Guidelines for chemical waste

Liquid waste

Liquid waste must be collected in 5- or 10-litre UN-approved plastic containers. The containers are marked with a UN code, for example 3H1/X1.9/250/10/D/BAM 11872. X indicates the packaging code. For liquid waste, the packaging code must be X or Y.

If original packaging from liquid chemicals is reused as a waste container (plastic only!)t he original label must be removed or crossed out, and a waste label containing the correct information must be attached.

Solid waste

Solid waste, such as silica waste, may be collected in any type of plastic bottle or container. Empty chemical containers may be reused provided that they are intact and undamaged. Label the container clearly with a waste label. Alternatively, 500 ml or 1-litre screw-cap plastic bottles may be used.

All organic solvent waste must be sorted into:

• Halogenated organic solvents (7041)
• Non-halogenated organic solvents (7042)

Complete and attach a waste label for organic liquids when submitting the waste..

Collection instructions:

• Fill waste containers to a maximum of 90% of their total capacity.
• Solvent waste must not contain strong acids or bases. Check the pH where necessary. If the pH is below 5 or above 9, the waste must be declared as acidic or alkaline organic waste; see "Liquid organic waste other than solvent waste" below.
• Waste containers must be kept in a ventilated area, on a spill tray capable of containing the full volume of the container. Ideally, the waste should be stored in a chemical storage cabinet.
• Avoid mixing reactive chemicals.
• Oil, PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), cyanides, isocyanides, phthalates, cadmium, mercury, and all waste containing any of these substances must always be collected separately. If the waste contains any of these substances, it must be stated on the waste label.
• Do not add substances that may cause polymerisation or gel formation to solvent waste.

Organic compounds are most commonly dissolved in solvents and are therefore disposed of as solvent waste. If you work with acids and bases, the solvent waste may become acidic or alkaline. In such cases, check the pH of the solvent waste. Where necessary, the waste must be declared as acidic or alkaline organic waste.

• Acidic organic waste (7134), pH < 5
• Alkaline organic waste (7135), pH > 9

Complete and attach a waste label for organic liquids when submitting the waste. State the pH value.

Most neutral liquid organic waste, other than solvent waste, consists of synthesis products, often stored in small vials. Collect the vials in zip-lock bags, sorted by waste category:

• Acidic organic waste (7134)
• Alkaline organic waste (7135)
• Halogenated organic waste (7151)
• Non-halogenated organic waste (7152)

Collection instructions:

• Check the pH when the waste container is full.
• Fill waste containers to a maximum of 90% of their total capacity.
• Waste containers must be kept in a ventilated area, on a spill tray capable of containing the full volume of the container. Ideally, the waste should be stored in a chemical storage cabinet.
• Avoid mixing reactive chemicals.
• Oil, PCBs, cyanides, isocyanides, phthalates, cadmium, mercury, and all waste containing any of these substances must always be collected separately. If the waste contains any of these substances, this must be stated on the submission waste label.
• Do not add substances that may cause polymerisation or gel formation to solvent waste.

All silicone-oil and pump-oil waste must be collected in plastic containers or bottles. Silicone oil and pump oil must be collected separately. If the oil is fluorinated or contains PCBs, this must be stated on the submission form.

Waste category:

• Waste oil (7012)

Complete and attach a waste label for organic liquids when submitting the waste.

Solid organic waste most commonly consists of synthesis products or samples, often stored in small vials. Collect the vials in zip-lock bags, sorted by waste category:

• Acidic organic waste (7134)
• Alkaline organic waste (7135)
• Non-halogenated solid organic waste (7152)
• Halogenated solid organic waste (7151)

Complete and attach a waste label for solid waste when submitting the waste.

Aqueous inorganic solutions must not be contaminated with organic substances. If they contain more than 1% organic substances, they must be declared as organic waste. This also applies to organic indicator dyes, such as phenolphthalein. Such solutions must be collected separately.

Aqueous waste is divided into three categories:

• Acidic, pH < 5 (7131)
• Neutral, $5 \leq pH \leq 9$ (7097)
• Alkaline, pH > 9 (7132)

Complete and attach a waste label for aqueous liquids when submitting the waste. Remember to state the pH value.

