Environmental Protection
Risk Management Services
www.riskmanagment.ubc.ca
Environmental Protection Topics
• Environmental Impact of Research
• Waste Minimization Practices
• Pollution Prevention
o Source Reduction
o Recycle and Reuse Options at UBC
o Equipment containing Hazardous Materials
o Air Emissions
o Sanitary Waste Water Contamination
• Water & Energy Consumption
• Green Purchasing
• Resources
Regulations and Policies
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Canadian Environmental Protection Act
Canada Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) Regulations
Environment Canada PCB Regulations
BC Hazardous Waste Regulations
BC Spill Reporting Regulation
BC Ozone Depleting Substances and Other Halocarbons Reg
Metro Vancouver Sewer Use and Air Bylaws
UBC Policy #6: Environmental Protection Compliance
UBC Policy #9: Hazardous Materials Management
Make Your Laboratory GREEN: Understand the environmental
impact of YOUR research and attempt to reduce/minimize it!
Environmental Impacts of Research
Environmental pollution
• Generation of hazardous waste
• Generation of solid waste
• Drain discharge of hazardous materials
• Spills of hazardous materials to the
environment
• Emission of air contaminants
Excessive use of resources
• Water consumption
• Energy usage
• Transportation (Purchasing)
Develop a Lab Specific Pollution Prevention Plan
IDENTIFY:
• Type & quantity of wastes disposed from your lab
• Processes from which wastes were generated
• Available reduction & recycling options
REVIEW:
• Your laboratory annual hazardous waste report and chemical
waste inventory forms
• Lab processes, procedures and protocols
CONSIDER:
• Other aspects of waste disposal: BCG#, waste manifest, TDG
training
IMPLEMENT:
• The most environmentally friendly, safe and effective
reduction options
Pollution Prevention Ideas
• Train new personnel in chemical and environmental safety,
including methods of pollution prevention and waste
minimization
• Prepare for leaks and spills
• Review the chemicals in use to understand their hazards
• Design your experiments with waste minimization in mind
• Develop and implement a waste minimization plan for your
laboratory
• Dispose of waste in a responsible manner by following
documented protocols
• Conserve water & energy
Reduce Your Environmental Impact
Incorporate the 4 Rs of pollution prevention and waste
minimization in your lab:
1. Redesign/Replace - implement material substitution and
process changes
2. Reduce - eliminate waste at its source
3. Reuse - find new uses for old chemicals and share what you
no longer need
4. Recycle - convert used items back into raw materials,
which can be reused.
Rethink & Replace
Implement material substitution and process changes!
• Operational improvements
o Input changes
o Process changes
• Design for energy efficiency
• Design for water conservation
• Consider the waste produced when
purchasing new equipment
Reduce
Minimize the quantity and toxicity of your waste!
• Substitute with non-toxic chemicals
• Reduce the scale of laboratory
processes
• Control chemical inventories
• Take care to minimize spills
Reuse
Find new uses for old chemicals and share what you no
longer need!
Chemical exchange
Recycle
Convert used items back into raw materials, which can be reused!
• Solvents (acetone, methanol)
• Silver recovery from photographic waste
• Oil waste
• Paint
• Batteries
• Lab plastic
• Lab Styrofoam
Hazardous Waste
• Main environmental impact of research
• Hazardous waste = any product, substance, or organism that
is dangerous to the environment or to human beings, and that
is no longer used for its original purpose, at the time of
disposal, or in storage/transportation prior to treatment or
disposal.
• Hazardous waste is dangerous because of its quantity,
concentration, physical, chemical, or infectious
characteristics.
