Hazardous waste disposal: The perils of pickup

In November 2020 two University of Alberta waste technicians came across containers of chemicals that had expired and dried out, producing a residue of highly explosive crystals. A week later, the same duo discovered a damaged container leaking maleic anhydride, a corrosive substance. Once again, the chemical had been improperly disposed of and presented health and safety risks to workers.

In 2020, Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) received dozens of near miss and injury reports from custodial workers and other waste handlers at the U of A. In addition to incidents involving expired or improperly packaged chemicals, workers reported finding sharps or biohazardous material disposed of in regular trash cans.

Incidents involving the improper disposal of hazardous waste are not unique to the U of A. The University of Washington and the University of Delaware describe scenarios involving incompatibly stored chemical waste. Improper disposal of sharps is also well documented; needlestick incidents at UC Berkeley and UCLA illustrate the need for more attention to waste disposal practices.

Plan for safe disposal

Proper disposal of hazardous waste requires a bit of forethought but is relatively easy to do. Here’s how:

1. Consider the hazards of your waste

• Is it a chemical? Follow the disposal instructions on the safety data sheet. If you are using a waste bottle, ensure that all chemicals are compatible and label it with the contents. Has it expired or do you see evidence of it drying up and crystallizing on the container? If so, or you’re not sure, contact HSE at hse.info@ualberta.ca.
• Is it a biological material? It may need to be autoclaved or decontaminated prior to disposal. Check the Biosafety Guidelines.
• Does it present physical hazards, such as broken glassware or a needle? Determine what you’ll need to do to dispose of or recycle it safely.

2. Package or prepare it properly

• Use containers that are compatible with contents.
• Place containers that may leak in secondary containers.

3. Arrange for waste pickup

• Submit a waste pickup request through CHEMATIX, a web-based system used by HSE
• Label your container with the wastecard (label) that is generated by CHEMATIX.

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