CUPA-Hazardous Waste – San Bernardino County Fire Protection District

Hazardous Waste

As part of the CUPA, Hazardous Materials implements the Hazardous Waste Inspection Program. The purpose of this program is to ensure that all hazardous wastes generated by San Bernardino County facilities are properly managed. Specialists in this program inspect facilities that generate hazardous waste, investigate complaints of unlawful hazardous waste disposal, and participate in public education. These programs are designed to provide information about laws and regulations relating to safe management of hazardous waste.

CERS Online Requirements

The San Bernardino County Code (SBCC) requires that facilities submit required information including any amount of hazardous waste to the CUPA in accordance with SBCC 23.0602 and 23.0712. This information must be submitted to the CUPA via the California Environmental Reporting System (CERS). In San Bernardino County, the Business Emergency/Contingency Plan (“Hazardous Materials Business Plan (HMBP)”) is also used to satisfy the contingency plan requirement for hazardous waste generators.

Hazardous Waste Source Reduction Plan (SB14)

If your facility generates 12,000 kilograms (26,400 pounds or 3,300 gallons) of a non-exempted hazardous waste in a reporting year (e.g., 2018) you must complete a Source Reduction Evaluation Review and Plan, a Hazardous Waste Management Performance Report, and complete a a Summary Progress Report before the following September 1 (e.g., September 1, 2019). These documents will guide you into looking at your facility and finding ways to reduce waste. Exclusions apply to automotive fluids, cleanup soil, and several other types of wastes. Please note that reporting recurs every four years.

Please go to the web site of the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) to get more information about the forms and instructions.

Contact Us

What is Hazardous Waste?

Hazardous waste may be liquid, solid, compressed gases, or sludge. The waste may be by-products of manufacturing processes or simply unwanted commercial products. If the waste appears on one of the four RCRA (Resource Conservation and Recovery Act) hazardous wastes lists or that exhibits one of the four characteristics of a hazardous waste, then it is considered to be hazardous:

Hazardous Waste Characteristics

Ignitability
Reactivity
Corrosivity
Toxicity

RCRA Hazardous Waste Lists

F-list
K-list
P-list
U-list

For additional information regarding hazardous waste, please visit the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) website, or contact our office.

Hazardous Waste Treatment – Tiered Permitting (TP)

Hazardous waste treatment is any method, technique or process which changes the physical, chemical, or biological characteristic or the composition of any hazardous waste. Treatment is also the removal or reduction of a waste’s harmful properties for any purpose including, but not limited to, energy recovery, material recovery or volume reduction. Treatment does NOT include the removal of residues from the manufacturing process equipment for the purposes of cleaning that equipment.

Facilities treating or planning to treat hazardous waste on-site must notify the CUPA by completing a Tiered Permitting notification form to obtain appropriate authorization.

Questions relating to Tiered Permitting should be directed to a Specialist in our office.

What is Universal Waste?

Universal wastes are hazardous wastes that are widely produced by households and many different types of businesses. The creation and implementation of California’s Universal Waste Rule allows individuals and businesses to transport, handle and recycle certain common hazardous wastes, termed universal wastes, in a manner that differs from the requirements for most hazardous wastes. The more relaxed requirements for managing universal wastes were adopted to ensure that they are managed safely and are not disposed of in the trash.

Common universal wastes include the following:

non-automotive batteries
fluorescent tubes
cathode ray tube (CRT) materials
consumer electronic devices
non-empty aerosol cans
mercury switches
Intact, non-shattered, photovoltaic cells

For more information on proper management of Universal Wastes, please refer to the Department of Toxic Substances Control Universal Waste Page or contact our office.

Collection Facilities

Homeowners can find a Universal Waste disposal site in San Bernardino County.

FAQs

Hazardous Waste & Onsite Treatment

What are some of the Hazardous Waste Generator Responsibilities?

Clearly label each container of hazardous waste with:
1. The words “Hazardous Waste”
2. Contents of the container
3. Name and address of the generator
4. Hazardous properties of the waste
5. Physical state (e.g., liquid, solid, gas)
6. Starting date for waste accumulation
Maintain proper emergency equipment
Maintain a current contingency plan
Conduct weekly inspections of hazardous waste storage areas
Conduct daily inspections of hazardous waste storage tanks
Provide training to employees
Keep accurate disposal and training records
Limit on-site storage to regulatory limits
Select appropriate treatment methods for hazardous wastes
Use only authorized hazardous waste disposal facilities
Whenever possible, eliminate, reduce and recycle wastes
Prepare a source reduction plan or checklist as required
Prepare a Biennial Report as required

Document Repository

Type	Name	Category	Actions
	HW Storage Area Weekly Inspection Checklist	CUPA Forms – Hazardous Waste
	HW AST Daily Inspection Checklist	CUPA Forms – Hazardous Waste
	HW AST Daily Inspection Checklist – Monthly View	CUPA Forms – Hazardous Waste
	HW Employee Training Guidance	CUPA Forms – Hazardous Waste
	HW Employee Training Record Example Form	CUPA Forms – Hazardous Waste
	Hazardous Waste Hauler List	CUPA Forms – Hazardous Waste
	HW Tank Assessment Environmental Consultant List	CUPA Forms – Hazardous Waste
	Recyclable Materials Reporting Form	CUPA Forms – Hazardous Waste
	Aerosol Can Processing	CUPA Forms – Universal Waste