Construction Waste

Guidance for designers, project managers, and contractors for the appropriate Accumulation, Storage, and Disposal of wastes generated during Construction, Renovation, Demolition, Abatement, Decommissioning, and other projects.

Management of Building Demolition Debris

  • All Hazardous and Universal Waste (H/U) issues shall be presented to the NC State Environment, Health and Safety Department (EHS). When in doubt, contact EHS.
  • Do not ship any Hazardous, Universal, or Special Wastes without EHS notification and approval. EHS must be notified to ensure that the proper paperwork, with the correct EPA ID number, addresses, and emergency contact information is used. Contact EHS for NC State’s current disposal vendor for proper disposal.
  • Bills of Lading, Manifests and LDRs must also be signed by a representative of EHS for all shipments of hazardous, universal, or special waste, excluding asbestos. A copy of all shipping papers will be sent to EHS.
  • All H/U waste shall be handled using applicable Federal and State laws, including EPA regulations codified in the 40 CFR. For assistance, contact EHS. NC State uses an online management system called EHSA for regulated waste management. By regulation, all chemical waste must be submitted for a waste determination upon generation. Contractors shall contact EHS to discuss the types of waste being generated during the project. EHS personnel will enter the waste into EHSA, perform a determination, and email the proper labels to the contractor. The contractor shall print the labels and affix to the waste container.
  • All H/U wastes should be stored in a secure area prior to shipment for disposal.
  • If you are unsure if you have a hazardous waste, contact EHS.
  • Bulbs: The following procedure is to be used for 4 and 8-foot fluorescent bulbs, High Intensity
    Discharge Bulbs (mercury bulbs), and U-Tubes.

    • Bulbs should be placed in manufactured boxes.
    • When you put the first bulb in the box, a Universal Waste label shall be placed on the outside of the box. Fill in contents as “Used Lamps” and date.
    • When not actively putting bulbs in the box, the lid shall be closed and sealed.
    • Keep boxes inside, and away from any water.
    • Lamp boxes must be shipped for disposal within 1 year of date on the box.
  • Mercury-Contaminated Materials
    • All mercury contamination must be treated as hazardous waste and disposed of according to State
      and Federal regulations. All sink traps located within research buildings are suspected to be
      contaminated with some mercury. Immediately contact the NC State Environment, Health and
      Safety Department if and/or when these items are discovered.
    • Contractor shall contact a reputable hazardous waste disposal firm for removal, shipping, and
      disposal needs. Mercury items shall be sent to a facility within the U.S. for retort. NC State cannot
      ship any materials out of the country for disposal, recycle, or retort. This includes mercury
      containing switches, devices, and sink traps.
  • Ballasts: PCB and Non-PCB Ballast
    • PCB Ballasts shall be placed into UN approved 55-gallon drums for disposal, and shipped on a Hazardous Waste Manifest. Also, the lid on the drum shall be secured unless actively adding to the drum. There is a one-year time limit to dispose of the drum from when the first ballast went into it. Note: A ballast is considered to be a PCB ballast if the label says it is, or the label does not say at all.
    • Non-PCB Ballasts will have “No-PCBs” written on the ballasts. These should be placed in a separate drum, (UN Approved), for recycling.
    • When planning storage, keep in mind that a full ballast drum weighs approximately 700 pounds.
  • Other PCB Containing Materials (Capacitors, Transformers, switches, oils, caulk)
    • When equipment is taken out of service, the out-of-service date recorded/written on the equipment.
    • If the material has a PCB concentration below 50 ppm, it does not need to be labeled.
    • If the material has a PCB concentration of above 50 ppm but below 499 ppm, it must be labeled as PCB-Contaminated.
    • If the material has a PCB concentration of 500 or above, it must be labeled as “PCB”.
  • Broken Fluorescent Tubes
    • Fluorescent bulbs, HID’s, or U-tubes that are unintentionally broken, shall be placed into a UN approved poly drum. These may be considered Hazardous Waste and should be treated as such.
    • When not actively adding to the drum, the lid shall be on, and secure.
    • Also, the drum shall have a label that says Hazardous Waste – Broken Fluorescent Bulbs, and the date the first item was placed inside the drum.
  • Asbestos: See the Asbestos Management Plan
  • Lead Paint
    • Lead Paint waste from scraping, grinding, or peeling is considered hazardous waste and shall be
      stored in a UN approved drum with the lid securely fastened. This drum must be labeled as
      Hazardous Waste – Lead Paint Chips and locked in an area away from public access.
    • Any analytical sampling results shall be sent to EHS for proper waste disposal determination.
  • Miscellaneous Chemicals
    • Any chemicals found during demolition shall be handled as hazardous waste. Examples include:
      cylinders, bottles, cans with liquid, spill clean-ups etc.
  • Contacts
    • Karen Trimberger: 919-515-6859
    • Mike Long: 919-515-6863
    • EHS Department: 919-515-7915
  • Management of Building Demolition Debris (downloadable pdf)

 

NCSU Surplus Guidelines

Some equipment and material may not be appropriate for resale due to the presence of hazardous materials, characteristics, or regulatory constraints. It is the responsibility of the equipment owner to ensure that all oils, coolants, and other hazardous materials have been removed prior to submitting the item for disposition through surplus. Items that may be contaminated by chemical, biological, or radioactive material must be cleaned and inspected prior to submission to surplus.