Waste Disposal

Container selection

• All laboratories have 2 gallon safety cans. These cans are labeled Halogenated (Anything with -Cl,-Br,-F and -I) and Non-Halogenated (Acetone, Methanol, alcohols, etc) and are to be used to dispose of organic solvents. Please be sure to use the appropriate container for your waste solvent, if in doubt, ask Yamali. Please, fill in the sheet on the clip board (near each can) with name and quantity of solvent added.
• If you have any samples or mixtures of solvents and samples, use the polypropylene bottles in the laboratories designated for waste. These bottles can be used for some types of acids waste. If you need a bottle of a more resistant material see Yamali.
• Never mix waste chemicals, especially if you don't know how they are going to react with each other.
• Always remember to select the correct bottle size. If you are going to dispose of only 5 ml of X compound, then use a 30-ml bottle. Never fill the bottles all the way to the top.
• Glass must be placed in the Glass Box. Needles and blades should be disposed of in the dark red containers labeled: SHARPS.
• Biohazardous materials must be placed in red containers labeled: Biohazard Materials.
• Cadmium and Lead must be placed in a labeled container and treated as chemical waste.

Labeling of waste

• Write the full name of each chemical, no abbreviations or chemical formulas only.
• Specify or estimate the amount of each compound in the waste bottle.

Acids waste

• Acids (Sulfuric, Hydrochloric, Nitric) must be neutralized (pH 6-8) with Sodium Bicarbonate. These acid wastes may be disposed of in the sink when neutralized.
• Waste acid rinse must be neutralized.
• If you are neutralizing Formic Acid or Chromic Acid (Metals) they must be placed in a waste jar to be picked up. NEVER POURED DOWN THE SINK!
• Water and salts can be disposed in the sink, neutralized to pH range of 6-8.

Waste Pickup

• Properly labeled chemical waste containers should be placed under the Glove Box in E138 or under the oven table in E131 for eventual pickup.
• The Environmental Compliance Group will not pick up unknown chemicals. All chemical waste containers must have labels that identify and estimate the amount of each chemical.
• WE DON'T ACCEPT UNKNOWNS!
• The Environmental Compliance Group will pick up almost everything except: acid mixed with organics, radioactive material, asbestos, explosives, Polychlorinated Biphenyls and compressed gas cylinders.

Last modified 29-August-2012 by website owner: NCNR (attn: Jeff Krzywon)