Waste Streams at UBC
Segregation into two waste streams:
1. Non-Hazardous Waste
• Waste Management
• Building Operations
2. Hazardous Waste
• Environmental Services Facility
• Risk Management Services
Typical Hazardous Waste Generated at UBC by Waste Stream
(2011)
Photographic waste
5%
Oil
4%
95+ tonnes hazardous
waste generated by UBC
research operations
Batteries
9%
Biohazard Risk
Group 2
18%
17+ tonnes (18%) recycled
saving >$30K
Biohazard Risk
Group 1
11%
Chemical waste
13%
Biomedical
4%
Solvents
24%
Pathological
Sharps 8%
1%
NR Contaminated solids
Pharmaceutical
3%
0%
Hazardous Waste Streams
Typical biological + chemical wastes from UBC research are
managed as 2 waste streams:
1.
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Repeated Hazardous Waste:
Biological waste
Non-regulated contaminated solid waste
Solvents
Photographic fixer and developer
Oil
Tags with generator barcodes used for each container
Pre-approval NOT necessary
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Chemicals
Online chemical inventory system
Tags not used, pre-approval EACH time
Old chemicals chemical exchange
Hazardous Waste Management Considerations
SEGREGATION
IDENTIFICATION
Hazard classes (WHMIS & TDG)
Waste compatibilities (e.g. chemicals)
Waste type: biological or chemical
to dispose of or recycle?
PACKAGING
Labeling and packaging to match
identification
STORAGE
Use & inspect designated waste
storage areas
TRANSPORTATION
PROCEDURES
Transportation of Dangerous Goods
Proper disposal procedures
Examples of Biological Waste
defined as per BC Hazardous Waste Regulation
Waste Type
Examples
Microbiology laboratory
(Biohazardous)
laboratory cultures, stocks of specimens of microorganisms, live or attenuated vaccines, human or
animal cell cultures used in research, and laboratory
material that has come into contact with any of the
above
Animal
animal tissues, organs, body parts, carcasses,
bedding, animal blood and blood products
Human anatomical
human tissue, organs, body parts
Human blood and blood human fluid blood/blood products, items saturated or
products
dripping with blood, body fluids contaminated with
human blood, human body fluids removed for
diagnosis or during surgery, treatment or autopsy
Clinical & laboratory
waste sharps
needles, syringes, blades or laboratory glass capable
of causing punctures/cuts
Biological Waste Minimization Measures
• SEGREGATE uncontaminated solid waste from
biomedical and biohazardous waste (all risk groups)
• Use products with less environmental impact:
− Petri dishes with 35% less plastic
− Glassware that can be decontaminated and reused
− Refillable pipette racks
− Other reusable or recyclable products
Non-Hazardous Chemical Disposal
www.riskmanagement.ubc.ca/environment/hazardous-waste-management/waste-disposal-guide/chemicals
Dispose of non-hazardous laboratory waste via the regular
garbage or sewer:
• Reduces disposal costs and helps the environment
• Do this ONLY when safe and allowed by regulations and bylaws
• Review chemicals A-Z on the Risk Management Services (RMS)
website
• Recycle:
o waste oil (flammable liquid)
o batteries
o scrap metals
• Pharmaceutical drugs to be disposed according to a special
procedure
Non-Hazardous Chemicals
www.riskmanagement.ubc.ca/environment/hazardous-waste-management/waste-disposal-guide/chemicals
• Non-hazardous wastes commonly disposed of as
hazardous include:
− Salts (e.g. potassium chloride, sodium carbonate)
− Natural products (e.g. sugars, amino acids, agar)
− Inert materials (e.g. non-contaminated
chromatography resins and gels)
• Non-contaminated materials can be disposed of safely and
legally in the regular trash/sink
Examples of Chemical Waste
Includes solids, liquids or gases containing or contaminated with:
Hazardous materials
Examples
Flammable solvents
acetone, alcohols, acetonitrile
Leachate toxic materials
heavy metals, pesticides
Corrosives
hydrochloric acid, potassium hydroxide
Toxics (mutagenic, carcinogenic, chloroform, ethidium bromide
acute or chronic toxicity
materials)
Reactives (oxidizers, cyanides,
sulphides, explosives, unstable,
water-reactive materials)
sodium metal, benzoyl peroxide
Polychlorinated biphenyls PCBs
PCBs >50 ppm
Gases (non-returnable cylinders)
propane, butane
What About Other Hazardous Waste?
