The cheapest and most beneficial long-term way of handling chemical wastes is to minimize the generation of chemical wastes. Good experimental designs will minimize wastes.
Once generated, the procedure for handling wastes is for each user to collect compatible wastes in appropriately labeled containers during each experiment. Wastes of different types should be segregated where possible. For example, aqueous non-heavy metal wastes, aqueous heavy metal wastes, solid wastes, specific highly toxic or noxious wastes, organic wastes, chlorinated organic wastes, etc., will be most cheaply and effectively disposed of when collected separately. Waste mixtures that are all related to a particular experiment can be collected in a single container. Acetone wash wastes, if not heavily contaminated, will be recycled and should be saved separately.
When a waste container is full and/or the experiment generating a certain type of waste is completed, the container should be given to Kathleen Hurst, stockroom manager. Approximately once per semester, the collected wastes are picked up by an external waste disposal contractor and taken to a final disposal site.
According to Ms. Hurst, the company prefers screw-top containers. Corks and stoppers are not appropriate. Used (but clean) glass pickle jars, etc. are available on shelves in Room 202. Some new plastic and glass screw-top waste containers are also available. Please check to make sure that your waste is compatible with the container being used (e.g., doesn't dissolve it, etc.) and that no stir bars are left in the waste.
Accurate and complete labeling of waste containers is crucial. Unlabelled containers cost far more for disposal and present a potential hazard to all of us who come in contact with them. Waste containers should be clearly labeled (using a writing implement that does not dissolve or rub off) with the following information: