disposal guideline hci - eth z · 1.1 responsibility:hci building 4 1.2 disposal of...

Disposal Guideline HCI

Safety Lecture Practice Modul, Topic 1

Waste Disposal

20.1.20/TM

1 Disposal & recycling of non-contaminated waste Slide

1.1 Responsibility: HCI building 4

1.2 Disposal of devices, equipment, electronic waste, metals, construction waste, fluorescent tubes, polystyrene, cardboard, paper, wood

4

1.3 Waste water in the lab 5

1.4 Collection points on the floors – containers for normal waste, paper, cardboard

6

1.5 PET collection containers 7

1.6 Collection of non-contaminated waste in the lab 82 Disposal of glass waste in the lab Slide

2.1 Responsibility: HCI building & SGU department 9

2.2 Glass waste for the green collection containers in the labs 10

2.3 Glass types, which must not be disposed of in the green collection containers or which must not be recycled (= special waste)

12

3 Hazardous waste disposal Slide

3.1 Responsibility: SGU department 13

3.2 The single-use canisters 15

3.3 The filling of canisters 17

3.4 Solvent waste 18

3.5 Acid and base waste & aqueous special waste 25

3.6 Oil waste 38

3.7 Solid special waste 39

3.8 Sharps 41

3.9 Disposal of chemicals 42

3.10 Lecture bottles 45

3.11 Disposal of gas cartridges 46

3.12 Disposal of spray cans 47

3.13 Biological waste 484 Reuse of chemicals – Storage room C280/82 53

5 Accidents: always be prepared! 52

1. Disposal & recycling of non-contaminated waste

1.1 Responsibility: HCI Building domainContact address:

Mr. Lukas WildTel.: +41 44 633 33 [email protected] PSA (beeper): *8033376

1.2 The central disposal area with the different collection points for the HCI buildingis located in the HCI delivery area. During the ETH opening hours electronic waste,scrap metals, construction waste, fluorescent tubes, polystyrene, cardboard,paper, and wood , etc. can be disposed of independently. Big devices andequipment can only be transferred to the central disposal area after agreement withthe HCI building domain. Suitable pallets have to be used for this purpose.

Neither chemicals nor acid and base wastes orother aqueous special wastes must be disposed ofthrough the sink. With illegal disposal of chemicalsthrough the sink not only highly negligent pollutionof the environment is risked, but also the staff of thechemical waste water plants are exposed toincreased chemical risks.

The consequences of illegal disposal through the sink:

Due to the pollutants, sewage treatment plants may be impaired in their function,resulting in severe environmental damage.

Human beings, animals, and plants are endangered by unknown pollutants in thewaste water.

Higher chemical risks are present at the water treatment, mainly when reactants(chlorine, chalk, iron chloride, sodium hydroxide, etc.) are used for the removal ofpollutions and for the treatment of sewage sludge (reduction of the ability offermentation and inhibition of odors).

1.3 Waste water in the lab

No chemicals into the sink!

1.4 Collection points on the floors

On every floor of the HCI building, there is a room with containers, where generally thenormal waste is collected in the left-hand container and cardboard and paper arecollected in the right-hand container. The containers are usually emptied by acleaning company on a regular basis. If a large amount of package material needs tobe disposed of – e.g. due to a large delivery – the disposal has to be discussed withthe building domain beforehand.

1.5 PET collection containers

In addition, there is on every floor a PET collection container. These containers arealso emptied regularly by a cleaning company.

1.6 Collection of non-contaminated waste in the lab

Container for paper waste Collection containers for normal waste

These containers are regularly emptied by a cleaning company. In order to protectthe cleaning staff from contaminations and injuries, potentially harmful objects, suchas syringe cannulas, all kinds of sharps, glass waste, gas cartridges, spray cans,etc., must never be disposed of in there.

