Chapter 6 - Where Hazardous Waste Is Generated (Satellite Accumulation Areas)

Satellite Accumulation Area (SAA) is the name given to the location where hazardous wastes are generated and stored before being moved to a campus 90-day central storage area. This includes such facilities as laboratories, shops, and photographic studios. 

Requirements for Satellite Accumulation of Hazardous Waste:

• All generators must attend Chemical Waste Disposal Training – either live or online.
• Hazardous waste must be stored at or near the point where the waste is generated, i.e., in the same room. By law, you cannot move hazardous waste containers from one room to another unless you are moving the container to a 180 day or 90 day storage area.  Preferably, there is only one SAA per room.
• A “Hazardous Waste Satellite Accumulation Area” sign should be posted at the area where the waste is generated and stored.
• Waste containers must be under the control of the operator of the process that generates the waste. This can be a Principal Investigator, supervisor, or the person generating the waste.
• Waste containers must be in good condition, no dents, cracks etc., and lids intact and functional.
• Wastes must be chemically compatible with the container.
• Containers must be closed except when adding or removing waste. Do not leave a funnel in the bottle.
• Mark containers with the words "hazardous waste" and other words that identify the contents. When more than one chemical waste is stored in a container, the amount or approximate percentage of each constituent must be identified on the label. (The words “Hazardous Waste are preprinted on the EHS green & white two-part labels).  Outlying facilities, please contact your Department Safety Representative for local procedures or contact EHS at askEHS for questions about managing hazardous waste at their facilities.
• Store hazardous waste chemicals in secondary containment whenever possible.  Plastic bins offer the  best protection against spills.
• Deface original container labels on reused bottles, except when the waste matches the label.
• Chemical containers that held P-Listed wastes are acutely toxic and must be triple rinsed, and the rinsate collected and shipped as hazardous waste.
• Segregate the waste by chemical hazards.
• No more than 55 gallons of hazardous waste, or one quart of acutely hazardous waste (P-listed), may be accumulated in a Satellite Accumulation Area. Containers of excess waste must be dated at the time 55 gallons is exceeded and moved to a 90 Day Accumulation Area within 72 hours.
• Place the completed top copy of hazardous waste labels in the UN rated DOT approved transport box(es) with the waste, and submit an online “Request For Chemical Waste Removal Form.” EHS personnel normally pickup the waste on Wednesdays and Fridays but this may vary depending on workloads, holidays, and a customer's special needs.  Outlying facilities, please contact your Department Safety Representative for local procedures or contact EHS at askEHS for pick-up schedule.
• Clean up small spills of hazardous waste if you have the proper training, the proper personal protective equipment (PPE), and feel comfortable doing so. Spill cleanup material of some hazardous waste, specifically P-listed wastes, must also be disposed of as hazardous waste.  If you are unsure, then please contact EHS at "askEHS". You can find more information on cleaning up small/incidental spills in the Laboratory Safety Manual and Chemical Hygiene Plan.