California Cosmetology Written ExamSafety and Infection ControlHard
A nail salon generates waste acetone and empty chemical relaxer containers throughout the week. According to proper hazardous material handling practices, how should this chemical waste be disposed of?
- AAccording to the product's SDS instructions and applicable local hazardous waste regulations, never poured down a drain
- BCombined together into a single unlabeled container to save storage space
- CPoured down the salon sink drain since acetone evaporates quickly and leaves no residue
- DPlaced in the regular client-facing trash bin without regard to label disposal instructions
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. According to the product's SDS instructions and applicable local hazardous waste regulations, never poured down a drain
Hazardous chemical waste such as acetone must be disposed of following SDS guidance and local/state hazardous waste regulations. Pouring flammable or hazardous chemicals down a drain or mixing incompatible chemicals together creates fire, environmental, and chemical reaction hazards.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. Mixing chemical wastes can cause dangerous reactions (heat, gas, fire).
- C. Pouring acetone down a drain is a fire/environmental hazard and often illegal.
- D. Improper trash disposal violates hazardous waste handling requirements.
Chemical Waste Disposal
Hazardous salon chemical waste (e.g., acetone, relaxer residues) must be disposed of per SDS instructions and local hazardous waste regulations, never down a drain or in regular trash.
- Never pour flammable chemicals down drains
- Never mix incompatible chemical wastes together
- Follow SDS section on disposal considerations
Memory trick: SDS is the disposal instruction manual — always check before you toss.