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Waste Designation Decision Matrix - P or U Waste Determination

This is the waste designation decision matrix provided by the Small Business and Local Government Assistance Program to aid businesses in deciding how certain wastes must be handled.

This matrix is provided as an assistance tool. It cannot be used as a substitute for following applicable city, state, and federal laws.

Is the waste listed in the P or U lists in 40 CFR 261.33 YES NO

Look to the P and U lists only when the waste chemical is unused. These are ONLY discarded, expired, or off-specification chemical products. The waste must contain the chemical as its sole active ingredient. If you discard any of these listed chemicals, before use, the waste is hazardous.

Review the P and U lists. Make a note of the appropriate code for the waste you have for use later in the decision matrix.

Some examples of "unused" waste chemicals include:

  1. A bottle of expired hydrofluoric acid (U134) in any concentration.
  2. A drum of acetone (U002) that is no longer useful in your current process.
  3. An old, unused laboratory quality assurance standard consisting of 1,000 ppm sodium cyanide (P-106) mixed with water is discarded.

More explanation about the P and U lists.