Recyclers News Press
Page 26
Environmental Standards
Iowa—Certified Auto Recyclers Environmental Program
I-CARE
Environmental Standard 19
Identify all hazardous waste through appropriate
analytical laboratory testing or verify documen-
tation of thorough knowledge as non-hazardous
waste.
Every business must determine whether its wastes
are hazardous or non-hazardous. Proper waste
characterization is essential in determining applica-
ble waste handling and disposal options.
Automotive salvage yards have many wastes that
are potentially hazardous. Some of these wastes
are exempt from hazardous waste management to
encourage recycling. A determination is not neces-
sary for these wastes, if recycled. Other waste may
or may not be hazardous. A demonstration of thor-
ough knowledge (such as information obtained from
the MSDS or a recent study) or an analytical labora-
tory test can make that determination.
These wastes are exempt from hazardous waste
management, if recycled:
Used Oil including Brake, Transmission &
Hydraulic Fluids
Spent Lead-Acid Batteries
Fluorescent Bulbs
Mercury Switches
Refrigerant
These wastes require a hazardous waste determi-
nation prior to selecting a disposal option:
Antifreeze
Oily Waste
Used Fuels
Sump sludge
Solvent Waste
The United States Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) establishes and enforces hazardous waste
regulations in Iowa. To implement an effective
waste management program, the facility must deter-
mine if its wastes are hazardous or non-hazardous.
Wastes are defined as hazardous by specific EPA
listing or by demonstrating one or more of the fol-
lowing characteristics:
Ignitability
- A waste is considered an ignitable
hazardous waste if it has a flash point less than 140
degrees Fahrenheit. Safety Data Sheets (SDS) may
be used as a reference.
Corrosivity -
A waste is considered hazardous be-
cause of its ability to corrode if it has a pH less than
or equal to 2 or greater than or equal to 12.5.
Reactivity -
A waste is considered hazardous be-
cause of its ability to react with another substance
or if the waste is unstable under normal conditions.
Toxicity -
Toxicity is determined by a specific labo-
ratory analytical procedure identified as Toxicity
Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP).
Identify the applicable EPA hazardous waste
generator category and maintain records to en-
sure compliance with storage limitations, in-
spection and recordkeeping regulations.
Three hazardous waste generator categories have
been established by the EPA. These include: (1)
Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generator
(CESQG); (2) Small Quantity Generator (SQG); and
(3) Large Quantity Generator (LQG).
CESQG Category
- The Conditionally Exempt
Small Quantity Generator category is the least re-
strictive regulatory category. Facilities that generate
less than 220 pounds (approximately 25 gallons of
hazardous waste per month and never accumulate
more than 2,200 pounds of hazardous waste at any
given time fall within the CESQG category.
