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HANDLING OF CHEMICAL WASTES
WORK INSTRUCTION #13
PREPARED BY: SAINT MARY’S UNIVERSITY
CREATED: 02/10/2006
APPROVED: 03/10/2006
REVISED: 02/12/2016
V-10
1. SCOPE
1.1. Technicians will provide solvent waste bottles with standardized labels.
1.2. Lab instructors are responsible for providing instruction and enforcing that the waste products
from the experiments are properly collected for disposal.
1.3. The researcher or supervisor (appointed by the researcher) shall be responsible for the proper
collection and labeling of all wastes generated in research activities.
1.4. The technicians will collect, inventory, and store wastes in Solvent Stores and make
arrangements, at least annually, for disposal by an appropriate waste disposal company.
1.5. Proper training must be provided to all potential waste handlers.
2. HEALTH, SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENT
2.1. The health of persons in teaching and research labs is primarily affected from chemical
exposures via inhaling solvent vapors or aerosols. A secondary route is absorbing chemicals
through the skin. A third route is absorption via cuts.
2.2. Safe handling to reduce chemical exposures includes the standard use of lab coats, side
shield safety glasses (i.e. goggles or protective glasses), and protective gloves when handling
chemicals. Clothing and protective equipment maximizes the reduction of skin exposure,
spill contact, or vapor absorption.
2.2.1. Long pants are required while working in laboratories regardless of gender.
Sandals and open-toed shoes are never permitted in teaching and/or research labs
where chemicals are used.
2.3. To reduce the prime route of chemical exposure via inhalation the minimum amount of solvents
shall be used and they shall be covered or closed when not in direct use to reduce emissions into
the general lab. Fume hoods will be used wherever possible to contain solvent vapours.
2.4. All bottled chemicals used must have their Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) present in the
lab.
3. DEFINITIONS
3.1. Bottled chemicals are chemicals in original supplier bottle or working solutions with
concentrations over 10% weight/volume.
4. PROCEDURE
Labeling
4.1. Label must clearly identify the waste’s contents, the lab location and the research or academic
lab responsible for the bottle.
4.2. Contents must be listed in pencil and be legible. The name and contact information of the
solvent waste collector must be provided along with a separate list of contents within the
bottle.
4.3. IUPAC nomenclature must be used for listing contents (not just formulas).
4.4. Legally, all bottle contents must be identified on the waste bottle label.
Handling
4.5. The waste bottles must never be filled above the indicated line on the standardized label.
4.6. Waste bottles must always be transported using the rubber buckets.
4.7. As soon as solvent waste bottles are filled, they should be removed from the laboratory
fumehood and taken to the departmental technicians and placed in the appropriate solvent
cabinet. The waste bottles must be left in the rubber buckets.
Page 2 of 2
HANDLING OF CHEMICAL WASTES
WORK INSTRUCTION #13
PREPARED BY: SAINT MARY’S UNIVERSITY
CREATED: 02/10/2006
APPROVED: 03/10/2006
REVISED: 02/12/2016
V-10
4.8. The technician will ensure the wastes are properly inventoried and placed in Solvent Storage.
4.9. In Solvent Stores, waste bottles must be stored in a containment tray.
4.10.
All waste handlers must take into account the effects of temperature differences and be
aware of the problems this has caused in the past.
4.11.
Segregation of Wastes
A - Solvent Wastes
 The solvent wastes are segregated into Halogenated, Non-Halogenated and Organic Base waste.
 The standardized solvent waste labels have a list of general solvents, all of which have been
predetermined to be compatible.
 For a solvent or chemical not listed on the bottle, the compatibility of it with the contents of the
bottle must be checked before mixing. If not sure, check with Lab Instructor, Technician or
Research Supervisor (if applicable).
Suitable Reference Available in the Department of Chemistry: Fire Protection Guide on
Hazardous Materials and Prudent Practices for Disposal of Chemicals from Laboratories
 If compatibility is still questionable, set up a separate properly labeled waste bottle for the
specific waste(s). Label must clearly identify the waste’s contents, the lab location and the
person(s) responsible for the bottle. These specific bottles must be kept separate from the general
waste bottles.
B - Synthesized Products
 Technicians will provide labeled waste bottles, no larger than 500 g, for segregation and
collection of solid products synthesized in academic labs.
C - Inorganic Cations
 Inorganic Cations which pose environmental hazards will be precipitated by an approved
method and the sludge will be sent to a Waste Disposal Company.
D - Chemical Unknowns
 For Class Experiments which have Chemical Unknowns, the technician will list beforehand
on the appropriate waste bottle the list of Chemical Unknowns.
E – Others
 Some chemical wastes are collected separately by the technician and after appropriate treatments
(neutralization, oxidation or reduction) can be safely disposed of down the drain.
5. WASTE DISPOSAL
5.1 Waste disposal related to closing a laboratory upon retirement or resignation, requires written
confirmation (Form 11.3) from the faculty member stating that arrangements have been made from
chemical waste disposal according to the protocols set by the Faculty of Science.