Policy

To ensure compliance with all legal requirements for the labelling, handling, storage and disposal of hazardous wastes and surplus or unwanted chemicals the following general procedures and guidelines have been developed.

Responsibilities

The responsibilty for implementing and following the procedures rests with all supervisors, post-graduate students, honours students and staff who use chemicals and generate waste. Staff and students have the responsibility for the management of unwanted chemicals and any waste generated until collection and disposal by the waste contractor.

Application

The procedures apply to all chemical wastes generated in the Chemistry School as well as to the disposal of surplus or unwanted chemicals. Each laboratory, research group etc, using chemicals or other hazardous substances must have specific procedures in place for the handling, labelling, storage and disposal of all these materials under their control, as well as for spill management and appropriate clean-up procedures. These procedures are described in Sections A, B and C below.

• Section A. Common Solvent Wastes
• Section B.  Surplus, Unwanted and Waste Chemicals
• Section C. Empty chemical containers

Section A. Common Solvent Wastes

Procedures and Guidelines

• Before commencing any work in a laboratory, a written disposal procedure is required for all waste that will be generated. Supervisors should include waste storage and handling procedures in the project risk assessment.

• Each lab and research group store the waste they create in approved containers in spill containment trays until it is delivered to the storage area in the basement.

• The only waste or chemicals that may be disposed of down sinks or drains are non hazardous substances with a pH between 6 and 10. Waste disposed of down the sink runs to the sewers. Maintenance workers in the sewers can be put at risk through exposure to hazardous substances. Toxic substances may also be concentrated at sewage treatment plants and subsequently contaminate land or water.
• All mercaptans and thiols must be treated using the appropriate peroxide, permanganate or bleach (sodium hypochlorite solution) before disposal to any waste container.
• Water aspirators must not be used for a partial vacuum when distilling or reacting any potentially hazardous substance particularly thiols and mercaptans, to prevent contamination of water running down the sink.. A vacuum pump with an appropriate scrubbing  or neutralising system must be used.
• All waste containers in fume cupboards or on lab benches etc should be closed with a screw cap or lid when not in immediate use to minimise evaporation.
• Waste should be segregated into the following categories to assist the waste contractor in treating or disposing of it. This segregation lowers costs to the university and allows for reuse and recycling.
  • water-soluble hydrocarbons
  • water-insoluble hydrocarbons
  • chlorinated hydrocarbons
  • pyrridine and acid mix
  • benzene, terahydrofuran, diethyl ether
  • waste oil
• All waste containers must be labeled with the appropriate labels that must contain the following minimum information
• chemical name/s and hazard diamond/s
• the responsible persons’ name, lab room number
• Labels will be available from the store. These labels will have the appropriate information and hazard diamond printed on them.

The 6 waste categories are common throughout the University. They are not intended for surplus or unwanted chemicals. The 6  waste categories are currently collected on the third Thursday of each month except for January. Waste can be delivered to the storage area on the loading dock between 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm  each Wednesday.  Where appropriate all the above substances should be treated or processed to the lowest level of hazard practicable.

Section B.  Surplus, Unwanted and Waste Chemicals

Application

The procedures apply to all chemicals and hazardous material - stock and non-stock items purchased from the Chemistry Store, material brought into the School from elsewehere, or generated in the School and as well to all solid and liquid waste generated by research and teaching (with the exception of the common solvent wastes covered in Section A).

Procedures and Guidelines

• Before commencing any work in a laboratory, a written disposal procedure is required for all waste that will be generated. Supervisors should include waste storage and handling procedures in the project risk assessment.
• Unwanted  or surplus chemical reagents may fall in to (but are not limited to) the following  categories.

• Disposal is organised  by the Safety Officer and store and is paid for by a levy imposed on all chemical purchases by members of the School.  They are disposed of every 3 or 4 months or as needed.
• Where appropriate all surplus, unwanted substances  or  waste should be treated or processed to reduce the level of hazard.
• Where there are a number of partially full containers of the same chemical at the same level of purity, the contents should be consolidated if possible.
• Waste and chemicals for disposal must be in sealed containers not beakers or other lab glassware.
• Damaged or broken containers must be repacked or overpacked.
• The containers are to placed in cardboard boxes according to their hazard class with appropriate packaging material eg vermiculite. Chemicals of different hazard classes are not to be mixed e.g. flammable liquids and oxidising agents.
• A hazard class diamond (where appropriate) is to placed on each box.
• A list of the contents  of each box to be attached to each box. It is to be visible and legible. Each box must also be marked with its room or lab of origin
• Where there are many chemicals for disposal, a file (in Microsoft XL on disk or by email) is to be provided to the Safety Officer and store of all chemicals and waste for disposal when handing over the substances for disposal.  It should contain the following information
• Box number and lab of origin
• Chemical-name-full name: no abbreviations of formulas
• Grade-purity (if known or applicable)
• Size- total quantity in millilitres or grams
• No.of Packs-total number of containers
• Opened- do any of the containers still have the original seal unbroken

Sample spreadsheet

When all chemicals are ready for disposal a time and date for bringing them to the storage areas is to be arranged with the Safety Officer and the store.

Section C: Empty chemical containers

• Empty winchesters (2.5l bottles) and other chemical containers including lab glassware must be clean and free of any chemical residues  which may be hazardous to health or the environment.
• Residue free glass may be disposed of in the glass bins on the loading dock or left for pick up on the trolleys on level 3 in the old building or 5 in the east wing.
• No caps are to be left on any container to be disposed of.
• Labels must be defaced to be illegible or removed.
• Other waste glass can be disposed of in glass bins in labs or on the loading dock. It must be free of chemical residues and labels must be defaced to be illegible or removed if it contained hazardous materials.