Laboratory chemical waste management practices are important to follow to protect human health and the environment. Procedures include obtaining a generator ID, properly collecting, labeling, and storing waste chemicals, and designating roles for oversight. Waste must be placed in compatible containers that are clearly marked with the chemical name and dates. Unknown chemicals must be identified within 30 days and removed. Laboratories must ensure all waste is properly handled when shutting down.

1. Laboratory Chemical Waste Management Practices

2. Industrial Laboratories and EnvironmentResearch, teaching and clinical laboratories produce a variety of waste chemicals that may be subject to regulatory management standards.

3. If improperly managed in the laboratory, waste chemicals could pose a risk to human health and the environment.ProceduresAny laboratory that will generate waste chemicals must obtain a generator ID by registering with the Occupational and Environmental Safety Office Environmental Programs Division (OESO EP) prior to beginning processes that will generate chemical wasteWaste chemicals generated in a laboratory must be managed in accordance with the following procedures

4. Collection of Waste ChemicalsWaste chemicals collected either during the operation of a process or otherwise accumulated in the laboratory must be placed into containers that are in good condition, compatible with the contents, and able to contain the contents without leaking.

5. Container Labeling and MarkingContainer Contents

6. Containers used to collect waste chemicals must be clearly marked with the words “Waste (name of chemical)”

7. Containers must be marked or labeled at the time waste is first placed in the container

8. OESO EP will provide pre-printed labels for laboratoriesContainer Labeling and MarkingWaste Collection Dates

9. Containers must have an “open date” listed on the container label, and when full or no longer being filled, a “fill date”.

10. The “open date” is the earliest date that waste is placed in the container whereas the “fill date” is the date that the container is filled and will no longer be used to accumulate waste.Container Labeling and Marking

11. Unknown Chemicals and Their RemovalContainers holding chemicals that cannot be identified by chemical name, chemical constituents, or process generating the waste must be labeled as “Waste Unknown” with the date that they are considered to be no longer needed.

12. Chemicals identified by the laboratory as an unknown must be removed from the laboratory no later than 30 days after being designated as no longer needed.Improper labeling and storage of a waste chemical

13. Correct labeling and storage of a HPLC waste chemical

14. Container ManagementWastes collected during processes:

15. Wastes that are collected as part of a continuous process (such as HPLC wastes) must be collected via tubes that are fed through a cap or other container closure to insure that the container is kept closed. This closure must be a positive closing lid. Parrafilm and similar closures will not be acceptable. Laboratory Shutdowns or CloseoutsWhenever a laboratory is shut down or closed out the principal investigator must insure that all waste chemicals are properly identified and labeled so that they can be removed.

16. Roles and ResponsibilitiesPrincipal Investigators, LaboratoryDirectorsPrincipal Investigators or Laboratory Directors are responsible for insuring that these practices are implemented in the laboratory. They may choose to assign or designate a laboratory waste manager to implement this practiceLaboratory Waste ManagerLaboratory waste managers are responsible for insuring that all processes generating chemical wastes comply with these practices on a day to day basis.