Chemical Waste Management in HEI Chemistry Laboratories

Chemical waste is a series of compounds generated in a wide variety of industrial and laboratory activities, which merit special concern due to their complexity and various levels of toxicity. The major difference between managing industrial waste and laboratory waste lies in the form of treatment and final disposal. The major problem with these forms of generation is their varied and inconstant composition. The chemical properties of waste change constantly and it is difficult to find a standardised and effective method for treating it. The methodology applied to chemical waste management consists of characterising, segregating, storing and correctly and legally disposing of the waste generated. With this in mind, developing a plan to manage chemical waste in the laboratory can help to optimise the activities of the users of the site, as well as contributing to less generation and proper final disposal of waste.