Special Waste | Virginia DEQ

Certain wastes require special handling or contain hazardous properties that require additional precautions or management prior to recycling or disposal. Some of these wastes are also subject to additional regulatory requirements enforced by DEQ or other local, state, or federal entities.

Specialty waste includes common items such as household hazardous waste (paints, cleaners, oils, batteries, pesticides), electronic or "e-waste" (computers, TVs, VCRs, stereos, copiers, fax machines), white goods (refrigerators, ranges, water heaters, freezers) and other materials.

Please note: most specialty wastes shouldn't be thrown out with the regular trash. Many localities offer regularly scheduled collection days and convenience centers to collect and properly manage waste. Check with your local government to see if specialty waste collection services are available in your area. If not, private vendors may offer fee-based management services for certain items.

Animal Carcasses

Asbestos Waste

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fiber that has been used in the manufacturing of thousands of products including shingles, floor tiles, insulation, joint compounds, adhesives, cement pipes, automobile brakes and clutches, heat-resistant fabrics, gaskets, packaging materials, coatings and other materials.

When materials containing asbestos are disturbed or damaged (e.g., during renovations, demolitions, repairs, remodeling, or other events), tiny asbestos fibers can potentially be released into the air and pose an inhalation hazard. Exposure to asbestos without proper protection can lead to lung cancer, mesothelioma, or other health conditions. Those who work with or around asbestos should implement proper work practices and controls in order to mitigate risks associated with asbestos exposure. The Mesothelioma Center offers resources on the safe handling of asbestos and prevention of asbestos-related disease.

The Virginia Department of Labor and Industry (DOLI) enforces asbestos requirements related to demolition and renovation activities, spraying, insulating materials, waste disposal for such operations, and active waste disposal sites. DOLI’s Frequently Asked Questions on Asbestos Regulations cover asbestos notifications, regulations, and exemptions related to asbestos abatement projects in Virginia. The EPA also provides asbestos information for homeowners, schools, building and property managers, cleanup sites, and asbestos professionals.

DEQ maintains a list of landfills in Virginia that are permitted to accept friable and/or non-friable asbestos. Friable asbestos generally refers to materials containing more than one percent asbestos that, when dry, can be crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to powder by hand pressure, whereas non-friable asbestos generally refers to materials containing more than 1 percent asbestos that, when dry, cannot be crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to powder by hand pressure. All asbestos-containing waste materials must be disposed of in accordance with Section 620 of the Virginia Solid Waste Management Regulations.

Automotive and Tire Waste

Contaminated Soil, Sediment and Dredge

Petroleum Contaminated Soil
Petroleum contaminated soil (PCS) means soil, sediment, dredge spoils, other earthen material, and absorbents contaminated only by petroleum products.

Information regarding notification and clean-up activities of leaks and spills of petroleum and regulated substances, including leaks from Home Heating Oil tanks can be found here.

Section 660 of the Virginia Solid Waste Management Regulations provides sampling frequency, testing requirements and disposal criteria for petroleum contaminated soils in order to prevent contamination of subsurface soil, groundwater, drinking water wells, surface waters (rivers and streams), wetlands and other water sources. DEQ maintains a list of Virginia landfills and soil treatment facilities permitted to accept wastes with total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) greater than 500 ppm.

Soil contaminated with petroleum products resulting from ordinary household functions may be disposed with the regular trash.

Other Contaminated Soil, Sediment and Dredge
Businesses also frequently look to purchase and revitalize former industrial and manufacturing facilities, residential sites, and other previously used properties and to upgrade current properties. Site improvements can often result in the excavation of soil, sediment, or dredge containing contaminants that need to be evaluated for disposal or reuse.

DEQ developed a contaminated media variance to allow owners and operators to reuse soil, sediment, or dredge generated in the Commonwealth, both on-site and off-site, as one option in managing excess media from property upgrades. This variance is meant to be self-implementing and provides a tier-based decision model with criteria for comparing contamination levels and management options.

Creosote Poles, Pilings, and Railroad Ties

Creosote (an oily coal tar distillation by-product) has historically been used in commercial wood preservatives for railroad ties, utility poles, marine pilings, and other materials to provide long-term protection against pests and rotting. As weathering of the wood occurs, creosote can slowly release into the environment over time and contaminate soil and water.

Poles, pilings and ties are often heavy, bulky and difficult to transport or dispose. DEQ maintains a list of Virginia landfills permitted to accept these wastes.

Creosote treated wood, as well as any other treated wood, should never be burned because the smoke and ash could contain toxic chemicals that pose an inhalation hazard and health risk.

E-Waste

Food Waste

Household Hazardous Waste

Household hazardous waste (HHW) includes surplus or excess household products that contain corrosive, toxic, ignitable, or reactive ingredients and could cause a fire, reaction or explosion if not properly stored and disposed. Other examples of HHW include old paints and paint related products, pesticides, pool chemicals, drain cleaners, and degreasers and other car care products.

