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Waste Disposal

Waste

Almost all work conducted in the department leads ultimately to the generation of waste. It is essential that the protocols for dealing with waste, as detailed in Section I of the Departmental policy, are adhered to.

Waste disposal charts are posted on the door to each laboratory.

Links

Departmental Policy (Section I)

UHSS: Disposal of Sharps

Technical Guidance WM3: Waste Classification (Environment Agency)

Some Dos and Dont’s

Not an exhaustive list, but some of the key things to bear in mind when dealing with waste. Full details are in Section I of the departmental policy.

  • Do check the chemical compatibility of compounds that are being mixed, including solvents.
  • Do put solvent waste in the appropriate category (‘C‘ for non-halogenated, ‘D‘ for halogenated).
  • Do take volumes of ‘B’ waste > 100 ml to the waste store as ‘C’ waste rather disposing of them down the sink.
  • Do put neutralised aqueous waste down the sink unless it contains precious metals.
  • Do use the labels provided for waste winchesters.
  • Do use solvent trays or carriers if possible whilst the winchester is being filled in the fume cupboard.
  • Do use a funnel in winchesters that are in use for collecting solvent waste.
  • Do clean glassware before disposal or repair.
  • Do dispose of sharps containers when they are ⅔ full.
  • Do dispose of electrical waste, including computers, in line with WEEE regulations.
  • Do not overfill solvent waste winchesters. They should be no more than ¾ full.
  • Do not stopper the waste winchester until it is ready for transport to the waste store.
  • Do not put sharps or broken glass in the general waste bins; they each have appropriate disposal routes.
  • Do not put nitric acid or perchloric acid (or other highly oxidising materials) in any waste streams containing flammable solvents.
  • Do not put bromine in ‘D’ waste, or any waste likely to contain alcohols.

Waste Disposal Charts and Labels

Charts for solid and liquid waste are placed in each laboratory.

Liquid Waste

The liquid waste chart is shown below (click image for PDF version). Note that this image shows the correct labelling of ‘C’ and ‘D’ waste bottles (shown in close up further down the page).

Labels for ‘C’ and ‘D’ waste containers:

Waste bottles should be brought to the waste store when they are ¾ full. Do not stopper them until this point.

Solid Waste

The solid waste chart is shown below (click image for PDF version).