New Mexico State University

PROCEDURES FOR AUTOMOTIVE AND OTHER WASTE

Special procedures are currently in used at NMSU for motor oil, vehicle anti-freeze, lead-acid batteries, other hazardous batteries, and hazardous surplus materials (such as asbestos, PCB transformer or capacitor oil, etc)

  A. BATTERIES

1. Lead-acid batteries (i.e., batteries which contain lead and sulfuric acid, such as automotive batteries) are hazardous and must be turned in to the battery storage facility.
2. It is the generator’s responsibility to insure that all caps on the battery cells are tightly in place and that the battery is not leaking.  If caps are missing, or batteries are cracked, the battery must be patched or capped prior to turn in.  Call EH&S for assistance with problem batteries.
3. The electrolyte (acid) must not be separated from the battery.  If separated, two hazardous wastes are created.  The battery is a hazardous waste because of lead content and the electrolyte is a hazardous waste because of the characteristic of corrosivity.
4. Alkaline batteries, identifiable by the word “alkaline” on the label, are a non-hazardous waste and may be disposed of in any trash receptacle, with ultimate disposition in the NMSU landfill.
5. Carbon-zinc batteries (common flashlight or lantern battery, sizes AAA to D) are a non-hazardous waste and may be disposed of in any trash receptacle, with ultimate disposition in the NMSU landfill.
6. Mercury batteries (labeled “mercury”) are a hazardous waste because of the mercury content.  The batteries must be collected in an approved Waste Accumulation Area.  Call EH&S for locations of the Accumulations.
7. Nickel-Cadmium rechargeable batteries, commonly used in emergency power systems, are a hazardous waste because of their cadmium content.  The electrolyte from wet nickel-cadmium batteries must be separated from the batteries prior to disposal.  Both the battery and the electrolyte are hazardous waste.  All spent nickel-cadmium batteries must be collected in an approved Waste Accumulation Area.  Call EH&S for information in proper electrolyte removal, disposal procedures, and locations of the Accumulation Areas.
8. Silver-Oxide Batteries are a hazardous waste because of the silver content.   They must be collected in an approved Waste Accumulation Area.  Call EH&S for locations of the Accumulation Areas.
9. Unidentified or Other Batteries – EH&S must be contacted prior to the disposal of any battery not listed in this procedures or if personnel are uncertain of the battery type.

B.   WASTE OIL

1. Used oil drained from engines or machinery shall be transferred to a Waste Accumulation Area and placed in the appropriate container
2. Containers used for the accumulation of used oil must be 55-gallon capacity steel drums with closed heads.
3. When a container is full it will be turned in to EH&S .  Prior to a full container being turned in, the Generator will insure that:
   1. The waste oil is in a 55-gallon closed head drum which is clean and in good condition.
   2. The drum has a legible NMSU/EH&S label.
   3. The drum has a properly completed log book
   4. The drum is not overfilled, i.e., 6 inches of space should remain between the level of the liquid and the top of the drum
   5. The composition (the percentages of each type of oil [mineral, motor, hydraulic, etc.], water, dirt, etc.) of the waste is written on the top of the drum with a permanent marker.

C. WASTE ANTI-FREEZE

1. Anti-freeze (used ethylene glycol or alcohol based coolant) drained from engines or machinery shall be transferred to a Waste Accumulation Area and placed in the appropriate container.
2. Containers used for the accumulation of anti-freeze must be 55-gallon capacity steel drum with closed head.
3. When a container is full it will be turned in to EH&S .Prior to a full container being turned in, the Generator will insure that:
   •  The waste anti-freeze is in a 55-gallon closed head drum which is clean and in good condition.
   • The drum has a legible EH&S label.
   • The drum has a properly completed log book
   • The drum is not overfilled, i.e., 6 inches of space should remain between the level of the liquid and the top of the drum.
   • The composition (the percentages of each type of anti-freeze, water, dirt, etc.) of the waste is written on the top of the drum with a permanent marker.

D. HAZARDOUS SURPLUS MATERIALS

1. It is the responsibility of the Generator to make an attempt to find an alternative user for the material prior to the declaration of surplus and subsequent request for disposal.
2. A waste disposal sheet must be completed for each hazardous surplus material.
3. Hazardous surplus material remains product and must be handled as such until accepted for disposal by EH&S .