Special waste collection point HCILocation: HCI D 276Opening hours (semester): Monday to Friday: 14:00–16:00Opening hours (semester break): Tuesday and Thursday: 14:00–16:00

2.1 Responsibilities

For contaminated glass waste and borosilicate glass: SGU department

2. Disposal of glass waste in the lab

For non-contaminated glass waste: HCI building

Contact:Mr Lukas WildTel.: +41 44 633 33 [email protected] PSA (beeper): *8033376

At the moment, it is not possible to collect glass waste by color in the HCI building.Chemical bottles made of brown glass and beverage bottles made of glass shouldwhenever possible be disposed of as a whole bottles. Waste-glass bottles and glassshards can be disposed of at the HCI delivery area.

Waste glass containers for laboratories can be ordered free-of-charge at [email protected]

2.2 Glass waste for the green collection containers in the labs

Glass vessels, which can be disposed of in the normal glass waste (e.g. chemicalbottles made of brown glass), should be cleaned in principle.- Empty solvent vessels can be evaporated/dried in the fume. Subsequently, they

can be disposed of without the cap and with unrecognizable hazard label (paintover with waterproof marker) in the green glass waste containers in thelaboratory.

- Vessels with chemicals, which are not highly toxic or reactive, should be rinsedthree times with a suitable solvent, dried, and the hazard label should be paintedover before their disposal in the green glass waste containers in the laboratory.

- Vessels, which contain highly hazardous compounds should be handed in asspecial waste.

2.3 Glass types, which must not be disposed of in the green collectioncontainers or which must not be recycled (= special waste)

Borosilicate glass (= chemical- and temperature-resistant glass = glass ware,test tubes in the lab) must be collected separately in the white containers asshown below, sealed, labeled, and subsequently handed over to the special wastedisposal. Borosilicate glass disturbs the recycling process due to its highermelting point compared to normal glass. TLC glass plates must also be disposedof in these white containers.

Sharps in the form of colorless glass waste: Pasteur pipettes, test tubes thatare contaminated with chemicals, micro pipettes, etc. also need to be collected inthe white containers shown below and handed over to the special waste disposal.

Special waste disposal point HCILocation: HCI D 276Opening hours (semester): Monday to Friday: 14.00–16.00Opening hours (semester break) Tuesday and Thursday: 14.00–16.00

Each group requires a customer card for disposing special waste. They can be orderedat the special waste disposal point.

3. Special waste disposal

3.1 Responsibility: SGU department

When disposing of chemicals, the corresponding regulations, guidelines, and safetydata sheets have to be considered. Prior to establishing a local lab wastemanagement system, a risk assessment is necessary.

Link to the consultation form: www.ethz.ch/services/en/service/safety-security-health-environment/environment/sonderabfall.html

The department BUSS (operational environmental & radiation protection)

accepts correctly labeled special waste, which is in the correct container, at the special waste disposal points for free,

delivers free of charge suitable containers for collecting special waste,

ensures adequate disposal, appoints the dangerous-goods officer consults on questions related to special

waste disposal, provides guidance through the special

waste disposal points, provides informative material.

3.2 The single-use canisters for liquid waste – Important notes

The single-use canisters are available free-of-charge in different sizes from 1 to 10 lin the special waste disposal department and are made of polyethylene. They areelectrically non-conducting! Electrically conducting single-use canisters are muchmore expensive and therefore they are not affordable for the SGU department. Theshelf life of the canisters is in general 5 years form the date of production (seeimprinting on the canister).Note: the special waste collection point shall be contacted for collecting diethylenewaste separately. Electrically conducting containers are provided for this situation.

Correct, but too expensive at the moment

UN vessels: vessels, which are inspected by UN, possess a type approval by thefederal inspectorate for dangerous goods (Eidgenössisches GefahrgutinspektoratEGI), which confirms that the vessel fulfils all conditions for transporting dangerousgoods on the road, train, air, and water.

UN number: dangerous compounds and goods possess a UN number, which can becalled compound number. This number is an identification number and is animportant part of the labelling when transporting dangerous goods.

Note: liquid waste must only be closed by the lid when there are no signs ofreactions or overpressure build-up.

Note: The lids of the canisters do notcontain a bursting diaphragm, which couldrelease an eventual sudden overpressurebuild-up!

