May 21, 2018

The e-Manifest System has been established

EPA has established a national system for tracking hazardous waste shipments electronically. This system known as the “e-Manifest” will modernize the nation’s cradle to grave hazardous waste tracking process. The e-Manifest system allows for three types of hazardous waste manifest creation options:

  • Paper (generator, transporter, and receiving facility all sign on paper).
  • Hybrid (starts as paper manifest signed by the generator and then is signed electronically by the transporter and receiving facility).
  • Electronic (created in e-Manifest and electronically signed by all entities listed on the manifest).

As of June 30, 2018, all receiving facilities must submit manifests to EPA. Electronic and hybrid manifests are submitted to EPA instantaneously, as they are signed electronically in the system. If a paper manifest is used, the receiving facility must submit the manifest to EPA within 30 days of receipt.

There will be a user fee based on the published rates depending on what type of manifest creation was used. Midwest customers should expect to be invoiced for EPA manifest use.

For more detailed information see https://www.epa.gov/e-manifest/frequent-questions-about-e-manifest

Feel free to contact the Midwest Environmental Services Compliance Department at 513-681-9990 for any additional questions.

Filed Under: Waste Disposal
June 1, 2016

You should not pour Lab Waste down the drain

In some cases, lab waste may be excluded from hazardous waste regulations when properly discharged to a sewer system and mixed with domestic sewage that will be treated in a publically owned treatment works (POTW).

In other cases, pouring lab waste down the drain is considered impermissible dilution. Also, some wastes are prohibited from being introduced into a POTW. Midwest Environmental Services can provide guidance on how you may properly dispose of your lab waste. In addition, Midwest Environmental Services provides lab pack disposal which is perfectly suited for proper identification, removal and disposal of small quantities of lab chemicals.

Please contact Midwest Environmental Services, Lab Pack Manager at 513-681-9990 and allow us to evaluate your situation to determine a compliant course of action.

Filed Under: Consulting, Waste Disposal
December 1, 2015

A hazardous waste determination tool is being considered

Midwest Environmental Services understands that making a hazardous waste determination of your waste is very important and has long term consequences, which is why a software development tool may be in our future.

Midwest Environmental Services would like to report that EPA is considering whether the development of an electronic hazardous waste determination decision tool is feasible and by whom. Midwest Environmental Services envisions a web based software which would guide generators through a series of analytical decision type Yes or No questions to assist them in determining whether the solid waste they generated is also a hazardous waste subject to RCRA hazardous waste regulations.

If you would like to learn more about the status of this new development tool or guidance about your own waste determination, please contact Midwest Environmental Services at 513-681-9990

Filed Under: Consulting, Waste Disposal
November 2, 2015

Regulations for generator status may change

Midwest Environmental Services is reviewing the proposed rule changes which would revise the hazardous waste small quantity generator definition as well as other regulatory changes.

In addition, Midwest Environmental Services has learned that EPA has proposed to change the name of conditionally exempt small quantity generator (CESQG) category to very small quantity generator (VSQG).

Specifically, EPA proposes to revise certain components of the hazardous waste generator regulatory program, address gaps in regulations, provide greater flexibility for generators to manage their waste and to reorganized the hazardous waste generator regulations to make them more user-friendly.

Contact Midwest Environmental Services at 513-681-9990 to learn more about the proposed rule changes.

Filed Under: Consulting, Waste Disposal
October 1, 2015

E-Manifests will soon be available for shipments

For a while the EPA and other stakeholders have sought to transform the hazardous waste manifest system from its current paper-based approach to one that takes greater advantage of electronic information technologies. Midwest Environmental Services generally supports the e-Manifest rationale which is aimed at adopting an electronic manifesting approach that would allow waste shipments to be tracked electronically, thereby mitigating the burdens and inefficiencies associated with the use of paper manifest forms.

Midwest Environmental Services is currently reviewing the Hazardous Waste Electronic Manifest Establishment Act (“the Act”) signed into law by the President. The Act authorizes the EPA to establish and implement an e-Manifest System in partnership with industry and the states by 2015. The Act also requires EPA to adopt an e-Manifest regulation authorizing e-Manifests that are created and transmitted through the use of the e-Manifest System by October 5, 2013.

The scope of the e-Manifest will extend to all federally and state regulated wastes that require a manifest; use of e-Manifest, however, is optional to users.

To learn more about the new e-Manifest option please contact the Hamilton Ohio office at 513-681-9990.

