Chemical Waste Procedure
1) Segregate waste by type
Segregation of different types of waste in the laboratory avoids reactions between incompatible materials and facilitates waste management. An indicative list of types of laboratory waste is given below:- Chlorinated organic solvents
- Non-chlorinated organic solvents
- Solid organic compound waste
- Toxic aqueous solutions not containing heavy metal waste
- Heavy metal waste (containing, e.g., As, Cd, Pb, Zn, Mn, Cr, Cu etc.)
- Mercury and mercury salt residues
- Silica
- Glass waste (e.g., broken glass, pipettes, glass-backed TLC plates etc.)
- Sharps (e.g., needles, scalpel blades etc.)
- Non-refillable gas cylinders (e.g., lecture bottles)
- Empty chemical glass bottles
- Radioactive waste
- Biological waste
Precautions
- Avoid mixing hazard classes whenever possible.
- Do not mix incompatible wastes in the same container. Violent reactions can occur if incompatible chemicals are mixed.
If you need more information about waste segregation and disposal, contact [email protected]
2) Accumulate waste in appropriate containers
- Use a separate container for each type of waste: the Department of Chemistry provides 25 L plastic containers for liquid waste
- Each research lab is responsible for sourcing all other types of waste containers
- Ensure that all containers are compatible with the waste being stored and that the lids/caps are tightly closed when not filled
- Provide secondary containment whenever necessary
- Fill liquid containers up to a maximum of 80% of capacity. Leave headspace for expansion and ease of dispensing: never accumulate > 20 Kg of liquid waste
- DO NOT place paper, stir bars, and other solid debris in liquid waste containers
- Store waste containers by compatibility
- Do not use damaged, leaking or rusted containers to store chemical waste
- Check waste accumulation areas in your laboratory every week for leaking containers, unlabeled containers, open containers, incompatible containers stored next to each other and excessive accumulation of chemical waste in the areas
- Correct all problems immediately
- If in doubt about how to proceed, ALWAYS ASK FOR HELP
Contact [email protected] for assistance or to schedule a chemical waste pick-up.
3) Label all waste containers
- Use the hazardous waste label and identify the specific hazard class of your waste, e.g., Inorganic Acid Waste, Chlorinated Solvent Waste etc.
- Write the person's name to be contacted about this waste and your laboratory number
- Place the label on the container before the first addition of waste
- Accurately fill out all requested information
- List each chemical constituent and its quantity: go down to the parts per million for heavy metal waste; volumes may be used instead of percentages or ppm
4) How to submit a request for the removal of waste
- Access the Chemical Waste Management system.
- Select the type of waste you have to be picked up (e.g., chlorinated organic solvents, non-chlorinated organic solvents, silica etc.)
- Fill out the Waste collection form
- Submit the request
- You receive an e-mail reminder of the waste removal
