Hazardous Waste Disposal Pittsburgh

Management of Unwanted/Expired Controlled Substances

Controlled substances that are expired or are no longer of use to your research must be disposed of through a reverse distributor.

Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) has made arrangements with reverse distributors to ensure that unwanted/expired controlled substances are securely transported and completely destroyed in compliance with EPA and DEA disposal requirements.

EH&S has scheduled the following collection dates for 2017:

Unwanted/Expired Controlled Substances Disposal Forms MUST be received at least a week in advance of the respective collection date.

Additional information regarding controlled substances is available at .

Chemical Redistribution

The University of Pittsburgh Chemical Redistribution Program provides faculty and staff with the opportunity to obtain chemicals free of charge. This program is currently available to University laboratories located on the Oakland campus. The Chemical Redistribution Program can reduce expenses for both purchasing and waste disposal. The program emphasizes the University’s commitment to environmental protection by reducing the overall volumes of chemical waste generated.

Chemical Waste Disposal

When a material has no further use and has been declared a waste by the user, it must be clearly labeled as a waste. The proper disposal of waste chemicals at the University of Pittsburgh is a must to meet our stewardship and regulatory compliance requirements. The responsibility for the identification and handling of hazardous waste within the University rests with the individual(s) who have created the waste (generators). The Department of Environmental Health and Safety is available to provide technical guidance, assistance, and information.

The University of Pittsburgh is classified as a large-quantity generator of hazardous waste, and therefore Pittsburgh campus laboratories must remove all chemical waste within 90 days. Laboratories must not accumulate waste for more than 30 days before placing them in the University hazardous-waste pickup area. The University's standard procedures for waste pickup should be followed.

Biological Waste Disposal

All biological, infectious, and chemotherapeutic waste that is generated at the University of Pittsburgh must be disinfected and disposed of properly. No infectious wastes are permitted to leave the premises or control of the Principal Investigator without first being disinfected or sterilized to ensure that they present no harm to others or the environment.

As with other classifications of waste, the responsibility for the identification and handling of biological waste within the University rests with the generator. The Department of Environmental Health and Safety is available to provide technical guidance, assistance, and information, as required for the proper handling and disposal of these materials.

Disposal Of Electronic Equipment

Electronic Waste is unwanted computers, monitors, televisions, audio equipment, printers, laptops, fax machines, telephones, and other electronic equipment.

When electronic equipment breaks or becomes obsolete, it must be properly disposed or recycled. This electronic equipment may contain heavy metals and other materials that can become hazardous to human health and the environment, including:

• Lead: Computer monitors and televisions contain a cathode ray tube (CRT). CRTs contain leaded glass and are the largest source of lead, a poisonous metal, in municipal waste.
• Mercury: Some electronic equipment contains recoverable quantities of mercury, another poisonous metal.
• Cadmium: Rechargeable nickel-cadmium (NiCd) batteries are the largest source of cadmium in municipal waste.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) currently classifies discarded electronic equipment that contains these hazardous materials as characteristic hazardous wastes under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.

To ensure that unwanted electronic equipment from the University of Pittsburgh is managed in accordance with EPA requirements, please follow the University’s policy and procedure for the disposition of these items (#10-06-04 Surplus Equipment Recycling and Disposal):

• Do not place any electronic equipment in the trash, even if it is broken.
• Request a pickup online via or request a pickup by calling surplus property at 412-624-6500.

Electronic Waste Disposal Links

Residual Waste Disposal

Residual Waste is defined and regulated in the State of Pennsylvania by PA Code, Title 25, Article IX. Residual Waste. This code specifies general procedures and rules for persons or municipalities who generate, manage or handle residual waste. This code defines a residual waste as "Garbage, refuse, other discarded material or other waste, including solid, liquid, semisolid or contained gaseous materials resulting from industrial, mining and agricultural operations and sludge from an industrial, mining or agricultural water supply treatment facility, wastewater treatment facility or air pollution control facility, if it is not hazardous..."

This code regulates the following wastes as residual wastes:

• water-supply treatment plant sludges
• waste oil that is not hazardous waste oil
• waste tires
• fuel-contaminated soil
• used asphalt
• asbestos containing waste
• PCB containing waste

In addition to the above listed materials, the following categories of waste are classified as residual wastes:

University generators of residual waste should contact the Department of Environmental Health and Safety for guidance in the proper disposal of these materials or to determine if their waste is classified as residual.