Filed Under: Consulting, HazCom, Transportation, Waste Disposal
September 1, 2015

Aqueous Parts Washers Could Be Hazardous Waste

Midwest Environmental Services understands that the use of an aqueous parts washer could save you money, as well as time. It also may result in limiting employee exposure to harmful chemicals.

Aqueous parts washers sometimes use cleaning agents which rely more on physical mechanisms such as agitation and heating, to get parts clean. There will be environmental advantages when you are able to use less toxic cleaning agents. Although some water-based parts washers may not contain solvents, Midwest Environmental Services will carefully evaluate each waste stream to determine if it should be classified as a hazardous waste.

EPA waste evaluation requirements pertain to every waste stream generated by your business, including waste generated from aqueous parts washers. When evaluating waste from your parts washer, you must consider the cleaning agent used as well as the material being cleaned from the part. Midwest Environmental Services can help you make the right decision to keep your business safe and compliant.

To learn more contact Midwest Environmental Services at 513-681-9990.

Filed Under: Consulting, Waste Disposal
December 1, 2014

You Should Not Pour Lab Waste Down the Drain

In some cases, lab waste may be excluded from hazardous waste regulations when properly discharged to a sewer system and mixed with domestic sewage that will be treated in a publically owned treatment works (POWT).

In other cases pouring lab waste down the drain is considered impermissible dilution. Also, some wastes are prohibited from being introduced into a POTW. Midwest Environmental Services can provide guidance on how you may properly dispose of your lab waste. In addition, Midwest Environmental Services provides lab pack disposal which is perfectly suited for proper removal of small quantities of lab generated waste.

Please contact Midwest Environmental Services and allow us to evaluate your situation to determine a compliant course of action.

 

Filed Under: Consulting, Waste Disposal
July 1, 2014

Battery Acid Spills are Harmful

Did you know battery acids spills are harmful to the environment?

Midwest Environmental Services does. Midwest Environmental Services has begun a recycling program for recovering or reusing lead acid batteries to facilitate resource conservation and to provide a sound economic strategy.

However, did you know that some battery acid spills never get cleaned up or when they do the acid is mixed with absorbent then thrown into a dumpster? That would not be the correct, legal or safe way to clean up a battery acid spill. Besides the sulfuric acid there may be high levels of lead in the battery? Commonly, in lead acid batteries, the lead plates become corroded by the sulfuric acid solution which causes lead particles to leach into the solution making any spills from the battery a hazardous waste situation.

The EPA action level for lead is 5 parts per million (ppm) which is a very minimal amount.  Midwest Environmental Services recommends having all cleaned up battery acid tested for lead content or to consider the spill hazardous waste and dispose of it accordingly.  Midwest Environmental provides these services to our customers to ensure that small or large releases of battery acid do not become a bigger problem with local authorities or EPA down the road.  Midwest Environmental prides itself in protecting our clients by keeping them informed and protecting our environment safely and effectively.

If you have any questions regarding battery acid spills or releases please contact Midwest Environmental Services at 513-681-9990 or in case of emergency our Emergency Response line at 877-999-7745.

Filed Under: Emergency Response, Waste Disposal
May 2, 2014

Midwest Environmental Services Has a New Facility

DID YOU KNOW, Midwest Environmental Services opened its newest facility in November 2013.

This site is located in Hamilton, Ohio and consists of 50,000 square feet of warehouse, production and office space situated on more than 5 acres of land. This state of the art facility provides a multitude of environmental management services and extends our service range for Emergency Response. Our Midwest Environmental Services Hamilton location sits in close proximity to several major highways including interstate 75 which supports the majority of services for our Southwest Ohio operations as well as Kentucky and Indiana. This facility serves as our recycling center for batteries, light bulbs, computers and electronic waste as well as off-specification products and by-products. This centrally located site also allows us to quickly respond to spills and other customer emergency requirements in an expedient manner. In addition to Emergency Response and materials recycling this facility also serves as a service center for the following:

  • Industrial Cleaning KieslandExtFrnt1023C
  • Lab Pack Services
  • Transportation
  • Wastewater
  • Consulting Services
  • Tank Cleaning and Decon
  • Site Remediation and Clean-up
  • Non Hazardous Liquids and Solids
  • Water Blasting and Pressure Washing

Please contact your Midwest Environmental Services Sales Representative or Customer Service at 513-681-9990 if you would like additional information on the site or to schedule a site visit.

Filed Under: Emergency Response, Recycling, Waste Disposal