Top ten institutional ways tominimize laboratory waste

In the previous issue, we presented ourrecommendations on the top ten waysworkers can minimize waste in their lab-

oratories. In this column, we present our topten recommendations for institutions to mini-mize waste in laboratories.

Define Your Waste Management System:Most institutions find the best method to de-fine their system is to prepare a hazardouswaste management manual. The manualshould contain the institution’s policies andassign specific responsibilities. In addition, themanual can be used to train and communicatethe institution’s expectations to all employees.

Develop an Institutional WasteMinimization Plan:This plan should be prepared as an essentialcomponent of the hazardous waste manual.We suggest that the plan specify responsibili-ties, review recent accomplishments, identifygoals for the coming year, and provide a self-evaluation mechanism.

Track Waste Generation:A responsible unit, usually the EnvironmentalHealth and Safety Office, should be assignedprogram oversight. This unit should track thetypes of waste, the amount produced, andpoints of generation. Such information is nec-essary to develop both a comprehensive wastemanagement program and waste minimizationinitiatives.

Track Waste Management Costs:An important element of the waste manage-ment system includes a good understanding ofcosts. Many waste minimization initiativessave the institution money; being able to dem-onstrate this fact facilitates obtaining neces-sary approvals.

Establish Communication Channels:The responsible campus unit will communi-cate campus policies and procedures andshare experiences (technology transfer). Mul-tiple methods of communication are recom-mended, such as newsletters, the web, com-mittees, and personal contact.

Redistribution Program:Every laboratory ends up with surplus chemicalssooner or later. The institution should have a

program to redistribute surplus chemicals toothers. If you pursue this option, be sure todevelop policies about what is suitable for redis-tribution, provide adequate safe storage spacefor the chemicals, and set limit on holding time.

Mercury Reduction Program:Mercury is expensive to recycle or dispose. Inour experience, mercury is the number onecause of chemical spills in the laboratory. Imple-ment an institutional plan to reduce or eliminateelemental mercury use.

Fund for Waste Minimization Equipment:The institution can support waste minimiza-tion in a tangible way by establishing a fund tofacilitate purchase of waste minimizationequipment. We suggest that if a fund is cre-ated, it be administered by a committee andthat some form of cost sharing with the indi-vidual or department be encouraged.

Silver Recovery from Photo Fixers:Photo labs are found in a variety of settings. Inmost locales, vendors can provide silver recov-ery equipment. Such equipment may be oper-ated in individual laboratories or at a centralrecycling facility. If you pursue this option,check to make sure that you are in compliancewith any state or local regulations pertainingto such recycling activities.

Mixed Wastes:Wastes that are regulated by both EPA (chemi-cal hazards) and NRC (radioactive hazards)present regulatory headaches and are very ex-pensive to dispose. The institution should edu-cate researchers about what constitutes mixedwastes, about the cost of disposal, and how tominimize their generation.

As with the previous column, most of thesetechniques are administrative in nature. It istherefore difficult to evaluate their effective-ness in minimizing waste. We believe that allinstitutions could benefit from applying mostof these principles.

Waste Minimization Recommendation#66: Review your institution’s hazardouswaste management guidance for waste mini-mization opportunities on an annual basis.

LaboratoryWasteMinimization

271074-9098/00/$20.00 © Division of Chemical Health and Safety of the American Chemical SocietyPII S1074-9098(01)00259-3 Published by Elsevier Science Inc.

Peter C. Ashbrook(left) is director ofenvironmentalhealth and safety atthe University ofMissouri-Columbia,and Todd A. Houts(right) is assistantdirector ofenvironmentalhealth and safety atthe University ofIllinois at Urbana-Champaign.