• Unknown solids or liquids
• Explosives and potentially explosive materials
• Compressed gas cylinders and lecture bottles
– Some vendors offer returnable lecture bottles/small size cylinders:
Linde Canada - Praxair - Spectra Gases - Air Liquide
• Disposal with an approved contractor
• Generators will pay the disposal cost
• NOTE: Radioactive materials disposal is managed by the UBC
Radiation Safety Program.
Chemicals Minimization Measures
• Manage/control inventories
• Substitute with less hazardous chemicals
− MIT Green Wizard
− EPA Green Chemistry
• In-lab treatment (corrosives, ethidium bromide)
• Reuse chemicals via the Chemical Exchange Program
• Solvent recycling (methanol, acetone)
Waste Contaminated with Ethidium Bromide
• Segregate contaminated, non-regulated solid waste
from toxic waste
• Deactivate liquid waste before drain disposal
• Replace ethidium bromide with: GelRed®,
SYBRSafe®, SYBRGreen®
Inventory Control
• Use free surplus chemicals
• Keep an up-to-date inventory of lab chemicals, including
location (mandatory WHMIS/WorkSafeBC requirement)
• Rotate stock: follow the FIFO principle
• Keep track of expiration dates + storage times (peroxideforming, degradable chemicals)
• Purchase only chemicals + amounts you need
• Accept only gifts or samples you plan to use in the near
future
• Borrow small amounts from other labs
• Purchase smaller containers: large containers often become
waste
• Keep Material Safety Datasheets (MSDS) and disposal
procedures for chemicals used and produced in your lab
In-Lab Treatment Options
• Consider ALL environmental consequences of YOUR lab activities
• Adjust experimental designs to minimize type and quantity of
hazardous waste
• Replace with less hazardous materials (e.g. non-mercury
thermometers)
• Use hazardous materials sparingly
• Monitor experimental reactions, add chemicals only as necessary
• Include experimental steps that destroy or inactivate any
hazardous products
• Scale down the volume of experiments
Reduce Your Solvent Waste Stream
Minimize health and environmental impacts:
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Avoid and reduce use of solvents
Substitute with less hazardous solvents
Use “green” solvents
– Solvents from renewable resources (e.g.
ethanol, or ethyl lactate)
– Ionic liquids (salts that are fluid at RT, e.g.
ethyl ammonium nitrate)
– Solvent-less reactions (e.g. solid state or
reagents serve as solvents)
– Water-based solvents
Send solvents for recycling
Ideal Solvent Qualities
• Minimal health and safety hazard:
o low toxicity
o low flammability and volatility
o low peroxide formation
o lower vapour pressure, higher boiling point
• Minimal environmental impact:
o increased biodegradability
o reduced ozone depletion potential
o reduced toxicity
o less air emission
• Reactivity that fits the reaction
• Phase control ability (easy precipitation/separation of product)
• Safe degradation or evaporation after use
Photographic Waste
Fixer and Developer Solutions
Photographic waste is treated onsite at ESF:
• Ion exchange of fixer for silver removal (~$1000 back per year)
• Neutralization
• Drain disposal
To minimize waste: whenever practical, use digital photography
Waste Oil
• Send for recycling
• Do NOT contaminate waste oil with water,
solvents or PCBs
• Types of waste oil include:
o Automotive lubricating oil
o Cutting oil
o Fuel oil
o Gear oil
o Hydraulic oil
o Synthetic oil
o Emulsion
o Vacuum-pump oil (add traps between
experiment and vacuum pump)
