Hazardous waste generator newsletter: Fall 2017

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hazardous waste generator newsletter

2018 License Renewal

The 2018 hazardous waste licensing process will be starting soon. The hazardous waste portal administrator for each location that is subject to annual licensing (generator size is LQG, SQG or VSQG), will be sent email notification in early November, telling them that their 2018 management plan summary (MPS) is now available for review and revision.  Operations that are currently licensed by Hennepin County as Minimal Generators (MIG) are not subject to the annual license renewal process.

The portal administrator must ensure that someone representing the operation is reviewing all of the information on the electronic MPS form and making adjustments that accurately reflect your waste management practices and quantities generated during calendar year 2017. After all required fields have been reviewed and updated, the portal administrator is responsible for submitting the MPS on behalf of the operation, certifying that the information has been reviewed and updated as necessary. The portal administrator will be unable to submit the MPS if there are any required fields that have not been updated.

The due date for completion of the 2018 MPS is Friday, December 15, 2017. License fees for the 2018 license period will be calculated using the most current information that has been reported and approved by Hennepin County staff at the time of invoicing in February 2018.

Hennepin County has created an iCalendar feed to help you remember all of the generator licensing deadlines, including due dates for management plan summaries, license payments and printing/posting your new generator license.

You can subscribe here if you have calendar software that accepts the iCalendar format.

Use this link to access your calendar in any web browser.

Paint stewardship programs available

PaintCare logo

Does your business have leftover paint and other architectural coatings that are in need of disposal? If so, you may be able to use the PaintCare collection program to dispose of those wastes at no additional cost to you. The PaintCare program, operated on behalf of paint manufacturers, was implemented to facilitate compliance with Minnesota’s paint stewardship law that went into effect in 2014. The paint stewardship program is funded through up-front fees that are applied at the point of sale when architectural coatings are purchased. While there are program rules that restrict certain wastes and larger generators from participating, the PaintCare program offers a convenient way for most businesses to dispose of unused architectural paint. Dozens of PaintCare collection sites are located throughout the Twin Cities metro area and there may also be the opportunity to coordinate a free pick-up if your business has accumulated paint volumes exceeding 200 gallons.

Who can participate? 

The program is open to all households, minimal generators and very small quantity generators.
Small quantity and large quantity generators can use this program only for their architectural paint products that are non-hazardous, such as latex paints and other water-based products. No oil-based products are accepted from small quantity or large quantity generators.

What waste products are allowed?

Be aware that acceptable items must be the original, unmixed product stored in its original container with its original labeling. See the PaintCare factsheet for more information on acceptable items.

Find out more

• PaintCare drop-off locations
• PaintCare pickup information
• Please review this PaintCare factsheet before participation

Documenting Supplemental Hazardous Waste Training

All hazardous waste generators must train their employees to manage wastes properly relevant to their duties, though only Large Quantity Generators (LQGs) and Small Quantity Generators (SQGs) are required to document the training. Many businesses have taken advantage of our classroom hazardous waste training that we offered in the past where certificates were provided for those that attended in-person. Today, businesses can still obtain training certificates for employees that have completed the online hazardous waste training modules except, the certificates must now be printed at the end of each module by the employee completing it. It is important to note that the county does not have mechanisms in place to track the participants who have completed the modules. Businesses that are required to document hazardous waste training will want to make sure the certificates are printed out, retained and stored with other hazardous waste training, and are made available for review during hazardous waste compliance inspections.

For more information on hazardous waste training, see the “Step 9” fact sheets from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency:  https://www.pca.state.mn.us/waste/hazardous-waste-documents-and-forms

55 Generators without a violation

Hennepin County recognizes generators and facilities for having a hazardous waste program that is in full compliance with hazardous waste rules and regulations.

Since April 2017, the county conducted 450 routine compliance inspections. Of those, 55 generators were found to be in full compliance with no violations. The no violations listing not only shows that it is possible for any size generator and facility to be in full compliance at the time of the inspection, but that it also happens with some frequency.

Click here to see the list of the 55 generators. 

 

Enforcement outcomes

Hennepin County maintains a list of enforcement outcomes from hazardous waste violations on our website to reinforce the importance of compliance with hazardous waste and tank regulations. The list includes recently resolved civil and criminal cases, including fines and penalties assessed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency or Hennepin County. All of the cases originated from violations found during hazardous waste generator, hazardous waste facility or tank inspections at businesses in Hennepin County.

The county has resolved four enforcement cases for hazardous waste violations since April 2017.

See the list of enforcement outcomes from April 2017 to September 2017.

If you have any questions regarding compliance with environmental regulations or wish to report a violation, call 612-348-3777 and ask for the environmental specialist on call or email environment@hennepin.us.

Pre-demolition inspections

Hennepin County wants to ensure buildings that are scheduled for major renovation or demolition have gone through the proper steps for identifying and removing hazardous building components. County staff plan to work with demolition contractors and building owners to ensure all potential hazardous building components have been evaluated to determine proper disposal and recycling. Items of concern include asbestos bearing materials, fluorescent lamps, mercury switches, appliances, electronics, devices that contain PCBs, debris contaminated with lead and other potential hazardous wastes. We envision a process that includes an inspection checklist that the demolition contractor will complete, followed by a scheduled inspection with county staff to verify all hazardous components have been removed. Our goal is to get this process underway in 2018.

Our neighbors to the east in Ramsey County, already have a similar program in place. For information on their program, visit: https://www.ramseycounty.us/businesses/licenses-permits-inspections/licenses-inspections/pre-demolition-inspections

2017 MnTAP intern project symposium

On August 22 MnTAP interns presented information about their summer projects. They provided background, their approach to finding possible solutions, and the environmental and financial impacts of the recommendations they identified. 

This group of talented and energized interns worked with 35 companies and identified process opportunities that could save:

  • 300,000,000 gallons of water
  • 1,000,000 lbs of waste
  • 4,600 lbs of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
  • 780 lbs of Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs)
  • 300,000 kWh of electricity
  • 85,000 therms of gas
  • $1,050,000 in cost savings potential  

These results translate into real business and environmental impacts for Minnesota!

Click here to view the event program and here to view the list of projects.

Your business may be able to address waste reduction and energy efficiency projects sooner and faster with the help of a MnTAP intern. Learn more on the MnTAP website.

Contact us 

612-348-3777, ask for the environmentalist on call

environment@hennepin.us

Resources

Hennepin County hazardous waste licensing portal

Hennepin County hazardous waste training and resources

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