3.3 The filling of canisters

In the absence of special disposal stations, the single-use canisters are filled usingspecial funnels, which possess an overfill protection. Note that the canisters must notbe completely filled to avoid overpressure through volume expansion (90 to max.95%; not over the shoulder of the canister). Canisters, which can exhibit differenthazards, always need to be stored in safety cabinets with safety tubs or in a hoodwithout ongoing experiments.

3.4 Solvent waste

The solvent waste is classified into two main groups: halogenated (halogen > 2%) andnon-halogenated (halogen < 2%) solvents. The whole HCI building generates about 60tons of solvent waste per year with a 1:2 ratio of halogenated and non-halogenatedsolvents.

The non-halogenated solvent waste is reused as fuel for the cement industry. Thehalogenated solvent waste is combusted in high-temperature combustion plants.

Recycling of solvent waste

Basically it can be stated that the recycling of solvent waste is becoming more andmore important. More than 30 different solvents are recycled in the 19 distillationplants of the recycling and solvent centre in Schweizerhalle. The non-halogenatedsolvent waste in the HCI is too mixed and thus not suitable for recycling.

explosion protection measures

The local disposal of solvent waste in the labs is subject to very strict rules,which are shortly presented below.

work equipment Workplace

Consequence from the fire protection rules (also concerns the local solvent waste disposal in the labs):

According to the fire protection rules a maximum ofonly 25 l of open flammable (flashing point < 30° C)liquids may be store in a fire section (= one lab;Storage for more than 8h).

Mobile solvent waste disposal stations vs solvent waste disposal cupboardThe department SGU will discontinue the pump stations in the special waste disposal facilityfor draining the mobile solvent disposal stations by 2021 at latest. Therefore, the mobilesolvent waste disposal stations must be replaced by solvent waste disposal cupboards untilend of 2020.

The current pump stations in the special waste disposal facility will be replaced in the specialwaste disposal facility piece-by-piece through certified safety cabinets with pull-out drawershaving a polypropylene safety collection tray. The collection tray is a fixed installation andconnected to the exhaust air. Therein, the users can still dispose their solvent wasteseparated by chlorinated and non-chlorinated waste by filling them into the 5 L or 10 Lsingle-use canister (capacity max. 4x 10 L), which are specified by the department SGU. Thesolvent waste is filled into the canisters through drain funnels with overfill protector, which aremounted on the canister, until they are filled up to a level of ca. 90%.

Fig. right: solvent waste disposal cupboard after conversion.

Solid materials (e.g. silica gel, slag, glass fragments, syringe needles, magnetic stirringrods) as well as acids, alkalis, special poisonous substance etc. must never bedisposed of in the solvent waste canisters! All liquids that have special risk and/or odoremission potential (e.g. butyl lithium, benzyl chloride, mercaptane, thioles, etc.) mustnever be disposed of in the solvent waste canisters. Dangerous liquid waste mustalways be disposed of by using a dedicated canister (available in different sizes up to10 L) and be placed in a well ventilated location for interim storage, e.g. in a laboratoryhood where no experiments are running.

Filled waste canisters (for labeling, see following slides) must be closed – as long asthere is no sign for a chemical reaction or overpressure formation – and transportedusing a transport trolley with a collection tray to the special waste disposal point. If acanister shows any sign of chemical reaction or overpressure formation, it must beplaced in a laboratory hood without any experiments. For further instructions, CABS([email protected]) from the SGU department must be contacted. If an uncontrolledreaction with a potential of bursting the canister occurs, inform 888.

In case of technical issues or any deficiencies, immediately contact our e-mail [email protected].

ETH Zürich

Sonderabfälle / déchets spéciaux / rifiuti specialiNicht-halogenierte Lösungsmittel/ solvents non-halogenated

UN 1993 VeVA 07 07 04Inhalt / Content (%):____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

pH: ____ Nano: □ja □nein

Institut/ Professur/ Gruppe: ___________________________Datum/ Visum: ___________________________

Labelling: The corresponding self-adhesive etiquettes for the labelling of thecanisters are available in the central disposal station.

Content: E.g. ACN (20%), TFA (<1%), H2O

pH: only if relevant. Nano: If nanoparticle (suspension) is present in the waste, mark "yes". Institute/Professorship/Group: By using the customer card not necessary.

