Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection 79 Elm Street Hartford, CT 06106http://www.ct.gov/dep

EnvironmentalBest Management PracticesGuide for Small Businesses

EnvironmentalBest Management PracticesGuide for Small Businesses

Connecticut Departmentof Environmental Protection

Best ManagementPractices forStormwater,

Pesticides & Waste

For more information or assistance, please contact thefollowing DEP programs:

Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06106

Pesticide Management Program (860) 424-3369

Stormwater Management Program (860) 424-3003

Waste Management Program (860) 424-3023

The objective in stormwater pro-tection is to prevent pollution

from entering our groundwaterand surface water.

Best Management Practices (BMPs) are specificpractices that are capable of preventing and

minimizing ground-water and surface waterpollution as a result of day-to-day activities insmall businesses such as garden centers, retail

home improvement centers, pool supply centersand hardware stores.

Store both products and wastes that can pollutestormwater indoors or under shelter. These materialsinclude: pressure-treated lumber, pesticides, fertilizers,oils, fuels, paints, thinners, solvents and poolchemicals.

Clean catch basins and other stormwater treatmentdevices on a regular basis.Always keep dumpster lids closed with drain plugsintact.Maintain speedi-dry, absorbent pads and other spillcontrol equipment near catch basins and drains andready for use in case of a spill.Never dump anything down the storm drain. Thisincludes wash water from outdoor product displayareas, garden areas, loading docks, parking lots, indoorfloor areas, and vehicle or equipment maintenanceareas.Store bagged goods and liquid goods as far as possiblefrom floor drains, trenches or stormdrains to minimizerisk of releasing spilled materials.Ripped and/or damaged packages of fertilizers and soilsshould either be covered or repackaged to preventmaterial from entering the environment. (See Pesticide& Fertilizer BMPs for additional details.)Outside areas should be routinely swept, shoveled andcleaned of litter. Do not wash outdoor areas with wateror other solutions.Limit plant watering so excess water does not enter thestorm drain. Group plants with similar water needstogether to improve watering efficiency and avoidexcess watering.

Stormwater BMPs

Stormwater pollution can lead to numerousenvironmental problems that may affect human

health. Stormwater pollution comes in manyvarieties. Incorrect management practices can

result in the release of contaminants such as toxicchemicals, sediments, fertilizers and oil and

grease to nearby waterways.

The DEP is an affirmative action/equal opportunityemployer. In conformance with the ADA individuals with

disabilities who need information in an alternativeformat, to allow them to benefit and/or participate in theagency’s programs and services, should call (860) 424-3051 or (860) 418-5937 and make their request to theAAO staff person. Requests for accommodations to

attend meetings and/or educational programs,sponsored by the DEP, must be made at least two

weeks prior to the program date.These requests may be made directly to

Marcia Z. Bonitto, ADA Coordinator, via e-mail:Marcia.Bonitto@ct.gov

Did You Know...Stormwater is the number one cause of polluted

runoff water in the streams and rivers?Surface waters are where we play, relax, enjoy

wildlife, and even get our drinking water.However, the quality of surface water is

threatened by common materials that getcarried to them with every rain.

Fortunately, the health of the region's surfacewater can be improved by working together to

reduce the amount of polluted stormwaterreaching our treasured waterways for today

and future generations.

Retailers of pesticides must do the following:

Inform customers purchasing pesticidesthat signs must be posted to notify thepublic of the pesticide application.Provide posting signs to customerspurchasing outdoor pesticides.Display a sign notifying customers of theposting requirements.

The sale of Diazinon (previously one of the mostcommonly used pesticides) for indoor and non-agricultural uses is banned.The sale of Chlorpyrifos products for home, pet,lawn, and garden use is banned.Pesticide containers should be labeled with thefollowing information:

Trade nameActive and inert ingredientsPrecautionary statementsDirections for useEPA registration numberStorage requirements

Containers should be stored in a mannerconsistent with requirements printed on thelabel.The sale and distribution for homeowner use ofchromated copper arsenate (CCA), which is usedto protect wood from insect attack and decay, isprohibited. Chemical alternatives to CCA includealkaline copper quaternary (ACQ) and copperboron azole (CBA).

If a package containing pesticides and fertilizerscontaining pesticides is damaged to the pointwhere the required information is missing or

Pesticide & Fertilizer BMPs

Pesticides (including herbicides andinsecticides) and fertilizers must be properlyapplied, stored, handled and disposed of to

prevent contamination of surface water andgroundwater. Misuse of pesticides and

fertilizers can result in adverse impacts toaquatic life, even at low concentrations.

Many small businesses will qualify as CESQGs. Thefollowing item should be implemented.

Perform a hazardous waste determination onall the wastes you generate, and keep recordsfor a minimum of three years.A waste manifest should be filled out whenshipping hazardous waste to a disposalfacility. These manifests should bemaintained on site.

