Accumulation

The term "accumulate" is used in the hazardous waste regulations to refer to the collection of hazardous waste.

Hazardous Waste Accumulation Time Limit

By law, any hazardous waste generated at SLAC must be shipped off-site within 90 days of the accumulation start date. The accumulation period starts when the first drop of waste goes into a hazardous waste container or when an item is declared to be waste.

To ensure that the accumulation time limit is not exceeded, Waste Management (WM) tracks all hazardous waste containers and picks them up approximately 45 days from the accumulation start date. This time limit allows WM time to consolidate waste types in preparation for offsite shipment.

Penalty for Exceeding a Regulated Time Limit

If an accumulation time limit set by regulators is exceeded, SLAC must notify regulators and take immediate action to ship the waste off-site, which may involve a costly “emergency” shipment of a single item and fines for violation of hazardous waste regulations.

Exception: “Satellite” Waste Accumulation Areas

A satellite waste accumulation areas (SWAA) is an area designated by WM after a formal evaluation and written authorization. To qualify, the generated waste must be of a limited quantity from a single process. The accumulation time could be as long as 320 days, but specific inspection requirements apply.