Onsite Waste Management

​Keep your projects running smoothly with proper onsite waste management!

Fuel, solid waste, wash water, sanitary waste, and other toxic or hazardous materials are found on most construction sites. Storage, handling, and disposal of potential pollutants should be spelled out in the construction site’s Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWP3). Keeping chemical waste from being spilled depends heavily on construction personnel and their work practices. Employee training, signage, and other awareness tools are the first step to managing pollutants.
Sediment and erosion controls will prevent some pollutants from leaving the site, however, pollutants can be carried in solution or as surface films on runoff water that will pass through most sediment and erosion controls. Other ways that construction waste can end up in the environment include dumping, burying of waste, pouring waste chemicals down a storm drain, or disposing of them with construction debris. Avoid these disposal practices.
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1. Training for construction personnel should provide disposal and handling guidelines for waste including the following do’s and don’ts.

2. Containers should be provided for the proper collection of all waste materials, petroleum products and hazardous materials.
3. No construction related waste materials are to be buried on-site.
4. Mixing, pumping, or transferring of chemicals must be performed in and area away from any watercourse, ditch or storm drain.
Fuels often contain cancer causing compounds including benzene and toluene. They can also be toxic to aquatic life. You can do your part to keep chemical wastes out of the environment by following some simple practices.
5. Equipment fueling and maintenance will be performed away from watercourses, ditches and storm drains.
6. Concrete washout will be collected and not allowed to go into streams, ditches or storm drains.
7. Spills need to be absorbed with sawdust or kitty litter and disposed of at a licensed sanitary landfill. Many construction chemicals require special handling. Spills of petroleum products exceeding 25 gallons need to be reported to Ohio EPA, the local fire department and the Local Emergency Planning Committee. All spills which contact waters of the state must be reported to Ohio EPA. The spill report phone number is 1 (800) 282-9378.
8. If substances such as oil, diesel, hydraulic fluid, or antifreeze are spilled or released onto the soil, the impacted soil should be dug up and disposed of at licensed sanitary landfill or other approved petroleum contaminated soil remediation facility.
9. No materials containing rubber, grease, asphalt, or petroleum products may be burned.

Even with the best training programs and best practices in place, accidents will occur. Pre-planning will make your site more prepared when a spill does happen. Check equipment and fueling stations for proper operation and potential leaks so you can address maintenance concerns before they become a big problem. Have access to spill cleanup supplies like absorbents, boom, and a list of cleanup contractors that can respond in an emergency.

One last consideration is worker safety. Be familiar with the protective equipment needed when handling material. Also know when the job will require an outside cleanup contractor.
Following the best practices regarding onsite waste management will help keep your project going and will help prevent costly cleanups.

References:
1. Rainwater and Land Development Manual (Chapter 4.1), Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. May 2025. Web link for this publication is available at: https://dam.assets.ohio.gov/image/upload/epa.ohio.gov/Portals/35/storm/technical_assistance/4.1_Waste_Mgmt.pdf

Article written by Travis Luncan, Urban Technician