E-Waste and Toxic Waste Disposal management:
Our College is committed to safe and responsible management of hazardous waste, not only because failure to do so can result in civil and criminal penalties, but because the college endeavours to be a good citizen with respect to the local and global environment. The purpose of this plan is to provide information and guidance to the college community with regard to hazardous waste.
Since excess chemicals usually become hazardous waste, the best way to reduce this problem is to only purchase what is needed. It is also a prudent idea to replace lab exercises that produce hazardous waste with ones that teach the same principles but produce less hazardous waste.
SCOPE AND RESPONSIBILITY:
Waste is used to define any material which is unwanted or unusable. Hazardous waste is defined below.
It is the duty of all who generate hazardous waste to ensure that all hazardous waste is handled in a manner that is safe, environmentally friendly and complies with all local, state and central regulations. This is meant to include wastes that are not, by statute, hazardous but which, if carelessly discarded, could possibly cause harm to the environment.
To avoid the possibility that a hazardous waste may be erroneously considered harmless, this definition is given as a guideline:
A WASTE IS HAZARDOUS IF IT HAS THE PROPERTY OF IGNITABILITY, CORROSIVITY, IS TOXIC OR REACTIVE OR IS INFECTIOUS.
Keep in mind this is an attempt to simplify definitions and that these are brief definitions and do not cover all possible cases.
Ignitability refers to a liquid whose flash point is below 140F, a solid that can ignite by friction, absorption of water or that burns vigorously when ignited, or is an oxidizer.
A substance is corrosive if its pH is 2 or less or 12.5 or greater. Waste considered hazardous only because of these criteria may be neutralized by qualified personnel.
Toxic materials are those containing certain heavy metals or certain organic constituents. These abound in most laboratories.
Chemical waste: Containers must be compatible with the substances they are to contain. Glass is preferred but plastic bottles as well as steel cans are acceptable in some cases. No waste container may have a capacity of more than five gallons without specific permission from the hazardous waste coordinator. Never use beakers, flasks, pop bottles, etc. Containers for accumulating hazardous waste must be labelled with the words “Hazardous Waste” and there must be available a list of the contents of the container (and the approximate concentration or amount of the hazardous substance), either on the label or on a sign adjacent to the container. Complete names must be used on this list, not chemical formulae or initials. This list must accompany the waste when it is taken to the hazardous.
Other waste: Unwanted paint and paint related materials will be sent to a recycling centre when possible.
Parts cleaning solvent will be handled by a company licensed to recycle or dispose of it.
Non-hazardous waste may be discarded in a sink drain. While not strictly hazardous waste, broken glass and sharp implements must be discarded in appropriate containers that have warning labels and not placed in general trash.
EMERGENCIES: In the event of any emergency – fire, spill, etc. – notification should be sent to College Authority. Authority will then contact the appropriate civil agencies.