Cannabis Waste Management: Common Questions Answered
Managing cannabis waste isn't always straightforward. Between rendering requirements, hazardous waste regulations, disposal records, and vape recycling, operators often have questions about what can and can't be done. In helping Missouri facilities stay compliant, our experts are answering the most common cannabis waste management questions.
What Is Cannabis Waste?
According to Missouri law, cannabis waste is defined as excess or unusable marijuana or marijuana byproduct of a cultivation, manufacturing, dispensary, testing, or transportation facility that is non-hazardous.
This includes plant waste, such as stalks, flowers, trim, leaves, stems, extracts, spent solvents, and other laboratory wastes.
Can I Throw Cannabis Waste in the Trash?
A facility cannot legally throw cannabis waste into a standard or conventional trash receptacle. All facility waste of any type must be stored securely before final disposition. Secure storage can be done within the facility in areas designated for disposal activities or, if necessary, outside the facility in a locked, tamper-resistant receptacle.
Can I Throw Vape Pens in the Trash?
All-in-one (AIO) disposable vapes are portable devices pre-loaded with e-liquid or extracts. Li-ion batteries and vape pens containing these batteries should not go in household garbage or recycling bins.
They can cause fires during transport or at landfills and recyclers, putting the health of workers and communities at risk. Plus, discarding Li-ion batteries in landfills can lead to contamination of soil, water, and air, particularly if they are cracked or damaged. What’s more, when the batteries are thrown away, their resources are lost forever.
Li-ion batteries and vape pens containing these batteries should instead be recycled by certified recyclers. This led to the creation of the Disposable Vape Pen Takeback Program. You can find a drop-off location here.
How Often Do I Need To Dispose of My Cannabis Waste?
It is recommended that cannabis waste first be secured and then appropriately rendered weekly or as soon as receptacles are full. This regularly scheduled attention to disposal prevents biosecurity risks, such as mold, and reduces the opportunity for other contaminants to spread.
Does Cannabis Waste Need To Be Rendered Before Disposal?
Marijuana plant waste that does not qualify as hazardous must be rendered unusable before leaving a facility by grinding and incorporating it with other non-hazardous ground materials. The resulting mixture must be at least 50% of non-marijuana waste (compostable or non-compostable) by volume.
Compostable waste includes food waste, yard waste, and vegetable-based grease or oils. Non-compostable waste includes paper, cardboard, plastic, and soil.
Is My Cannabis Waste Hazardous?
Licensees who produce waste must properly evaluate their waste to determine whether it is hazardous, as defined by 40 CFR 262.11.
Cannabis flower, trim, and solid plant material are not considered hazardous waste unless treated or contaminated with a hazardous waste constituent. On the other hand, the solvents used by manufacturing facilities during extraction are considered hazardous. Solvents include ethanol, butane, isopropyl alcohol, propane, propylene glycol, methanol, and vacuum pump oil.
Do I Need a Hazardous Waste Generator ID?
Cannabis businesses in Missouri must comply with hazardous waste regulations for waste storage, transportation, and disposal methods set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MO DNR).
As such, facilities must obtain an EPA Identification (EPA ID) if they produce more than the maximum monthly threshold for Very Small Quantity Generators (VSQGs). They can do so by completing EPA Form 8700-12 and submitting it to an authorized state agency or an EPA regional office.
Does My Facility Need a Document Management Plan for Tracking Waste Disposal?
Each licensee needs to keep records of the final disposition of all such wastes for at least five years or longer as required by federal, state, and local law. They also need to maintain marijuana waste disposal logs. Each log must indicate the date and time, location, method of destruction, mixing medium, agent ID(s) of the employee(s) who destroyed the marijuana product, and video camera names that captured the two angles of destruction.
Partner With a Missouri Waste Service Provider You Can Rely On
Cannabis waste management comes with a long list of requirements, and keeping up with regulations while managing day-to-day operations can be challenging. That’s where Monarch Waste Co. comes in.
When you partner with Monarch Waste Co., a reputable cannabis waste service provider, you’re guaranteed compliance with Missouri waste management regulations and ensured that waste is managed in an environmentally responsible manner.
Our step-by-step process handles cannabis waste responsibilities, allowing facilities with cultivation, manufacturing, testing, and dispensary licensing to focus on other vital business operations. Contact us today for a tailored waste management solution that meets your needs!