Chemical Waste Management
Yerim Yeon
2013, January, 22
The University of Texas at Austin
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 Requirements for the Waste Container
All waste containers must be…
1. Clearly labeled with their contents.
Paint over or remove any old labels.
2. Kept at or near (immediate vicinity) the site of generation and under control of the generator.
3. Compatible with contents (e.g. acid should not be stored in metal cans).
4. Closed at all times except when waste is being added to container.
5. Properly identified with completed waste tags before pickup is requested.
6. Safe for transport with non-leaking screw-on caps.
7. Filled to safe level (below the bottom of the neck of the container or a 2-inch head
space for 55 gallon drums).
Source from EHS homepage: http://www.utexas.edu/safety/ehs/disposal/procedures/1_regulated_wastes.html
The University of Texas at Austin
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 Accumulation Guideline
- keep different hazardous waste separately for correct disposal method and cost efficiency.
- do not mix incompatible waste in the same container or place waste
in an unwashed container.
1. Halogenated solvents (e.g., methylene chloride, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride)
Note: Disposal of non-halogenated solvents contaminated with halogens costs 4-5
times more than that of non-halogenated solvents.
2. Used oil must be kept as uncontaminated as possible in order to be recycled.
3. Bases
4. Metal-bearing waste (e.g. barium, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury,
nickel, selenium, silver, and thallium)
5. flammable and corrosive
6. Special wastes (e.g. cyanide, sulfide, pesticides, oxidizers, organic acids, explosives
and peroxides) should be collected individually whenever possible.
Source from EHS homepage: http://www.utexas.edu/safety/ehs/disposal/procedures/1_regulated_wastes.html
The University of Texas at Austin
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 Minimization of waste and Cost
 Inventory
• Dispose expired or unused chemicals
• Maintain labels and containers in good condition
• Check inventory before ordering to avoid duplication
 Purchasing
• Purchase only the amount you need.
• Check catalogs for quantity choices.
 Use
• Reduce the scale of the experiment.
• Share unused portions with other researchers.
• Use alternate research methods.
• Select less hazardous chemicals.
• Reuse chemicals before disposal if possible.
 Accumulation
• Separate non-halogenated from halogenated solvents.
• Separate acids from acids/metal mixtures.
Source from Stanford university: http://www.stanford.edu/dept/EHS/prod/enviro/waste/guide/refguide.pdf
The University of Texas at Austin
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