 9,000,000 tons of total waste placed in Middle Point during that period. This represents 0.13% of the total waste stream.

Sites Receiving BSFR

Facilities (Statewide) BFI Middle Point BFI Carter Valley BFI North Shelby BFI South Shelby WM Chestnut Ridge

Special Waste Conditions for BSFR

Waste must be placed and covered immediately upon receipt.

All radiological sensing equipment must be installed, calibrated, maintained, inspected and tested periodically. Verification records must be kept at the scale house.

A written protocol for responding to alarms is required, and must be kept at the facility.

The generator must provide an annual report including the total quantity of waste delivered to and disposed of at the landfill.