Pesticides (Liquid and Solid)
Definition
The United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) definition of pesticides includes all insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, rodenticides, and other types of pesticides. To eliminate pesticide waste, materials should only be mixed as directed by container instructions with just enough material for application to prevent leftover. EHS recommends inventorying pesticide storage locations and purging expired or unwanted pesticides as frequently as possible to prevent degradation of containers and/or labels.
Pesticides can become a waste when the original material is unwanted, or when they are produced in solutions with other chemicals or water. All pesticides, whether solid or liquid, must be disposed of through the EHS Hazardous Waste Program and cannot be disposed of in the general refuse or the drain. Refer to MSU’s Drain Disposal policy.
Container Type
If disposing of unwanted pesticides in the original manufacturer’s bottles with an intact label, the materials can be given directly to the EHS Hazardous Waste Program for disposal and should not be transferred into another container.
When reusing empty containers for rinsate or diluted solutions of pesticides, they must be compatible with the type of chemical waste stored in them. Empty reagent bottles can be used for chemical waste collection after following the Empty Bottle guidance in the Waste Section of the EHS website.
Although EHS does not maintain a list of compatible materials, in general pesticide solutions can be stored in glass and plastic containers. However, do not store liquid waste in containers that previously held solids, as they will leak. Container compatibility information is also available on Safety Data Sheets. EHS provides 5-gallon high density polyethylene (HDPE) carboys for liquid hazardous waste storage, which are proven to be compatible with a variety of waste types.
Storage
Waste containers must be kept free of any liquids or residue on their exteriors. EHS Hazardous Waste Staff will reject any container with liquid or residue on the exterior until it has been cleaned. Leaking waste containers will not be accepted, and the contents must be transferred to a new container prior to disposal by the EHS Hazardous Waste group.
- All container lids MUST be closed tightly unless waste is being actively added to the container.
- Secondary containment is not required but is recommended for waste storage.
- Submit frequent requests for waste pick up through the EHS Hazardous Waste Request form to stay within the 90-Day storage limit and minimize the amount of waste containers in your space.
Although hazardous or other regulated waste cannot be stored outside it is ok to move waste from an outside location where it was created, back inside to be secured for disposal. Waste generated through off-campus outreach programs or agricultural field work may be driven back to campus. When transporting leftover chemical products or waste back to campus, there are two requirements: the materials must be transported in secondary containment and the waste cannot be placed in the same cabin space as the driver or passengers.
MSU Waste Tag Required
Yes - A MSU Waste Tag is required for all waste not contained in a manufacturer’s bottle with an intact or legible label.
No - A MSU Waste Tag is not needed when submitting pesticides in the original manufacturer’s bottle with an intact label.
MSU Waste Tags must be directly affixed to the waste container either with string, a twist tie, chain and clipboard, rubber band, or tape. MSU Waste Tags are provided by EHS and can be requested through an EHS Hazardous Waste Request.
Labeling
Containers used to collect pesticides onsite must be labeled with the words “Universal Waste Pesticides” and contain the accumulation start date. The accumulation start date is the first day that you begin filling the container with aerosols. Alternatively, EHS provides the following label for Universal Waste, which can be requested through the EHS Safety Portal:
A MSU Waste Tag should be filled out and completed if the pesticide is not in the original manufacturer’s container. One waste tag can be used for multiples containers of the same material type.
The contact information at the top of the MSU Waste Tag must be filled out to identify where the hazardous waste was generated, the container size and type, and who to contact with questions regarding the waste container.
All chemical constituents must be accounted for on the MSU Waste Tag. Chemical names must be printed legibly, in English, and with no abbreviations. The amount of chemical constituents can be captured by either using percentages up to 100%, or by units of volume. Either way, these need to match the amount of waste in the container when EHS arrives to pick up the material. Inaccuracies and discrepancies on the MSU Waste Tag can result in the waste being rejected by the EHS Hazardous Waste Staff for safety and compliance reasons. For aqueous solutions, the check box for “Water Balance” can be used to account for the remaining percentages or volume. Chemical constituents must be identified on the MSU Waste Tag as they are added to the container, as guessing the contents of a full container creates safety and compliance violations.
Review and check all applicable potential hazards at the bottom of the MSU Waste Tag each time when adding waste to the container. The color and consistency section can be completed when the container is full, or when approaching the 90-Day storage limit.
Guidance on how to accurately fill out the MSU Waste Tag can be found in the Waste Section of the EHS website.
Submit Hazardous Waste Request
When the container is full or close to the 90-day accumulation limit, submit a Hazardous Waste Request via the EHS Safety Portal as follows:
- EHS Website: ehs.msu.edu
- Log in to the Safety Portal through a preferred web browser using your MSU Net ID and EBS Password
- Select Hazardous Waste Request
- Liquid and Solid Pesticides are found under the Common Process category