CHEMICAL WASTE DISPOSAL
The responsibility for determining whether a waste is hazardous, and for
characterizing the hazard, rests with the waste's generator, who may consult the
appropriate LCSS, MSDS, or other published listing.
There are three routes of disposal for your surplus chemicals.
a. Disposal (of certain materials) to the normal trash or sanitary sewer system.
b. Chemical treatment (such as neutralization), followed by disposal to the
sanitary sewer system.
c. Risk Management & Safety (RM&S) Department pickup for recycling,
incineration, or land filling.
Reduce amounts of chemical waste when appropriate!
The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 makes it illegal to improperly manage hazardous
wastes. The Act and its subsequent regulations provide for a maximum $25,000 fine for each day of
violation and criminal penalties for willful and fraudulent violations. The Act’s emphasis is on waste
reduction and recycling.
In order to facilitate waste reduction and reduce hazards associated with chemicals,
please:
a. Order Only What You Need
Be sure to check your current stock before ordering chemicals. It may also be possible to borrow
small amounts of chemicals from other labs. Order only amount you need.
b. Substitute Non-Hazardous Or Less Hazardous Materials For Hazardous Ones
c. Dispose of Nonhazardous Materials Yourself using appropriate treatment when possible
e.g. piranha neutralization, etc.
d. Use Recycled Chemicals Whenever Possible
Periodically, RM&S department distributes a list of recyclable chemicals in the Department
newsletter, FlashPoint.
e. Label Opening Date on containers
Definition. Chemical waste is hazardous if it:
a. exhibits certain hazardous characteristics, or
b. is a listed hazardous chemical.
Hazardous Characteristics (according to EPA)
a. IGNITABILITY. A liquid which has a flash point of less than 60 deg C This includes almost
b.
c.
d.
all organic solvents. (Ethers, alcohols, acetone, Toluene, Benzene,
alkanes, Xylene, Formaldehyde, Ethyl Acetate)
CORROSIVITY. An aqueous solution having a pH of less than or equal to 2, or greater than
or equal to 12.5. Corrosive materials like thionyl chloride, solid,
sodium hydroxide, etc.
REACTIVITY. Chemicals that react violently with air or water, strong oxidizers, chemicals
capable of detonation or could generate toxic gases.
TCLP TOXICITY. Chemical with an LD50 less than 500 mg/kg or is a carcinogen, mutagen
or teratogen.
WASTE DISPOSAL:
Contact RM&S 574-631-5037 if you have any questions regarding disposal, waste treatment, etc.
In Normal Trash
For list of chemicals that can go into trash, see list.
Through Sanitary Sewer System
In order to dispose of chemicals into the sanitary sewer system, they have to be water
soluble, degradable and properly diluted (20 or more times). That includes:
a. aqueous sol. of chemicals that can go in normal trash;
b. dilute, neutral, nonreactive, nonignitable aqueous solution of soluble and
nontoxic organics (i.e., <10% solutions; e.g. Allyl Alcohol Propanol,
Glycerine, Propylene, Glycol, etc)
c. neutralized acids or bases
Through Chemical Waste pickup
All waste containers have to be labeled with Chemical Discard tag. Only full name of
chemical (no abbreviations) on the label. Particularly note if waste contains all of the
following:
Halogenated compounds (e.g., CHCl3 , CH2CL2, CCl4, and solutes)
Metals (e.g., Pb, Hb, Ag, Cr)
Sulfur compounds (e.g., CS2, DMSO, and solutes)
Hazardous Chemicals
Solvents
Highly reactive compounds (strong oxidizers, reducer, potential explosives, etc)
Types of Hazardous Wastes
Unknown Chemicals
IMPROTANT!!! Analysis of unknown chemical waste is expensive and all efforts
should be made to determine origin of waste. Best possible strategy to avoid
formation and accumulation of unknown waste is appropriately labeling all waste.
Call RM&S for help if needed to deal with unknown waste.
Aqueous Solutions of Toxic Metals
The concentrations of the following toxic metals are regulated for disposal to the sanitary sewer (Al, Cr, Se,
As, Cu, Ag (<0.4 mg/l), Ba, Pb (2.0 mg/l), Zn, Cd, Hg (<0.02 mg/l)). If metal is only hazardous component,
aqueous solutions can be discharged to sewer system after precipitation and filtration of metal(s).