ETH Zürich

Sonderabfälle / déchets spéciaux / rifiuti specialiHalogenierte Lösungsmittel / solvents halogenated




Content: E.g. CH2Cl2, CHCl3

Acids and bases as well as other aqueous special waste need to be disposed of andstored separately. Those (partially) caustic compounds need to be handed in as specialwaste in the polyethylene canisters to the special waste disposal. The canisters(available in different sizes up to 10 l) including self-adhesive etiquettes for labelling canbe obtained for free at the special waste disposal station. Larger vessels than 10 L arenot allowed in the labs. The chemical nomenclature of the compound and the address ofthe deliverer need to be written on the waste label. Correctness of the information mustbe confirmed by singing the label.

3.5 Acid and base waste (= corrosive compounds) & aqueous special waste

Acids

Nitric acid Hydrofluoric acid – Highly dangerous! Mixtures of nitric acid and hydrochloric acid (aqua regia); Note: Always needs to

be diluted with water to about 50% (with the principle first water, then acid) –Highly dangerous!

Caustic acidic inorganic liquid compounds Piranha solution (conc. H2SO4/conc. H2O2, 3:1 ratio) – Highly dangerous!

Bases

Caustic basic inorganic liquid compounds

Aqueous hazardous waste

Strongly malodorous non-flammable liquid waste

Typical aqueous special waste, which needs to be collected separately:

ETH Zürich

Sonderabfälle / déchets spéciaux / rifiuti speciali

Salpetersäure/ Nitric Acid




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Flusssäure / Hydrofluoric Acid




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Andere Säuren / Other Acids




Content: E.g. aqua regia (50% in water)

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Basen / Alkalies




Content: E.g. NaOH (4%), EtOH (5%)

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Schwermetall-Abfälle / Heavy Metal Waste




Note: Always indicate pH value (estimated value is enough!)

Heavy metals also include particularly toxic or environmentally hazardous elements: Pb, Cd, Pt, Pd, Ni, Cr, Co, Se, etc.

Content: 0.1% Pb in HNO3

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Ethidiumbromide Abfälle / Waste




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Halogenierte Abfälle / halogenated waste




Content: E.g. chloroform / phenol mixture waste (trizol), organic chemicals with high halogen content (> 2% X) such as bromophenol, etc.

ETH Zürich


UN VeVAInhalt / Content (%):____________________________________________________________________________________________________________



Generic labels for other hazardous waste that do not have standard labels.Important: content must be specified

Waste canisters with non-flammable aqueous waste – as long as it does not exhibit anyhazards or odour emissions – can be stored in the labs in RAKO boxes (= grey safetyboxes). RAKO boxes can be obtained in the HCI shop for a symbolic price. Wastecanisters with dangerous content have to be stored either in fume hoods without ongoingexperiments or in safety cabinets with safety tub.

Non-flammable aqueous waste – if it does not exhibit any hazards – can be disposedof separately locally in the labs into newly drafted mobile disposal stations (withventilation docking station). Based on the need, those disposal stations can beequipped with 5 l or 10 l single-use canisters (max. 4 pieces) and the canisters can befilled using special funnels (with overfill protection).

The local disposal of acid and base waste as well as aqueous special waste inthe labs

Notes: Large RAKO boxes are often used as acid and base baths in the labs. Theircontent can not be tipped into corresponding tanks in the special waste disposal (donot exist anymore) anymore, but have to be filled into the 10 l single-use canisters.This more difficult decanting process of the acid and base baths exposes the staff tohigher contamination risks with consequence of chemical burns. It is thereforerecommended to search for new vessels with drain taps (which need to be resistantto breaking off) for the acid and base baths to replace the RAKO boxes.

3.6 Oil waste

It has to distinguish between contaminated and non-contaminated oil waste. Especiallyoil waste from HV pumps is often contaminated with dangerous compounds from thevacuum lines. Contaminated and non-contaminated oil waste are collected separatelyand stored in the same polyethylene canisters as all other liquid special waste. The filledwaste canisters are labelled accordingly and handed in to the special waste disposal.