Spills of Hazardous Materials
• Use secondary containment for chemical transportation,
use and storage
• Get spill response training
• Ensure proper equipment and materials are available in
your spill kit
• Identify drain locations and use drain covers
• Immediately report all spills to:
– Risk Management Services (RMS): 604-822-2029
– Provincial Emergency Program (PEP): 800-663-3456
Laboratory Plastic Recycling
http://www.riskmanagement.ubc.ca/environment/laboratory-plasticrecycling
Accepted 
All Plastic Containers that:
• Plastic code: #1,2,3,4,5,7
• Previously contained non-hazardous
materials
• Are empty, clean & dry
Not Accepted X
• Plastic #6 (polystyrene)
• Pipettes/tips, syringes
• Empty plastic containers previously
containing or contaminated with
hazardous materials
Styrofoam Reduction & Recycling
• Reduce Styrofoam packaging by collaborating with suppliers
• Recycle Styrofoam via WCS Recycling in North Van
Recycled Materials @ UBC
Material
Service provider
Use of recycled material
Solvents: Acetone &
Methanol
ESF
Re-distilled
Back to the labs FREE
Solvents: Other nonhalogenated
Sumas
Fuel additives in cement kilns
Chemicals
ESF
Chemical exchange
Back to the labs FREE
Photographic Waste Fixer
ESF
Recovered silver reused in silver
refinery
Oil
M&R Environmental
Recycled oil for new use
Paint
Product Care
Reused, recycled or fuel additive
Batteries
Call2Recycle and
Metalex
New batteries and stainless
steel products
Plastic
UBC Waste
Management
Carpets, textiles, furniture,
bottles
Styrofoam (EPS)
WCS Recycling
More EPS, picture frames,
door/window frames
Equipment Containing Hazardous Chemicals
• Remove hazardous materials from equipment
before sending for disposal, e.g.
− Refrigerators & freezers (refrigerants =
ozone depleting substances)
− Manometers (mercury = toxic)
• Refrigerants to be removed by certified
personnel or approved contractors
• Disassembly of units containing mercury also
required
• Cost is the users’ responsibility
• Note ALL equipment containing OTHER
hazardous materials
Air Emissions
Research can impact air quality through accidental release or
emissions of any of the following:
• toxic chemicals
• volatile organic compounds (solvents, formaldehyde)
• ozone-depleting substances
• greenhouse gases (CO2, methane)
• acid rain gases (NOx)
Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS)
ODS
Class
Example
Use
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Chlorofluorocarbons
(CFCs)
trichlorofluoromethane
(freon-11, CFC-11, R-11)
dichlorodifluoromethane
(CFC-12, R-12)
refrigerants
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Halons
bromochlorodifluoromethan fire extinguishant
e (Halon-1211)
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Chlorocarbons
tetrachloromethane
(carbon tetrachloride, R10)
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Hydrochlorofluorocarbons chlorodifluoromethane
solvent
fire extinguishant
refrigerant
(HCFC-22, R-22)
III
Hydrofluorocarbons
trifluoromethane (HFC-23,
R-23)
refrigerant
III
Perfluorocarbons
tetrafluoromethane (FC-14)
solvent, refrigerant
Reduce Laboratory Air Emissions
Keep containers of volatile chemicals tightly capped
Do not dispose of chemicals by evaporation
Do not dispose of hazardous gases by venting
Avoid experimental procedures using open containers
of volatile chemicals
• Trap emissions from processes that evaporate
hazardous chemicals
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Sink Disposal
DO NOT pour hazardous materials down the drain!!