Free-Flowing Metallic Mercury
Package free-flowing mercury in tightly sealed containers for pickup.A mercury vacuum is available
through RM&S
Solutions of Cyanide or Sulfide
Solutions containing cyanide or sulfide compounds release toxic gases under acidic
conditions. Store separately from acids, chemical treatment is possible.
Hazardous Chemicals
Chemicals considered hazardous because of their carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, teratogenicity, or other
toxicity. See list. Not all toxic chemicals are on this list!!!
Organic Solvents
To qualify as solvent waste should not contain any precipitate!!! Separate halogenated solvents
(e.g.,chloroform, carbon tetrachloride and ichloromethane) from nonhalogenated solvents. Don’t put
solvent in the sewer system.
Following things should not be mixed with solvents:
Solutions of acids or bases
Aqueous solutions of toxic organic chemicals
Metals (e.g., Sb, As, Ba, Cd, Cr, Pb, Hg, Ni, Se, Ag)
Vacuum pump oil
Sulfides or inorganic cyanides
Strong oxidizers or reducers
Water reactive substances
Unknowns
Large amounts of water
Hazardous Solids
Package according to instructions below.
Potentially Explosive and Other Reactive Chemicals
Package explosive chemicals separately from other chemicals. Label clearly as to hazardous characteristics
and special handling precautions, inform RM&S abouts its nature.
Potentially explosive chemicals include:
Ammonium nitrate, Diazo compounds, Hydrazine compounds, Nitrocellulose, Picric Acid, Peroxideforming agents (ethers, THF, aldehydes, compounds with benzylic hydrogens, compounds with allyl
groups, vinyls)
Peroxide Formation and Safety Tips
1. Exposure of any of the peroxide-forming agents to light or air increase the rate of peroxide
information. Therefore, store these agents in full, light-tight containers.
2. Refrigeration does not prevent peroxide formation
3. Order small amounts frequently to decrease storage time.
4. Date new containers when opened.
5. Be particularly cautious with materials of unknown vintage. Do not
attempt to remove caps from containers that may cause sparks..
6. Never distill peroxide-forming solvents unless they are known to be
free of peroxides. Peroxides concentrated in the residue can pose a
serious explosion hazard.
7. Before beginning work with a peroxide-forming agent, determine its peroxide content. Easy-touse quantitative peroxide test strips are available from Scientific Products or Aldrich
8. Dispose of agents containing greater than 80 ppm peroxide. itshould be treated prior to disposal.
Methods for removal of peroxides involve the addition of reducing agent such as ferrous sulfate
(for diethyl ether peroxides) or sodium metabisulfite (for isopropyl ether peroxides).
9. The treated solvent should be placed in a waste container and the empty container rinsed with
water. Most peroxides are water soluble and the rinsate can be put in the sewer system.
Strong Oxidizers and Reducers, water reactives
Treat/neutralize before disposing!
STRONG OXIDIZERS: Chromic acid (fresh), Metallic chlorates, Metallic nitrates, Metallic perchlorates,
Metallic permanganates, Perchloric acid
STRONG REDUCERS: n-Butyl lithium, Calcium hydride, Metallic sulfides Sodium hydride, Stannous
chloride
Other Reactives (Including Water Reactives): Acetyl chloride, Bezoyl peroxide,
Bromine, Calcium, Lithium, Potassium, Sodium, Phosphorous (yellow), Thionyl chloride
Labware Contaminated with Toxic Chemicals
Dispose as from toxic solids.
Packaging and Labeling
1. Label each container with completed Chemical Discard Tag
2. Consider chemical compatibility when packaging a variety of items.
3. Put chemicals into closed containers that will not leak.
4. Pack liquids separately from solids.
REFERENCES
a. National Research Council. Prudent Practices for Handling Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories
(National Academy Press, 2101 Constitution Ave., Washington D.C. 10418).
in particular:
Overview and Recommendation section for quick overview;
Chapter 7 contains detailed suggestions for various treatment processes to neutralize hazardous
waste.
b. RM&S manual, http://riskmgt.nd.edu/manuals/documents/CHP2007.pdf