3.7 Solid special waste

Solid waste, which is contaminated with chemicals, can be disposed of in the vesseltypes, which are shown below. They are in principle lockable plastic vessels, which areavailable for free in different sizes up to 30 l in the special waste disposal department.Also here a separated waste collection is required according to the situation.Halogenated and non-halogenated solid waste is distinguished as well.

Typical waste of this type are Silica gel waste (dripped) Filter waste Contaminated syringes (without cannulas), gloves and other utensils of all kinds Always dispose of mercury and waste contaminated with other highly toxic wastes

as hazardous waste (eg mercury-containing waste). Ethidium bromide-contaminated waste etc.

ETH Zürich


Ethidiumbromide Abfälle / Waste




Labelling: The corresponding self-adhesive etiquettes for the labelling of the wastecontainers are available in the central disposal station.

3.8 Sharps = Objects, which exhibit danger of stitch or cut damages

Mandrels, capillaries, scalpels and injection cannulas belong to the category ofsharps for instance. They have to be collected in sting-proof, rigid, non-transparentand firmly sealable, leakage-proof plastic box, which can not be opened anymoreonce they are sealed. All labs in the HCI building collect those sharps in theyellow mediboxes, which are shown below. Mediboxes, which need to be treated inan autoclave, need to be equipped with a temperature-sensitive indicator. Sharps areonly disposed of as special waste when the biohazard symbol is not visible anymore.

Non-sting-proof container

3.9 Disposal of chemicals

Chemicals, which can not be reused anymore and need to be disposed of, need to behanded in in their original container. Chemical containers, whose content can not beidentified anymore, can only be disposed of after agreement with BUSS from thedepartment SGU. Under certain circumstances an analysis of the non-identified contentneeds to be done. When disposing of chemicals in original containers, halogenated andnon-halogenated as well as organic and inorganic or heavy metal-containingcompounds, etc. need to be sorted and disposed of separately. The section BUSS fromthe department SGU shall be contacted in case of any uncertainties.

SGU BUSS(operational environmental & radiationprotection)HPI F23044 633 92 75 *8039275

ETH Zürich

Sonderabfälle / déchets spéciaux / rifiuti specialiOrganische Chemikalien / Organic Chemicals




Content: E.g. chemicals in original containers, self-made substances, mixtures.

Triage and packaging is always done by or in consultation with SGU department!

ETH Zürich

Sonderabfälle / déchets spéciaux / rifiuti specialiAnorganische Chemikalien / Inorganic Chemicals




Content: E.g. chemicals in original containers, self-made substances, mixtures.

Triage and packaging is always done by or in consultation with SGU department!

3.10 Lecture Bottles

Lecture Bottles are in general not disposed of via the SGU department. They should beeither fully consumed or handed back to the producer/deliverer. If neither option ispossible, the CABS section of the SGU department can be contacted for further steps.

3.11 Disposal of gas cartridges

If they are not fully emptied, the following hazards are present:

Explosive gas-air mixtures can be created by the evaporating gas - especially inclosed rooms and chambers.

Consumed gas cartridges can still contain rests, which can explode upon contactwith heat or pressure impacts.

Heating of the gas cartridges beyond 50°C can generate a dangerously highpressure, which can lead to leakage or bursting of the cartridge.

Used gas cartridges always need to be outgassed in exhaust-air plants (it is forbiddento outgas them on the escape balconies). They have to be handed in to the specialwaste disposal subsequently.

The spray can contains products, which are harmful forhealth or environment. These are in general insecticides,colors, varnishes, insulating foam, glues, lubricants, etc. Ifthe spray can is consumed, it has to be handed in to thespecial waste disposal. Also if the spray can seems to beentirely empty, it is advised to consider it as special wastebecause it still contains small quantities of harmfulproducts.

3.12 Disposal of spray cans

Dangers: even if empty, the spray can may still contain residuals that could explode upon contact with air or upon pressure impact.

Notes to BL1 waste: Bio level 1 waste iscollected in bags, which can be autoclavedwithout a biohazard label. These have tobe disinfected, chemically inactivated orautoclaved before the normal disposal.

