Because we generate a variety of waste products that require specific disposal methods, we contract with specialized removal vendors to get rid of these types of waste. Continue reading to learn what is considered hazardous, universal, or medical waste.
Do not throw hazardous, universal, or medical waste in the trash.
| Location | Name | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| American River College | Matthew Blevis | (916) 484-8460 |
| Cosumnes River College | Grace Corpuz | (916) 691-7418 |
| District Office | Debbie Turner | (916) 568-3189 |
| El Dorado Center | Adrienne Andrews | (530) 344-5716 |
| Folsom Lake College | Colleen Johnson | (916) 608-6585 |
| Facilities Management | Operations Supervisor | (916) 568-3402 |
| Sacramento City College | Karen Chewning | (916) 558-2453 |
Hazardous Waste
Hazardous waste includes chemicals, photo chemicals, used oil, and latex paint. If you handle or generate hazardous waste, then you must ensure the safe and proper ordering, storing, labeling, collection, accumulation, packaging, and disposal of hazardous materials and waste.
Hazardous Waste Guidelines
- Hazardous materials or chemicals become a waste when you decide that you no longer intend to use or re-use it.
- Each location has a designated area to properly store waste.
- Hazardous waste must be picked up within 180 days of the first drop.
- If your department needs a waste pick up, call your campus contact.
- Ensure that employees are thoroughly familiar with proper waste handling and emergency procedures relevant to their responsibilities.
Universal Waste
Universal wastes contain harmful chemicals that can harm people, animals, or the environment. It is illegal to dispose of universal waste in the garbage. Universal wastes include:
- Common batteries, such as AA, AAA, C cells, D cells, cell phone batteries, and button batteries. Batteries may contain corrosive chemicals that can cause burns. Automotive batteries are not universal waste.
- Fluorescent light tubes and bulbs; energy star compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs); high intensity discharge (HID), metal halide, sodium, and neon bulbs; and other mercury-containing lamps. These lights contain mercury vapor that may be released to the environment when they are broken. Mercury is a toxic metal that can cause harm to people and animals, including nerve damage and birth defects.
- Electronic devices, such as televisions, computer monitors, computers, printers, VCRs, cell phones, telephones, radios, and microwave ovens. These devices often contain heavy metals like lead, cadmium, copper, and chromium.
- Mercury-containing devices, including novelty items (for example, flashing lights in pins and shoes), thermostats, switches, thermometers, dental amalgam, pressure and vacuum gauges, counterweights and dampers, medical devices known as dilators and weighted tubing, certain rubber flooring, and gas flow regulators used in older residential gas meters.
- Non-Empty aerosol cans that contain hazardous materials. Many products in aerosol cans are toxic and contain flammables as propellants for products like paint. If your aerosol can is labeled with works like toxic or flammable, then don't put it in the trash unless it is completely empty.
Medical Waste
Medical waste includes:
- Biohazard red bags
- Blood-soaked items
- Broken glass
- Needles
- Sharps