Chemical and hazardous waste

Guidance for chemical and hazardous waste disposal, including chemicals, hood filters and batteries.

Chemical waste

Chemicals should be disposed in line with the disposal route stated in the appropriate Safe System of Work in your COSHH forms.

Try to recycle unwanted chemicals by advertising to the wider School community.

Labelling Hazardous Waste

Hazardous waste stickers must be completed and attached to each item for disposal, unless they are still in the manufacturer’s original packaging.

They are available to collect from the following locations:

Building	Collection Point
Ashworth complex	On safety noticeboards
Roger Land	Room G.35, shelf above photocopier
Waddington	Room 2.08, filing cabinet drawers opposite photocopier
Rutherford	Room 1.01, shelf above photocopier
Swann	On the safety noticeboard opposite the lifts on each floor

SBS Hazardous waste label (302.63 KB / PDF)

Guidance for completing labels

Remember that the people handling the waste will not have knowledge of the work you do, so write clearly and fill in all sections of the labels.

Please avoid chemical formulas and write the chemical name in full. This is to ensure the safe handling and storage of the chemicals.

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Solvents and oil waste

The following bulk drums are available:

Formaldehydes

e.g., formalin, formaldehyde and paraformaldehyde solutions. 

Chlorinated waste (in containers of volume no greater than 10L)

e.g., Chloroform, chloroform-methanol-acetic acid mix, phenol and chloroform mixes, phenol. 

Non-chlorinated waste

e.g., Formamide, acetone, ethanol, methanol, IMS, isopropanol, ether, non-halogenated waste, butan-1-ol, DMSO, xylene and xylene-alcohol mixes. 

Waste oils  
HPLC waste (acetonitrile, trifluoroacetic acid and water)

Collection

Organic solvents should be collected in 2.5L bottles (consider recycling old glass Winchester or plastic bottles but only when thoroughly rinsed).  

Ensure items are clearly labelled with waste disposal sticker (see above for locations).  When they are full depending on the building the waste originates: 

Building	Collection Point
Ashworth complex	Submit a chemical uplift request
Roger Land	Take the items to Stores
Waddington and Rutherford	Take the items to the Waddington locker room
Swann	Take the items to Old Stores (opposite wash-up and media)

Chemical waste disposal uplift form

To dispose of single items (chemicals, filters, rechargeable batteries, mercury bulbs), please complete a chemical uplift request and ensure the packages are clearly labelled with a hazardous waste sticker. 

Chemical waste disposal uplift form

Some items may need to stay in your lab until removal can be arranged by the specialist waste contractor (every 3-6 months).

Multiple items

If you have a large number of chemicals to dispose, please complete the form below and send this to your building manager/WCCB lab manager.

SBS Hazardous waste disposal uplift form (62.12 KB / XLSX)

Unknown items

If you have items with unknown contents, please complete the spreadsheet form below (second sheet) with as much information as possible.

Please remember to include a photo and send the completed sheet to your building manager/WCCB lab manager.