Waste minimization tips for a laboratory safety waste program

1. Steve Brehio
Northeastern University
Office of Environmental Health & Safety
Boston, Massachusetts
8/26/10 2010 ACS National Meeting and Exposition 1

2. o National research
university located in
Boston, Massachusetts
o World leader in practiced-
orientated education
o 27,733 students
o Three suburban campuses
including Marine Science
Center
o 41 academic buildings
and 37 residence halls
o 400 research and teaching
laboratories
8/26/10 2010 ACS National Meeting and Exposition 2

3. 1. Solvent recycling system
2. RCRA wastewater treatment exemption
3. Manage empty lecture bottles
4. Chemical recycling list (chemical inventory
software also a great option)
5. Packing lists vs. manifests (not reduction but a
means to manage your generator status)
8/26/10 2010 ACS National Meeting and Exposition 3

4. Features:
• No water hookup (air cool)
• Gravity fill system to
eliminate open pouring
• Automatic waste drain
• Vapor recovery system
(activated charcoal filter)
• Built-in spill containment
• Internal safety switches
8/26/10 2010 ACS National Meeting and Exposition 4

5. • Regulatory compliance
• Safety of operations
• Training
• Purchasing cost
• Operational cost
• Maintenance cost
• Acceptable purity of recycled
product
• Supervision and ease of use
8/26/10 2010 ACS National Meeting and Exposition 5

6. • Initial Purchase : $15,750
(cost sharing with Chemistry Department)
• Projected annual savings: $7,200 FY 2000
(waste disposal as lab pack) dollars
• Payback approximately 2 years
• Savings will vary depending on disposal:
(lab pack, 5 gallon pail, or 55 gallon drum)
• Other Savings: $3,000 annually not having to purchase
new solvent
8/26/10 2010 ACS National Meeting and Exposition 6

7. o Some wastes generated in
laboratories can be managed
under your wastewater
treatment permit.
o Acids in semiconductor
laboratories are a good
example.
o Acids treated are converted
into H2O, NaCl, NaF
(drinking water additive),
and Na2SO4.
8/26/10 2010 ACS National Meeting and Exposition 7

8. o The U.S. EPA promulgated the exemption in 1980 to avoid
imposing duplicative permitting requirements. Without this
exemption, facilities could be subject to both a NPDES
permit or a wastewater pretreatment permit and a hazardous
waste permit for the same treatment unit. The underlying
assumption EPA used in justifying the WWT exemption was
that tanks used to handle hazardous wastewaters at these
facilities would be provided with oversight under the CWA,
thereby ensuring no significant decrease in environmental
protection and control.
8/26/10 2010 ACS National Meeting and Exposition 8

9. o Fits into many laboratory processes better.
o Safer and requires considerably less time.
o Wastes are managed on-site under your
wastewater treatment permit.
o Wastes not reported as hazardous wastes
o Avoid costs associated with disposal as a
hazardous waste.
8/26/10 2010 ACS National Meeting and Exposition 9

10. o Many are not returnable.
o Some can easily be de-valved and recycled
for their metal.
o Can be done by researchers, EHS staff or by
certain hazardous waste vendors.
o Managing on site can be frequently less
expensive than disposal.
8/26/10 2010 ACS National Meeting and Exposition 10

11. o Carbon dioxide
o Oxygen (D001)
o Carbon monoxide
o Many calibration
gases
o Inert gases
o Flammable gases
8/26/10 2010 ACS National Meeting and Exposition 11

12. o Develop a fact sheet to provide guidance.
o Hazardous gases must be less than 25 psi
(RCRA empty) if they need to be purged.
o Purge flammable and hazardous gases with
nitrogen 3 times (try to have researchers do this).
o Some cylinders could require triple rinsing and
may not be worth managing on site.
o Do not de-valve pyrophoric or highly toxic
gases.
8/26/10 2010 ACS National Meeting and Exposition 12

13. o Develop website.
o Mailing list.
o Keep it up to date.
o Best sources are lab
clean outs, lab
moves or retiring
faculty.
o You will be amazed
what people take.
8/26/10 2010 ACS National Meeting and Exposition 13

14. Chemical Recycling List
Last update: April 29, 2010
Chemicals Available
Chemical Amount Manufacturer Condition Status Date
Posted
Methanol, 4L Fisher Unopened Available 5/10/08
HPLC
Grade
Acetonitrile 4x4L Spectrum Unopened Not 12/15/08
HPLC available
grade - recycled
Methanol - 3x4L Aldrich Unopened Not 5/10/05
HPLC available
grade - recycled
8/26/10 2010 ACS National Meeting and Exposition 14

15. o Manifests on average can
overstate the amount of
regular hazardous waste
you ship by up to 50%.
o P listed waste can be
overstated by 450% or
more.
o Don’t count the weight of
the drum and vermiculite
as hazardous waste.
8/26/10 2010 ACS National Meeting and Exposition 15

16. 8/26/10 2010 ACS National Meeting and Exposition 16

17. 8/26/10 2010 ACS National Meeting and Exposition 17

18. “Well, President Obama said today he’s going to use the gulf
disaster to immediately push a new energy bill through
Congress. I got an idea. How about first using the gulf disaster
to fix the gulf disaster?” - Jay Leno
“Scientists say they have developed a car that can run on water.
The only catch is, the water has to come from the Gulf of
Mexico.” -Jay Leno
“This oil spill in the Gulf is affecting everybody. In fact, when I
went to lunch this weekend and ordered the sea bass, they
asked if I wanted it regular or unleaded.” - David Letterman
8/26/10 2010 ACS National Meeting and Exposition 18