CMI CMI Waste Disposal & Recycling Procedures 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which federal agency regulates the disposal of hazardous waste in the United States?
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (Correct answer)
- OSHA
- Department of Labor
- CDC
Correct answer: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
The EPA administers the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), which governs hazardous waste generation, transportation, treatment, storage, and disposal.
Question 2: What is the correct procedure for disposing of full trash liners in a commercial facility?
- Tie the bag securely, avoid overfilling, and transport to designated dumpster area (Correct answer)
- Leave bags open to compress more waste
- Leave bags in hallways temporarily
- Carry bags with torn or leaking liners without protection
Correct answer: Tie the bag securely, avoid overfilling, and transport to designated dumpster area
Securely tying trash bags prevents spills and odors, and transporting them promptly to dumpsters maintains cleanliness and reduces pest attraction.
Question 3: What should custodial staff do if they discover a leaking chemical container in the waste stream?
- Isolate the container, put on appropriate PPE, and report to a supervisor immediately (Correct answer)
- Place it in the regular trash
- Pour the contents down the drain
- Ignore it if the amount is small
Correct answer: Isolate the container, put on appropriate PPE, and report to a supervisor immediately
Leaking chemical containers may pose hazardous exposure risks and must be isolated, handled with PPE, and reported per the facility's hazardous materials response plan.
Question 4: Why is it important not to overfill trash receptacles in custodial operations?
- Overfilled receptacles create ergonomic injury risks, cause spills, and attract pests (Correct answer)
- It wastes liner bags only
- It looks unprofessional only
- There is no safety concern with overfilling
Correct answer: Overfilled receptacles create ergonomic injury risks, cause spills, and attract pests
Overfilled bags are harder to tie, more likely to tear, increase musculoskeletal strain during lifting, and can attract pests if waste is exposed.
Question 5: What is the purpose of a recycling program in a commercial custodial operation?
- To divert recyclable materials from landfills and comply with local environmental regulations (Correct answer)
- To reduce the custodial staff's workload
- To eliminate the need for regular trash pickup
- Recycling programs are optional and have no regulatory basis
Correct answer: To divert recyclable materials from landfills and comply with local environmental regulations
Recycling programs reduce landfill waste, help organizations meet sustainability and compliance goals, and may be required by local or state regulations.
Question 6: How should custodial technicians handle broken glass in waste collection?
- Place in a rigid puncture-resistant container labeled 'broken glass' before placing in trash (Correct answer)
- Sweep directly into a regular trash bag
- Leave it for someone else to handle
- Pack tightly in newspaper only
Correct answer: Place in a rigid puncture-resistant container labeled 'broken glass' before placing in trash
Broken glass must be contained in rigid, labeled containers to prevent bag punctures and cuts that could injure custodial workers or waste handlers.
CMI CMI Waste Disposal & Recycling Procedures 1
Which federal agency regulates the disposal of hazardous waste in the United States?