• Metro Vancouver Sewer Use By-Law prohibits discharge of
contaminants to the sanitary sewer (e.g. corrosives, flammables,
toxics, metals, radioactives)
• Corrosives must be neutralized (pH = 5.5-10.5) before pouring
down the drain with lots of water
• Collect hazardous solutions in containers and dispose appropriately
Non-Regulated Environmental Impacts
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Solid Waste  picked-up by UBC Waste Management
Paper  recycled via UBC Waste Management
Plastic  recycled via UBC Waste Management
E-waste  recycled via UBC Waste Management
Water
Energy
UBC Reuseit! & Recyclopedia
Reuseit! UBC (www.reuseitubc.ca)
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Pilot program designed to assist UBC employees at the Point Grey
campus to find and exchange low-value items between departments:
o e.g. furniture, audio-visual equipment, office supplies
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Registered members can post both wanted and available listings
Like the former Surplus Equipment Recycling Facility (SERF)
Items posted on this site considered low cost (e.g. ≤$1000) and to be
posted for free to encourage a culture of reuse on campus
Recyclopedia (www.reuseitubc.ca/?content=recyclopedia)
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Access an A-Z listing of materials you can recycle on campus:
o e.g. batteries, cartridges, cell phones, composting, e-waste, glass, paper,
plastic, textbooks, Xmas trees, etc
Reduce Water Consumption
General
• Consider reusing and recycling water from some
lab machines into appropriate processes
• Establish procedures for sampling, testing and
cleaning up that minimize the amount of water
required
Faucets
• Install more efficient faucets and consider:
o aerators
o pressure-reducing valves
o automatic sensors
Reduce Water Consumption
Washing & Cleaning
• Run only full loads in dishwashers
• Reduce rinse times where possible
• Minimize the use of hoses as cleaning tools; use drycleaning methods
• Add water-efficient, high-pressure nozzles to hoses
Equipment
• Use closed-loop cooling water for equipment cooling
instead of open-loop (once through)
• Use vacuum pumps instead of water aspirators
• Evaluate the necessity of water heaters and water
softeners
• Turn off ice machines when not needed
Reduce Energy Consumption
Chemical Processes
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Minimize energy requirements of chemical processes
Know the actual time + temperature needed to run your reactions
Run experiments at ambient temperature and pressure
Use microwave energy to power reactions
Use catalytic systems rather than stoichiometric processes
Refrigeration
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Combine contents of laboratory refrigerators and freezers
Unplug any unused refrigerators or freezers
Set temperatures as low as necessary for current lab work
Dust coils on back of refrigerators and clean door seals
Replace deteriorating door seals
Reduce Energy Consumption
Fume-Hoods & Biosafety Cabinets
• Operate hoods with sash at proper height for safety
• Close sashes when fume hoods not in active use
Lab Operations
• Run dishwashers + autoclaves with full loads
• Turn lights off when rooms not in use
• Use natural light
• Turn equipment off when not in use
• Keep lab doors and windows shut (helps keep the
building air system in balance)
• Use energy efficient pumping systems
Green Purchasing
• Consolidate orders: reduces multiple
deliveries, greenhouse gases and saves time
• Purchase multiple-item packs instead of
singles: reduces waste from packaging materials
• Increase item lines per order: saves paper,
energy and reduces multiple shipments
• Purchase as many lab supplies as possible
from one source
• Order online: saves paper, time and avoids
errors
Purchasing Decisions for Big Energy Impacts
• Replace old, large refrigerator/freezers with smaller, newer
refrigerator-only units where appropriate
• Purchase energy-efficient equipment during lab renovations
or when older pieces of equipment stop working
• Ask vendors for energy usage information or to supply
more sustainable products at a reasonable cost
• Look for the ENERGY STAR® label
Equipment with Energy Efficient Options
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Biosafety cabinets
Fume hoods
Centrifuges
- 80°C Freezers
Fridges and freezers
Ice machines
Heat blocks
Incubators
Ovens
Mixers and shakers
Vacuum pumps
Resources
• RMS Environment webpage
(www.riskmanagement.ubc.ca/environment)
o Laboratory Pollution Prevention and Hazardous Waste
Management Manual
o Green Research
o Virtual Green Lab Tour
o Green Checklist
• UBC Sustainability (www.sustain.ubc.ca/)
• Reuseit!UBC (www.reuseitubc.ca/)
• Call2Recycle (www.call2recycle.ca/)
• Recycling Council of British Columbia (www.rcbc.bc.ca/)
• Environment Canada (www.ec.gc.ca/)