Collection instructions:

• Check the pH when the waste container is full and record the value on the label.
• Fill waste containers to a maximum of 90% of their total capacity.
• Do not mix concentrated or highly reactive acids and/or bases.
• Collect concentrated acids and bases separately, for example 65% HNO₃ used in acid baths.
• If you work with hydrofluoric acid (HF), you must have robust procedures in place, and the HSE coordinator must be informed.
• Aqueous waste containing Hg or Cd must be collected separately. Other heavy metals may be collected together.
• Aqueous waste containing more than 1% organic compounds must be declared as organic waste: acidic, neutral or alkaline.

Most inorganic solid waste at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences consists of silica gel and synthesis products or samples stored in small vials. Collect the vials in zip-lock bags, sorted into the following categories:

• Inorganic salts and other solids (7092) — metals and metal alloys must be collected separately
• Inorganic acids (7131)
• Inorganic bases (7132)

Collection instructions:

• Solid waste containing Hg or Cd must be collected separately.
• Do not mix solids that may react directly with one another.
• Pure metals and metal powders may need to be declared as 7122, highly reactive substances. Check the safety data sheet (SDS). Examples include lithium, sodium, zinc powder, iron powder and barium.
• Used silica gel must be dry in order to be classified as "Inorganic salts and other solids (7092)".

If you have chemical waste that does not fit into any of the categories above, first check the section "Waste categories" and contact the HSE coordinator if necessary.

If you have old chemicals that you wish to dispose of, contact the HSE coordinator. Pay particular attention to highly reactive chemicals, and exercise particular caution when handling explosive and pyrophoric chemicals.

If in doubt, contact the HSE coordinator.

• Waste containers must be clean on the outside, and lids must be free from rust and damage.
• Waste containers must be labelled with a waste-stream label while in the laboratory, and with a submission label when full. See the section "Waste labels" for further information.
• Chemicals in their original packaging must be stored separately from waste chemicals.
• Avoid duplicate waste categories in the laboratory: only one waste container per waste category should be in use at any one time.
• Containers for liquid waste must have secondary containment, such as a spill tray.
• Use plastic bottles, not glass bottles, for collecting hazardous waste.
• Oil, PCBs, cyanides, isocyanides, phthalates, cadmium, mercury, and all waste containing any of these substances must always be collected separately. If the waste contains any of these substances, it must be stated on the waste label.
• Avoid mixing reactive chemicals in waste containers, as this may generate heat or gas and cause pressure build-up.

In the laboratory, all waste containers must be marked with the correct waste label. You must have only one waste container for each waste category.

• Waste labels for laboratories (pdf)

When the waste container is full and ready for submission, complete a Waste label – disposal (submission label) and attach it to the container.

• Submission label for aqueous waste (pdf)
• Submission label for liquid organic waste (pdf)
• Submission label for solid waste (pdf)

When, where and how you submit collected chemical waste depends on the building in which you are based. Check with your HSE-coordinator.

Clean empty chemical containers where possible. Containers that cannot be cleaned—for example, containers previously used for highly reactive or highly toxic substances—must be submitted as chemical waste; see Laboratory chemicals in their original packaging.

• Glass bottles: Clean, dry glass bottles may be disposed of as laboratory glass. Small quantities, a few millilitres, of solvent may be evaporated in a fume cupboard.
• Plastic containers: Clean, dry plastic containers may be disposed of as plastic waste.
• Metal/aluminium bottles: Clean, dry metal and aluminium bottles may be disposed of as metal waste (waste container for "mixed metals").

The table below shows a selection of the most relevant waste categories.

Hazardous waste

Hazardous waste is defined as waste that cannot be handled together with ordinary waste if this may cause serious pollution or pose a risk of harm to people or animals.

Heavy metals

All compounds of antimony, arsenic, cadmium, chromium(VI), copper, lead, mercury, nickel, selenium, tellurium, thallium and tin, as well as these substances in metallic form, must be classified as hazardous waste.

Transition metals

All compounds of scandium, vanadium, manganese, cobalt, copper, yttrium, niobium, hafnium, tungsten, titanium, chromium, iron, nickel, zinc, zirconium, molybdenum and tantalum, as well as these substances in metallic form, must be classified as hazardous waste.

• Regulations concerning the Recycling and Treatment of Waste (avfallsforskriften, in Norwegian only)(Lovdata)
• Sorting hazardous waste (Norwegian)(Ragnsells)