NON-HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS

  • Waste generators must perform a hazardous waste determination prior to disposal of all chemicals
  • Solids: Collect solids in disposable, non-leaking containers, labeled with contents, clearly marked as non-hazardous, and prepared for disposal
  • EH&S will accept and properly dispose any well-identified non-hazardous chemical waste
  • Liquids: Solutions containing only non-hazardous, water miscible liquid materials, pH between 6 and 9.5, can be disposed through the sewer system
  • Remember: "hazardous" includes flammable liquids even if water soluble
  • Full Corvallis Sewer guidelines
  • List of Non-Hazardous Items

CHEMICAL RECYCLING

  • Possible if material is in unopened containers or partially used original containers and of high quality
  • Materials are available to interested parties at OSU. Be careful not to obliterate any parts of labels
  • Chemicals and chemical products should not be given or sold to the general public or offered as surplus property
  • Commercial chemical products may be offered as surplus property if reasonable cautions are followed

TREATMENT

  • Elementary neutralization can be performed on wastes which are hazardous only because they are corrosive (acids, bases)
  • A neutralized solution should have a final pH value between 6 and 9. Liquids with pH outside these limits should not be discharged through the sewer system
  • EH&S may be able to provide generators with appropriate neutralization materials
  • Treatment of other materials to lessen the hazard or amount of a waste can be included as part of standard operating procedures in laboratories
  • Such procedures should be written and made a part of specific experimental protocol