BENTON COUNTY SMALL QUANTITY GENERATOR PROGRAM

The Benton County Regional Moderate Risk Waste Facility (MRWF) offers an opportunity for businesses within Benton County to dispose of their hazardous waste. If your business generates less than 220 pounds per month of dangerous waste, or 2.2 pounds or less of extremely hazardous waste, we can assist with its proper disposal of your hazardous waste. This program was developed by Benton County and the Cities of Richland and Kennewick to assist businesses with proper disposal of hazardous waste in compliance with current regulations. It is focused toward small quantity generators (SQG) of hazardous waste throughout Benton County.

To utilize the program's services please call facility staff at 942-7387. This will allow staff to perform a quick inventory of your waste over the phone. Considering quantity or type of waste, facility staff may need to visit your business to properly package and transport material for disposal. In addition, the following summary of State Regulations may assist you in determining your business hazardous waste classification. Please note that hazardous waste from regulated businesses (Large Quantity Generators) is not accepted.

LAWS AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING HAZARDOUS WASTE (Dangerous Waste Regulations, Chapter 173-303 WAC)

State and federal laws require businesses and industries that generate, store, or accumulate dangerous waste to comply with proper treatment, storage, and disposal practices. In the State of Washington small quantity generators (SQG) of dangerous wastes (DW) or extremely hazardous wastes (EHW) can simplify their responsibilities by delivering their regulated wastes to a State/Federally authorized treatment, storage and disposal facility (TSD Facility). Even though the Benton County Regional Moderate Risk Waste Facility (MRWF) is not a TSD, it is permitted by the Benton County Health Department for the receipt of this waste because of a contract it has with a State/Federally licensed TSD hazardous waste disposal contractor.

PROGRAM QUALIFICATIONS

Businesses accumulating up to 2,200 pounds of dangerous waste on-site can participate in the SQG program. However, I order to remain a small quantity generator, the total quantity of hazardous waste generated in one month, all DW and EHW, must not equal or exceed 220 pounds. In addition, at no time can a business exceed the accumulation of 2.2 pounds of EHW and still remain a SQG.

QUANTITIES AND WASTE EXAMPLES

Twenty-two hundred (2,200) pounds equals approximately five 55-gallon drums of liquid of dangerous waste (used product). Examples include paints, thinners, paint removers, inks and toners, solvents, photographic chemicals, janitorial supplies, and wood working supplies.

One quart equals approximately 2.2 pounds, or 1 kilogram. This means certain chemical products and/or wastes that are EHW may be regulated at 2.2 pounds. Examples are discarded chemicals such as unused laboratory chemicals (i.e., used by doctors, dentists) or certain out-of-date or banned pesticides. (Refer to Chapter 173-303 WAC for better definitions.)

WASTE NOT ACCEPTED IN THE SQG PROGRAM

• Explosives.
• Pesticides in bulk containers exceeding five gallon containers.
• Radioactive wastes.
• Shock Hazards-reactive wastes such as picric acid, and ethyl ether.
• Biohazards-infectious wastes found in labs or hospitals.

INFORMATION NEEDED WHEN CALLING THE FACILITY FOR DISPOSAL SERVICE

You will need to furnish a clear, complete description of your hazardous waste. This can be achieved by keeping waste in its original container whenever possible. Containers can provide valuable waste information for processing of materials. If the waste is not in its original container, label the container clearly with the chemical contents, or bring the original container with you. If you have on file, or can obtain from the product suppliers, copies of the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) you will find the above information. A MSDS provides a breakdown of hazards associated with the product. Copies of the MSDS for the wastes you are bringing should accompany the waste for our records.

Identify waste in the following manner:

• Chemical or trade name
• Physical and chemical characteristics
• Chemical constituents and percentages of constituents
• Description of the process generating the waste
• Description of how the material was used.

Care must be taken to keep certain wastes segregated and never mixed. Mixed wastes are harder to manage and could react with one another and result in an explosion or produce a lethal gas.

DISPOSAL COST AND PAYMENT

Costs can be calculated by performing a waste inventory and referencing the disposal costs in Table I. Facility staff can also provide information on other alternative disposal methods if they are available. Businesses may pay by check, credit card at Richland City hall, or your business can be invoiced for the appropriate amount. An appointment needs to be make with MRWF staff following an inventory of your waste.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

To be accepted, your hazardous waste must include the following information:

• Business Name and address
• Billing address
• Contact name.

BUSINESSES THAT GENERATE MORE THAN THE 220 POUNDS OF DANGEROUS WASTE OR 2.2 POUNDS OF EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS WASTES PER MONTH

Businesses that exceed SQG quantities are large quantity generators (LQG) and must comply with additional regulations and permitting with the Washington State Department of Ecology (DOE). Call DOE at (509) 575-2409 for additional LQG information.

ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS

An Environmental Technician is available 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. weekdays and 9:00a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays to answer your questions. Please leave a detailed message if a technician is not available to answer your call. Phone number is 942-7387.