If your site contains more than five acres ofimpervious surface, you are required to registerfor a DEP stormwater permit and develop astormwater plan.If your facility has 42,000 gallons ofunderground petroleum storage or 1,320 gallonsof aboveground petroleum storage, you may berequired to develop a spill, prevention, controland countermeasure plan.

Waste BMPsWaste BMPsWaste BMPsWaste BMPsWaste BMPs

Small businesses that generate less than 220pounds (about 26 gallons) per month andaccumulate no more than 2,200 pounds of

hazardous waste on-site at any one time andthat generate less than 2.2 pounds per month

of acutely hazardous waste are consideredConditionally Exempt Small Quantity

Generators (“CESQG”).

illegible, it is misbranded. The package cannotbe relabeled by a retailer/distributor or end user.If a package containing pesticides or fertilizerscontaining pesticides is damaged but therequired information is complete and legible, theretailer/distributor or end user can place thepackage in a clear plastic bag and/or place cleartape on the package to repair the damage. It isacceptable to sell/use the product as long as thelabel is complete, legible and registered.Consider providing for sale and using on-sitealternatives to synthetically derived pesticidesand fertilizers. Organic landscaping uses a wholesystems approach to maintaining groundswithout toxic chemicals.

More information about organic products is available from thefollowing sources:

Organic Materials Review Institute is a non-profitorganization that determines which input products are allowedfor use in organic production and processing according to the

USDA.

Safelawns.org is a non-profit organization that has informationabout natural lawn and grounds care, how-to videos, product

recommendations and more.

Ensure that your hazardous waste isdisposed of at a permitted hazardous wastetreatment or disposal facility, or at ahousehold hazardous waste facility (or one-day collection event that is permitted to takeCESQG waste) and not disposed of asmunicipal trash.If you hire a waste hauler to take away yourwaste, be sure that the hauler has a validEPA Identification number and transporter’spermit to haul waste in Connecticut.Items such as fluorescent bulbs, batteries,recalled pesticides, and used electronicscontain toxic substances. These items mustbe recycled as Universal Waste and notthrown in the trash or stored outdoors.Used oil is oil that is generated by activitiessuch as the maintenance of vehicles andequipment. Used oil must be recycled. Itmust not be thrown in the trash, and shouldnot be stored outdoors.

Keep hazardous waste and othercontaminants out of your used oil sothat it does not have to be handled as ahazardous waste.

Containers, including dumpsters, should beclosed and in good condition (not leaking,rusted, or bulging).Waste containers should be clearly labeled toidentify their contents.If a waste is determined to be hazardous, thewords “hazardous waste” must appear onthe container.Waste containers should be stored undershelter or indoors and managed in a waythat prevents leaks and spills from reachingthe environment.If flammable or potentially explosive wastesare stored, “No Smoking” signs must beposted.Fire extinguishers, spill cleanup materialsand emergency contact information shouldbe easily accessible in the event of a spill.Remember: if at any time your wastegeneration or storage amounts increasebeyond CESQG levels, you will be requiredto comply with more stringent regulatoryrequirements.

Waste Minimization TipsWaste Minimization TipsWaste Minimization TipsWaste Minimization TipsWaste Minimization TipsWaste minimization means finding ways toreduce or eliminate the generation of waste.

Some general ways to do this are listed below.

Eliminate on-site activities that generate waste(e.g., by discontinuing certain services, or sub-contracting them out to off-site companies).Alter work practices and/or equipment so thatyou use less raw material. Using less rawmaterial means generating less waste.Recycle or reuse materials on-site.Switch from hazardous products to non-hazardous ones.Some specific waste minimization options forsmall businesses include:

Waste Fuel (gasoline, diesel): Send thewaste fuel that you generate for recycling(fuel blending) rather than for disposal orincineration. Waste fuels that are recycledin this way are exempt from regulation ashazardous waste.Parts Washing: Switch from a hazardousparts washing solvent (low-flash pointmineral spirits, chlorinated solvents) to anon-hazardous one (high-flash pointmineral spirits or water-based cleaners).Paints/Solvents: Look into havingpainting done by off-site contractors. Ifyou must paint on-site, use as little paintand solvent as possible to get the job done.Look into non-hazardous solvents forcleaning up, etc. Reuse solvents by settlingout the paint solids, or recycle them in anon-site solvent recycling still. Use water-based paints whenever possible.Rags/Wipes: Use only non-hazardouscleaning agents/solvents for cleanup. Sendyour rags to an industrial laundry - do notdispose of them in the trash.Raw Products: Excess products that arenot sold may become hazardous wastewhen disposed (e.g., pesticides, poolchemicals). Try not to stock items whichare hazardous. If this is not possible, see ifthe manufacturer will take the materialback or if there is someone else who canlegitimately use the product.

If you would like a copy of a CESQG Handbook, please call:Waste Management Program (860) 424-3023

Use or provide for sale recycled contentproducts or materials.