Common types of dangerous waste in federal and military facilities
- Aerosol cans
- Absorbent materials, such as kitty litter contaminated with dangerous waste
- Antifreeze
- Batteries, particularly lead-acid batteries
- Fluorescent bulbs and PCB-containing light ballasts
- Lead-containing materials (such as wheel weights, battery cable ends)
- Mercury auto switches (hood and trunk light switches, anti-lock brake sensors)
- Mercury light bulbs and lamps
- Metal cleaning and plating wastes (such as sludges, acid/alkaline solutions, or metal-bearing and cyanide bearing solutions)
- Paint (waste or expired, oil-based). Paint booth filters and masking tape
- Refrigerants (see Automotive recyclers)
- Sanding dust (can be toxic if it's from older vehicles. Test to determine waste codes)
- Scrap metal (catalytic converters, metal fuel filters, cuttings, lead parts, metal beams, wire pipes, tanks, filters for example. No waste code needed if managed as scrap metal)
- Soil (contaminated by heavy metals requires testing to determine waste codes)
- Solvents
- 1,1,1-trichloroethane
- Methylene chloride
- Trichloroethylene
- Waste methylene chloride paint thinner
- Waste methylene chloride paint sludge stripped from parts equipment
- Toluene
- MEK
- Sludge or “bottoms” from solvent stills that recycle gun cleaner or thinner
- Sump sludges (often toxic due to metal content and petroleum hydrocarbons. Test to determine waste codes)
- Used oil (metalworking oils, coolants, and debris)
- Used shop towels and other absorbent materials (kitty litter for oil, for example)
- Vehicle parts (see Automotive recyclers): air bags, batteries, brake fluid, fuel and fuel filters, windshield washer fluid, tires.
Visit
FedCenter.gov for more information on federal environmental stewardship and compliance for federal facilities, including regulatory updates, information on targeted program areas, and data centers for tracking your facility's compliance records and permits