Packing and Disposing of Chemical Waste
by Judy McBride - Assistant Director of Chemical Safety

At some time, all labs will need to dispose of waste chemicals. Some generate large amounts of chemical waste requiring regular, scheduled pickup, such as those synthesizing proteins or other compounds. Others may not generate waste until they move or review their inventory for outdated material. No matter what the amount generated, it is critical that all materials be identified and packed properly.

Because most chemicals used at UAB are considered hazardous materials by U.S. regulatory agencies and, as a large, urban university, UAB has several state highways on campus, strict governmental requirements are in place to ensure that the movement of hazardous substances does not put the public at risk of exposure. Packing and labeling requirements also protect Occupational Health and Safety employees who handle the waste generated on campus. These workers are particularly vulnerable, since they have to deal with chemicals that they do not work with regularly and they may have limited knowledge of the dangers posed by the materials. Worse, if containers are not labeled correctly, OH&S workers as well as the contract waste transporters will not know the hazards of what they are handling and may not be able to protect themselves. If an accident occurs involving mislabeled materials, heavy fines and possible legal action may result.

Currently, chemical waste disposal on-campus is at no cost to the lab. The UAB Chemical Safety and Waste Management Manual has detailed instructions on the proper labeling, packing, and manifesting of waste chemicals. The best way to ensure that a chemical has the proper label is to dispose of it in the original container. However, if the waste is generated as part of a reaction process, then that is not possible. These types of wastes must be profiled and collected in suitable containers.

Profiling involves listing the chemicals in the waste stream and the approximate percentage of each in the final mixture. All materials must be included. Merely labeling a bottle 'Organic waste' is not sufficient. The contents must be specified. If each lab accurately profiles its waste, similar waste streams from different labs can be mixed to reduce waste disposal costs. Some of these bulked wastes can be sold as fuel to cement kilns. This avoids a disposal cost and recycles a waste as heat.

However, if the wastes are not accurately profiled, then dangerous reactions could occur during bulking or unsuitable materials could be burned for heat generation. Solvents containing halogens, chlorine, fluorine, bromine, cannot be burned since ozone depleting compounds and acid pollutants can result. Even if heat recovery is not an option, unlabeled waste must be characterized for legal disposal. This is a tedious and costly process, so a $50 per container surcharge is required.

Nobody wants to pay hundreds of dollars to get rid of trash! Nobody wants to damage the environment or injure co-workers. So, to avoid these pitfalls: -
keep track of old or no longer used reagents and dispose of them promptly. (Labels detach after 25 or 30 years.) You'll have more space for the items that you do use.
Determine what is in a bulk waste stream and label the collection containers at the start of the procedure. Instruct all lab employees and students using chemicals to label all containers, waste and otherwise. That way when its time to clean up everybody knows what's in the brown jug.

Keep track of modifications to a procedure that may affect the contents of the waste. Re-label containers as appropriate.

When a colleague is leaving the lab or retiring, wish them luck and ask that they dispose of material they are not taking with them and that others cannot use.

Proper management of chemical waste reduces risk and allows the laboratory to function in a safer, more efficient manner.

For additional information contact: UAB Hazardous Materials Facility 934-3797 or Division of Chemical Safety 934-2487.