Section 540. Analysis and management of the ash product; procedure; results and records; disposition of ash; ash storage

A. Once every eight hours of operation of a continuously fed incinerator and once every batch or 24 hours of operation of a batch fed incinerator, a representative sample of 250 milliliters of the bottom ash shall be collected from the ash discharge or the ash discharge conveyer. Samples collected during 1,000 hours of operation or quarterly, whichever is more often, shall be thoroughly mixed and seven random portions of equal volume shall be composited into one sample for laboratory analysis. This sample shall be tested in accord with the methods established by the Virginia Hazardous Waste Management Regulations for determining if a solid waste is a hazardous waste. Also, the sample shall be tested for total organic carbon content.

At incinerators equipped with air pollution control devices that remove and collect incinerator emissions control ash or dust, this ash shall be held separately and not mixed with bottom ash. Once every eight hours of operation of a continuously fed incinerator and once every batch or 24 hours of operation of a batch fed incinerator, a representative sample of 250 milliliters of the air pollution control ash or dust shall be collected from the pollution control ash discharge. Air pollution control ash or dust samples collected during 1,000 hours of operation or quarterly, whichever is more often, shall be thoroughly mixed and seven random portions of equal volume shall be composited into one sample for laboratory analysis. This sample shall be tested in accord with the methods established by the Virginia Hazardous Waste Management Regulations for determining if a waste is a hazardous waste.

B. A log shall document the ash sampling, to include the date and time of each sample collected; the date, time and identification number of each composite sample; and the results of the analyses, including laboratory identification. Results of analyses must be returned from the laboratory and recorded within four weeks following collection of the composite sample. The results and records described in this part shall be maintained for a period of three years, and shall be available for review.

C. If a waste ash is found to be hazardous waste (based on a sample and a confirmation sample) the waste ash shall be disposed of as a hazardous waste in accord with the Virginia Hazardous Waste Management Regulations. If ash is found not to be hazardous waste by analysis, it may be disposed of in a solid waste landfill that is permitted to receive garbage, municipal solid waste or incinerator ash, provided the disposal is in accordance with the Solid Waste Management Regulations, 9VAC20-81. If the ash is found to be hazardous waste, the operator shall notify the Director of the Department of Environmental Quality within 24 hours. No later than 15 calendar days following, the permittee shall submit a plan for treating and disposing of the waste on hand at the facility and all unsatisfactorily treated waste that has left the facility. The permittee may include with the plan a description of the corrective actions to be taken to prevent further unsatisfactory performance. No ash subsequently generated from the incinerator waste stream that was found to be hazardous waste shall be sent to a nonhazardous solid waste management facility in the Commonwealth without the express written approval of the director.

D. Air pollution control ash and bottom ash shall be held separately and not mixed; however, once both are determined not to be hazardous waste, they may be combined and disposed of as other solid waste. Throughout the storage of the untested material it shall be kept in covered highly leak resistant containers. It should be held until the generator determines whether the ash waste is hazardous waste. Areas where untested material containers are placed must be constructed with a berm to prevent runoff from that area.

E. Regulated medical waste treated in compliance with Part VII (9VAC20-120-520 et seq.), VIII (9VAC20-120-580 et seq.) or IX (9VAC20-120-630 et seq.) of this chapter shall be deemed to be treated in accordance with this chapter. Regulated medical waste not treated in accordance with this chapter shall not be transported, received for transport or disposal, or disposed of in any solid waste management facility.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR672-40-01:1 § 7.3, eff. June 29, 1994; amended, Volume 18, Issue 18, eff. June 19, 2002; Volume 27, Issue 22, eff. August 3, 2011.

Statutory Authority

§ 10.1-1402 of the Code of Virginia.