Many household hazardous waste items can be reused or recycled, and many are collected at your county landfill or transfer station, your local automotive shop, a nearby electronics or hardware store, or by a non-profit organization.

Many localities also offer convenience centers or special collection days to facilitate the collection and proper management of household hazardous waste. Check with your local Public Works office to see if this service is available in your area. If not, private vendors may offer free or fee-based management services for certain wastes.

The Earth911 database also allows you to search for household hazardous waste recycling and disposal options in or near your zip code.

EPA recommends that individual consumers should take e-cigarettes to their household hazardous waste collection for safe disposal.

DO NOT dispose of HHW by pouring waste down the drain, on the ground or down storm sewers. Since these products contain toxic ingredients, they should not be discarded with the trash when other options are available.

Landfill Special Waste Disposal Requests

If a solid waste exhibits properties that require special handling for processing or disposal, and the solid waste is not specifically authorized for acceptance in a landfill’s permit, the landfill may follow DEQ’s procedures for seeking approval to receive and manage the special waste.

Examples of special wastes that landfills may request approval to dispose of include, but are not limited, to the following:

Industrial sludge with a high moisture content
Contaminated media from a release of non-hazardous waste
Large quantities of small containers of liquids (e.g., milk, soda, etc.)
Powders or dusts requiring dust suppression
Hot materials like slag that may have to be stored until cool
Low level radioactive waste (also requires approval from the Virginia Department of Health)
Large quantities of animal carcasses (poultry, cattle, swine, etc.)

To request approval to manage a special waste, the landfill should submit a Special Waste Disposal Request form to DEQ for review prior to accepting the waste.

The generator of the waste should complete Part I of the form, which requires generator contact information, a waste profile, special handling procedures, analytical information, supporting documentation and a generator certification.

The landfill requesting to receive the waste should complete Part II of the form, which requires the landfill’s contact information, permit and operational information, proposed special waste management and a Waste Management Facility Operator certification.

Medical Waste

Pharmaceutical Waste

The information provided here is for the proper management and disposal of individual’s unused, expired and unneeded over-the-counter medications and prescription drugs. Healthcare Facilities and Reverse Distributors of pharmaceuticals must manage their pharmaceutical waste in accordance with the Pharmaceutical Rule.

Never flush medications down the toilet or pour them down the drain. At this time, there are two primary ways for individuals to get rid of unused or expired household medications:

Find an authorized collection location near you, and place the medications in the collection box.
Take them to a pharmaceutical take-back or collection event scheduled in your community. Check your city or county website for announcement of pharmaceutical take-back events. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) also facilitates periodic National Prescription Drug Take Back Days.

Pharmaceuticals that are collected at these events are typically incinerated at a permitted incineration facility with air emission controls.

EPA also provides information on collecting and disposing of unwanted medicines.

If a collection program is not available near you, then the following procedure should be used only as a last resort to safely dispose of unwanted medications in the trash:

Empty the pill bottle into a closable plastic bag or container. Try not to handle the medications since some are absorbed through the skin. Crush the pills or dissolve them with liquid to render them unrecognizable as medications.
Mix in something undesirable (suggestions: used coffee grounds, used kitty litter) with the medications that will not attract pets or children to it. Seal the baggie or close the plastic container. An additional safeguard would be to put the baggie of medications into another container so that the contents cannot be seen.
Put the baggie or plastic container in the trash can.
Remove the label or mark out your identifying information on the pill bottle label. This step is extremely important. The personal information found on prescription pill bottles is all someone needs to commit a crime. The label has the name of the medication, along with the name and address of the patient. Some pharmacists provide an informational page that has your identifying information in with the prescription that should also be destroyed after use. Don’t let yourself be a target of someone who may want your medications.

White Goods

White goods are appliances such as stoves, washers, hot water heaters, refrigerators, air conditioners, freezers and other similar units. These items may contain refrigerants, used oil, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), mercury, or other fluids or parts that need to be properly removed before the unit can be recycled or disposed.

Refrigerants should not be vented to the air or atmosphere, or drained to the ground or sewer as they can contain ozone-depleting substances (such as chlorofluorocarbons and hydrochlorofluorocarbons). If released into the atmosphere, ozone-depleting substances can increase harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun and cause skin cancer, cataracts, and harm plants and marine life. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides additional information on managing refrigerant emissions to protect the ozone layer, including resources for businesses and homeowners.

Homeowners and businesses should check with their locality to see if white goods are accepted for recycling or disposal. Many solid waste management facilities (landfills, transfer stations, materials recovery facilities, etc.) and scrap metal recycling facilities handle the recovery of refrigerants and removal of fluids or parts for their customers rather than requiring customers to do it themselves. However, there may be a fee associated with that service.