Chemical waste is a waste that is made from harmful chemicals (mostly produced by large factories). Chemical waste may fall under regulations such as COSHH in the UK, or the Clean Water Act and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act in the US. Chemical waste may or may not be classed as hazardous waste.

Contents 1 Laboratory 2 See also 3 References 4 Further reading 5 External links

[edit] Laboratory

In the laboratory, chemical wastes are usually segregated on-site into appropriate waste carboys, and disposed by a specialist contractor in order to meet safety, health, and legislative requirements.

Waste organic solvents are separated into chlorinated and non-chlorinated solvent waste. Chlorinated solvent waste is usually incinerated at high temperature to minimize the formation of dioxins.^{[citation needed]} Non-chlorinated solvent waste can be burned for energy recovery. Innocuous aqueous waste (such as solutions of sodium chloride) may be poured down the sink; aqueous waste containing toxic compounds are collected separately.

Waste elemental mercury, spent acids and bases may be collected separately for recycling.

Broken glassware are usually collected in plastic-lined cardboard boxes for landfilling. Due to contamination, they are usually not suitable for recycling. Similarly, used hypodermic needles are collected as sharps and are incinerated as medical waste.

[edit] See also

• Industrial waste
• List of waste types
• Solid waste
• Waste management
• Water pollution

[edit] References

[edit] Further reading

• Committee on Prudent Practices for Handling, Storage, and Disposal of Chemicals in Laboratories, National Research Council. "7. Disposal of Waste" (online book). Prudent Practices in the Laboratory: Handling and Disposal of Chemicals. The National Academies Press. pp. 147-150. ISBN 978-0-309-05229-0. http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=4911&page=139. 

[edit] External links

• Commercial/Industrial Waste - US EPA

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