The Chemical Round-Up 2022

Working with high-hazard chemicals?

Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) is encouraging U of A researchers who work with chemicals to participate in the upcoming Chemical Round-Up, a unique, institutionally-funded opportunity to dispose of the following high-hazard chemicals that have expired or are in poor condition:

  • Peroxides and peroxide forming chemicals
  • Nitro compounds (e.g., picric acid, 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine)
  • Pyrophoric and water-reactive substances
  • Highly toxic chemicals
  • Other potentially unstable substances

The initiative is in response to several recent events involving the discovery of expired shock-sensitive chemicals, which ultimately required specialized disposal support from the City of Edmonton Police and Fire Rescue Services. These events pose significant health and safety risks, require highly coordinated disposal efforts, and are disruptive to research activities and normal university operations.

Through The Chemical Round-Up, HSE is taking proactive steps to build awareness of the risks associated with high-hazard chemicals, to reduce the need for costly and complicated disposal measures in the future, and to improve safety practices overall.

The Chemical Round-Up runs from January to March 2022. More information is available here.