1. Lab Waste Mgmt Guide Dave Waddell Local Haz Waste Mgmt Program in King County 206-263-3069 dave.waddell@metrokc.gov

2. Target Audiences As many labs as possible As many labs as possible Analytical Analytical Biotech Biotech Biomedical Biomedical Healthcare/Hospitals Healthcare/Hospitals Educational/Schools Educational/Schools

3. Perspectives Why focus on labs? Why focus on labs? High risk chemicals High risk chemicals Common industry Common industry Why these compounds? Why these compounds? Many are high risk Many are high risk Confusing to characterize Confusing to characterize Why sewer guidelines? Why sewer guidelines? Lab waste often liquid Lab waste often liquid Local regs less known Local regs less known

4. Chemical Storage Most guides have similar systems Most guides have similar systems Need 19 separated shelves & 3 cabinets Need 19 separated shelves & 3 cabinets Not every facility has that much shelf space Not every facility has that much shelf space

5. Simplified Storage Pattern Works in smaller spaces Works in smaller spaces Combines compatibles Combines compatibles 9 shelves & 3 cabinets 9 shelves & 3 cabinets

6. Spills General guidance General guidance Not focus of guide Not focus of guide Major vs. Minor Major vs. Minor Use UW’s guidance Use UW’s guidance Training examples Training examples NH 4 0H vs. NaOH NH 4 0H vs. NaOH Clear puddle Clear puddle

7. Potentially Explosive Compounds Not exhaustive Not exhaustive Compounds that degrade Compounds that degrade Compounds that explode when contaminated Compounds that explode when contaminated

8. Ethers & Peroxide Formers Many lists of these compounds available Many lists of these compounds available Search “peroxide former” Search “peroxide former” Avoid them if you can Avoid them if you can Buy with preservatives Buy with preservatives Label & monitor them Label & monitor them Empty containers scary Empty containers scary Rule of thumb, dispose one year after opening Rule of thumb, dispose one year after opening Potassium metal issue in schools Potassium metal issue in schools

9.  1978 date on side, explosive Peroxide  crystals on THF

10. Picric Acid and Picrates Trinitrophenol (think TNT) Trinitrophenol (think TNT) Histology stains Histology stains Bouin’s fix w/ formalin Bouin’s fix w/ formalin Weak acid when wet Weak acid when wet Explosive when dry Explosive when dry Shock sensitive Shock sensitive Reacts with metals Reacts with metals Metal picrates high explosives Metal picrates high explosives

11. Ammoniacal Silver Nitrate Stain Silver stains common in histology labs Silver stains common in histology labs If solution sits Silver Azide can form If solution sits Silver Azide can form Can detonate if exposed to light or moved Can detonate if exposed to light or moved Look for colorless crystals Look for colorless crystals Right…. Thanks a lot! Right…. Thanks a lot! Can be deactivated with hydrochloric acid Can be deactivated with hydrochloric acid

12. Hazardous Waste Reduction Chemical Specific Guidance Why’s it there? Why’s it there? Issues? Issues? Regulated? Regulated? Disposal options? Disposal options? P2 options? P2 options?

13. Ethidium Bromide Visualize nucleic acids Visualize nucleic acids Potent mutagen Potent mutagen Dispose as HW or treat Dispose as HW or treat Filter or deactivate Filter or deactivate Alternative: SYBR Safe Alternative: SYBR Safe Used in major facilities Used in major facilities Not as effective for RNA staining Not as effective for RNA staining

14. Alcohol Management Ignitable if >24% Ignitable if >24% Not allowed down drain Not allowed down drain Martini is about 35% Martini is about 35% Returned drink = HW? Returned drink = HW? Recycle & reuse potential Recycle & reuse potential Filtration or distillation Filtration or distillation Dilution to just to get to <24% is not allowed Dilution to just to get to <24% is not allowed

15. Aldehydes Formaldehyde: Tox HW if >1% Formaldehyde: Tox HW if >1% Not allowed in sewer if >0.1% Not allowed in sewer if >0.1% Can be deactivated Can be deactivated Neutralex  1 lb takes 1 gal to 15 ppm Neutralex  1 lb takes 1 gal to 15 ppm Limit = 1000 ppm, so can dilute 50:1 Limit = 1000 ppm, so can dilute 50:1 Glutaraldehyde Glutaraldehyde Cold sterilant, soak instruments Cold sterilant, soak instruments Allowed in sewer if <4% Allowed in sewer if <4% Working concentration is 2-4% Working concentration is 2-4% OPA: OK but guidance will change OPA: OK but guidance will change

16. On-Site Treatment Treatment by Generator Treatment by Generator Give general guidelines Give general guidelines Condensed 4 TBG fact sheets Condensed 4 TBG fact sheets Provide info on counting Provide info on counting Permit by Rule Permit by Rule List 2 benefits List 2 benefits List conditions to meet PBR List conditions to meet PBR

17. King County Sewer Guidelines Discharges can’t endanger NPDES permit compliance Discharges can’t endanger NPDES permit compliance Precautionary principle Precautionary principle Protect worker safety Protect worker safety Protect system function Protect system function Protect receiving waters Protect receiving waters No hazardous waste to sewer No hazardous waste to sewer Unless treatability shown Unless treatability shown

18. Why Labs Love the Sewer Guidelines Very specific Very specific Consistent basis for guidance Consistent basis for guidance Provide waste reduction options Provide waste reduction options Have cost reduction suggestions Have cost reduction suggestions Shorter than many guides Shorter than many guides The sewer table is one page! The sewer table is one page!