Chemical Safety

Waste Collection and Disposal

All regulated and hazardous chemical waste needs to be collected and properly disposed of by the Chemical Safety Office

Federal, state, and local rules and regulations govern the manner in which hazardous chemicals may be disposed. For this reason, many chemicals cannot to be poured down the drain or thrown in the general trash. Chemicals should never be poured down the drain or dumped in the general trash unless the Chemical Safety Office (CSO) has given written permission for that specific chemical to be disposed of in this manner.

Please refer to the Chemical Inventory Program for how to use the database to set up a requests for hazardous waste collection and removal from your lab.

Contact Us

Chemical Safety Office

Health Sciences Campus

Environmental Health & Safety Building

706-721-2663

706-721-9844

Campus Emergency:
706-721-2911

Procedure

Generator Responsibilities 

Proper identification of each container of chemical waste, and components of a mixture of chemical waste, is essential for the safe handling and proper disposal of these materials. Unknown chemicals pose a safety risk to personnel collecting them and will not be picked up for disposal until they are identified.

Generators (PIs and lab personnel) must provide sufficient information about their chemical waste to enable CSO to identify and classify the material in accordance with EPA and DOT requirements for transport and disposal. At minimum, information needs to include: 

  • The name of the chemical or chemical components of a mixture (NO abbreviations or acronyms).
  • The percent concentration for each chemical component when the waste is a mixture
  • The building and room number where the waste was generated.
  • Name of the Principal Investigator or owner of the chemical waste.
  • Type of container (plastic, glass, etc.)

  • Total amount of waste (gallons, pounds, grams, milliliters, etc.)

Proper use of the Waste Pick-up Application in the Chemical Inventory Database will ensure the required identification and classification for the waste is provided. 

How to put in a request

Pick-Up Hazardous Waste

All hazardous chemical waste is processed in the Chemical Inventory Database (Waste Pick-up Application) where you will create a Hazardous Waste Label, every container must have a label.

For instructions on how to request a pick-up and print a Hazardous Waste Label, go to the Chemical Inventory Database Training Module 4: Waste Pick-up.

Chemicals for Exchange

To contribute chemicals (in their original reagent containers) for use in other laboratories, use the Chemical Inventory Database (Waste Pick-up Application). All exchange chemicals must have a Chemical Exchange Label. See Chemical Exchange Program for information on how to create a label.

For more information go to the CS Assistant Web User Manual (or call 706-721-2663 for assistance)

Notification for Collection

The CSO will be notified to pick up your hazardous waste and/or exchange chemicals when the Waste Pick-up Application request is complete. Our team produces a list of requests for collection of all hazardous waste and exchange chemicals. Pick-up will be on the following Wednesday.

Prior to the Wednesday pick-up, verify the following:

  • Hazardous Waste Label or Exchange Chemical Labels have been printed and attached to the container - Do not cover or deface the original label.
  • You are using a chemical container that is appropriate for the material it contains and it is sealed to prevent leakage. See also special procedures for handling oxidizing and peroxide-forming chemicals.
  • Place the hazardous waste containers and/or exchange chemicals in a fume hood or pre-arranged pick-up area on the Wednesday morning it is to be picked up.

Collection Procedures

Chemical Safety Office responsibilities:

  • Chemical waste and exchange chemicals will normally be picked up on Wednesday of every week.
  • The Buddy System is used during collection of chemical waste from laboratories.
  • Based upon the chemical waste disposal information provided by the Principal Investigator, CSO staff will classify the material and assign EPA Hazardous Codes, DOT hazard classification, and proper shipping names for all waste received from laboratories.