Accumulating Wastes for Disposal

Classes of waste should be properly segregated for temporary accumulation and storage as well as for transportation and disposal. Accordingly, all wastes must be labeled properly before being removed. The label should contain sufficient information to ensure safe handling and disposal, including the initial of accumulation and chemical names of the principal components and any minor components that may be hazardous. The label also should indicate whether the waste is toxic, reactive, corrosive, metallic, flammable, an inhalation hazard, or lachrymatory. 

Waste generated in the laboratory can often be characterized from knowledge of the starting materials (e.g., hydrocarbon mixture, flammable laboratory solvents, chlorobenzene still bottoms). Professional expertise, common sense, judgment, and safety awareness of trained professionals performing chemical operations in the laboratory usually put them in a position to judge the type and degree of chemical hazard. 

Limited quantities of some wastes can be disposed of in sanitary sewer systems but never in storm-sewer systems. A sanitary sewer is one that is connected directly to a waste-treatment plant, whereas a storm sewer usually discharges into a stream, river, or lake. 

The first step in the disposal sequence usually involves accumulation or temporary storage of waste in or near the laboratory. Except when a single chemical is accumulated for recovery, waste accumulation generally involves several chemicals in 

The method chosen for segregation and accumulation of wastes destined for incineration depends on the design of incinerator and its waste-feed mechanism, which vary widely. Some incinerators can handle only bulk liquid wastes, whereas others accept solid or packaged wastes such as fiber packs and glass or plastic bottles a few even accept steel cans or drums. 

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