Intermediate storage in the lab: Opencontainers and small bags (up to max. 2litres) can be stored for a short term on thebiosafety cabinet, but they have to bedisposed of in bigger biosafety bags(biohazard) at least once a week. Full andclosed biosafety bags have to be stored ina container. Cell culture media andperfusion solutions have to be safely storedin the labs until their final disposal.

3.13 Biological waste

Autoclaved bags will packed in normal garbage bags (the Biohazard sign must not be recognizable).

Yellow Medibox labeled «Do Not Autoclave»

Yellow Medibox for Sharps

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Transport to the treatment place: Thewaste/containers need to be brought to theautoclave in the most direct way possibleand the material has to be deactivatedimmediately and without furtherintermediate storage.

l

Autoclave

l

Treatment methods of biological waste

Disinfection: Biological waste of safety level 2 or higher, which contain poisonousand/or carcinogenic chemicals, need to be deactivated first with a sufficient amount ofdisinfectant and subsequently brought to the special waste.

Deactivation: The deactivation of biologically contaminated waste is a central aspectto minimise the egression of organisms (safety levels 2, 3, 4) from the laboratories toavoid hazards for human beings and the environment. Practicable deactivationtechniques are vapour sterilisation (autoclaving), the chemical deactivation aswell as the dry heat sterilisation. The autoclave has to be charged and operated bytrained staff. Autoclaving protocols need to be collected and archived. The autoclaveneeds to be revised according to the revision plan. Waste needs to be equipped with atemperature-sensitive indicator before the autoclaving. Deactivated waste is onlydisposed of with the normal waste, if the „biohazard“ symbol is not visibleanymore. The symbol is either removed or covered for this purpose.

Different notes:

Liquid waste, which was deactivated with javel or similar compounds or if itcontains thermally stable antibiotics, have to be disposed of as chemical specialwaste.

When storing biological waste, an extremely strong stench of excrements canspread already after a short time. Therefore they should be deactivated anddisposed of as soon as possible.

Serological pipettes, pipette tips and the Pasteur pipettes, which are made ofplastic, do not have to be disposed of as sharps.

4. Reuse of chemicals

Storageroom HCI C280/282:

Used and new chemicals, which can be used for free by all research groups in the HCIbuilding, are stored here. The storage management is done by the chemicals databaseExpereact: www.hci-expereact.ethz.ch

The pickup and return of the chemical in the storage room is responsibility of the userand has to be registered in the Expereact database. The room is monitored by a videocamera for safety reasons. The access to the storage room has to be arranged with thesafety representatives. Only they are in possession of an access key, which they have tostore shut away.

If you have chemicals to give away for reuse, please contact our email hotline [email protected] and please follow the following basic rules:

‐ We pick up chemicals for reuse at the spot after agreement. The reuse of chemicalsmust not be misused as „disposal service“ or misunderstood as such.

‐ The containers of the chemicals determined for reuse have to be correctly labelled,undamaged and they have to contain at least 40% of the original content and thecontent must not be rotten or decomposed.

‐ The condition of the container including original sealing cap must be flawless (nocracks, further damages, leaking, etc.).

‐ The containers must not have any contamination on the outside (corroded, otherpatina)

‐ The storageroom does not accept anymore all

o Standard solvents that are available from the HCI shop such as chloroform,ethyl acetate, tetrahydrofuran, etc.

o Standard chemicals that are available from the HCI shop such as hydrochloricacid, sulfuric acid, sodium hydroxide, sodium sulfate, sodium chloride, etc.

o Chemicals with expiration dates in the past or about to expire within a year.o Chemicals that have not been properly stored (e.g. at room temperature instead

of cooled).o Agglutinated, discolored, or decomposing chemicalso Chemicals with danger of explosion/blast effecto Alkali metalso Radioactive compoundso Biologically active compounds/cytostatico Large vessels such as barrels, bags, canisters, etc.o Gas bottles, Lecture Bottleso Ampules with dangerous contento Chemicals, which can cause massive damage already in tiny quantitieso Strongly malodorous chemicals

5. Accident: always be prepared!

disposal guideline hci - eth z · 1.1 responsibility:hci building 4 1.2 disposal of...

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