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POLICY FOR CHEMICAL WASTE DISPOSAL

Adopted April 26, 2007 at the EOS Retreat

It is the responsibility of the supervisor of each laboratory to ensure that items used in their laboratory are disposed of properly

Information on how to do this is available at the UBC HSE (Health Safety and Environment) website ( http://www.hse.ubc.ca), under:

HAZARDOUS MATERIALS MANAGEMENT

FORMS AND PUBLICATIONS

Download the "Chemical Waste Inventory Form", list the chemical(s) for disposal, and fax the form to UBC HSE. They will provide instructions on how to package the wastes for pickup and disposal, and let you know when they will be picked up. Once properly packaged, labelled and approved for pick-up, the EOS "Acid Storage Room" can be used to coordinate the pick- up, but NOT for long term STORAGE!

Things are not meant to be stored for months in the EOS Acid "Storage Room", and delivering items there does not absolve the owner of responsibility for them.

Users should store things in their own labs until a pick up date is determined, and use the storage room for short-term coordination of that pick-up. If they wish to deliver things earlier, then they do so at their own risk.

An annual "spring laboratory clean-up" can be planned to help coordinate the pick up of small items, but it is up to you to call HSE and arrange for pick up of things that you wish to dispose of.

Note: There is an alternative to disposal for some items!

CHEMICAL EXCHANGE PROGRAM

The Chemical Exchange Program was developed to identify chemicals on campus that are no longer of use to the original user and divert them from disposal. Instead, these chemicals are tracked and marketed to other potential users on campus.

This is a free service provided to the campus and not only reduces purchasing costs, but also reduces disposal costs. In 2005, over 400 kg of chemicals were exchanged within campus.

We encourage all labs to participate in this program. Should you have any excess chemicals in usable condition that could potentially be utilized elsewhere on campus, please forward the chemical name, amount, grade, manufacturer and your contact details to the ESF Technician.

For free chemicals on the list, contact:
ESF Technician: (604) 822-6306

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