The EnviroBlog

  In July 2013 the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a final rule that modified the federal hazardous waste regulations around solvent-contaminated rags and wipes. The rule revised the definition of solid waste to conditionally exclude solvent-contaminated wipes that are cleaned and reused and revises the definition of hazardous waste to conditionally exclude disposable solvent-contaminated wipes. We’re here to share with you “What You Need To Know”. Solvent-Contaminated Wipes Final Rule adoption by state According to Maryland Department of Environment (MDE), the regulation is less-stringent with respect to disposal of solvent-contaminated rags & wipes and the provisions are not currently effective in Maryland. Meanwhile, the regulation is more-stringent with regards to laundering and reusing solvent-contaminated rags & wipes and MDE has changed its previous policy in order to maintain consistency with the basic element of these provisions of the federa...

WHAT WE KNOW: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a disease caused by a respiratory virus and it has not caused illness in humans before. Symptoms include: fever, dry cough, and shortness of breath. This virus is easily communicable and spreads in a similar manner to the cold or flu – respiratory droplets, contaminated surfaces, and close contact. This virus is affecting all of us and EMSI is committed to help keep your facility and personnel safe. Our Enviroexperts are trained and prepared to safely clean and decontaminate your potentially infected area, facility or location in accordance with CDC and OSHA requirements and recommendations and EPA regulation. HOW WE CAN HELP: Our Enviroexpert Infectious Response Service includes: Conduct assessment and planning Donning of Proper personal protective equipment (PPE) Use of EPA approved disinfecting agents Cleaning and decontamination according to OSHA biosafety standards, EPA regulation, and CDC recommendation Safe handlin...

The table below lists the user fees for fiscal years 2020 and 2021 (October 1, 2019, through September 30, 2021) for the e-Manifest system. These user fees are set based on the manifest usage and processing costs for each manifest type. EPA encourages the hazardous waste industry to adopt fully electronic manifesting as soon as possible so that industry members can take maximum advantage of the benefits and cost savings of electronic manifesting. However, EPA acknowledges that it will take time for industry to fully transition to electronic manifests. EPA supports wide adoption of electronic manifesting by the regulated community as soon as it’s feasible. Manifest submission type Fee per Manifest Mailed in paper manifest $25.00 Scanned image upload $20.00 Data + image upload $14.00 Electronic manifest (fully electronic & hybrid) $8.00 Who pays user fees? EPA charges user fees to receiving faciliti...

Neither The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) nor most states specifically define trace chemotherapy (often shortened to “chemo”). EPA has recently recognized trace chemo waste as empty IV bags, tubings, vials, gowns, gloves and other items that are contaminated with residual chemo pharmaceuticals.  To add to the overall confusion, EPA lists only nine chemo agents, but we must consider that the regulations were written years ago and have not been updated since the approval of numerous new drugs now on the market. What is Trace Chemotherapy Waste? All chemo paraphernalia should be managed as trace chemo waste if there is any risk exposure to chemo contamination. Trace chemo waste includes: RCRA empty vials, syringes, IV bags, tubing, gowns, gloves, wipes other paraphernalia associated with routine handling, preparation, and administration of chemo wipes and other materials used during routine cleaning and decontamination of a biological safety cabinet or glove box ...

Effectively developing, implementing and managing an integrated waste solution requires a very specific set of expertise, resources and planning.   We’re here to ensure your organization has the solutions and services you need to implement a scalable program that handles all you waste streams at all your locations. As your single source partner with our Enviroexpert Integrated Waste Solutions, we offer: ·          Assess and evaluate your companywide waste management and disposal programs for all waste including but not limited to hazardous waste, non-hazardous waste, pharmaceutical waste, regulated medical waste, universal waste, recycling materials, and secure and confidential documents for shredding.  We also assess points of generation and equipment efficiency with focus on evaluating collective effectiveness and identifying needs and conditions for success. ·          Design, Deve...

While the EPA normally prohibits hazardous waste treatment without a permit, in Maryland one rare exception can be found.   Using an ENU under certain conditions and meeting certain requirements in Maryland help some generators of hazardous waste lower disposal cost and sometimes even generator status designation. An Elementary neutralization unit is defined as a device which is used for neutralizing wastes which are hazardous only because they exhibit the corrosivity characteristic and is a tank, tank system, container, transport vehicle, or vessel.   In order to reap the extended benefits of using this equipment you must meet the following requirements: 1.        The waste must only be corrosive characteristic (D002).   If the waste is hazardous for any other reason (ie. Toxic in addition to corrosive), the benefits cannot be applied. 2.        The waste must be treated in an ENU immediately upon gene...

On 2/22/19, EPA has published the final rule: Management Standards for Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals and Amendment to the P075 Listing for Nicotine . This rule was initially proposed in 2015 and is scheduled to go into effect August 21, 2019. Goals for this rule include EPA’s efforts to establish cost-savings and streamlined standards for hazardous waste pharmaceutical (HWP) management in order to accommodate healthcare operations and maintain human health and environmental protection.  The rule also eliminates intentional sewer disposal or discharge of hazardous waste pharmaceuticals, reduces overlapping regulations (DEA, FDA, etc.), provides regulatory clarity and consistency on how RCRA applies to reverse distribution and reverse logistics, and allows pharmaceutical distributors, healthcare facilities, and other site that manage these wastes to exclude HWP from RCRA regulation standards.  This also excludes some FDA nicotine therapy products from regulation. Belo...

In November 2016, the above mentioned rule was finalized, which marked a historic update to the Federal RCRA regulations as it pertains to hazardous waste generators.  The major changes in the rule went effective May 30, 2017.  Authorized states will have to adopt the more stringent regulations typically by July 1, 2018 (July 1, 2019 if state law change is required).  If you aren’t already, you need to ask yourself immediately, when and how are we affected?  The following are the noteworthy changes and states affected in the region: All regions An overall re-org and re-structuring of 40 CFR 262 to streamline navigation and understanding. For example previously known conditionally exempt small quantity generators (CESQGs) are now known as very small quantity generators (VSQGs). Updated retention policies for waste determination records. More stringent regulations An expansion of the marking and labeling requirements for hazardous waste containers in ...