CLEAN – OUTCLEAN – OUT

Alfred C. Glatz, Ph.D.Alfred C. Glatz, Ph.D.Physical ScientistPhysical Scientist

Waste Reduction PartnersWaste Reduction PartnersLand-of-the Sky Regional CouncilLand-of-the Sky Regional Council

Asheville, NCAsheville, NC

WASTE REDUCTION WASTE REDUCTION PARTNERSPARTNERS

A volunteer program of Land-of-the-Sky A volunteer program of Land-of-the-Sky Regional Council.Regional Council.

WRP is a group of about 50 retired engineers WRP is a group of about 50 retired engineers and scientists, who use their expertise to and scientists, who use their expertise to provide technical assistance to local provide technical assistance to local businesses, industries, and institutions.businesses, industries, and institutions.

Areas of involvement include: water efficiency, Areas of involvement include: water efficiency, energy efficiency and waste reduction.energy efficiency and waste reduction.

The program is funded by private donations, The program is funded by private donations, and local, state, and federal grants to provide and local, state, and federal grants to provide services at no charge to the client.services at no charge to the client.

WRP ASSISTED CHEMICAL CLEAN-WRP ASSISTED CHEMICAL CLEAN-OUT OF TWO DIFFERENT OUT OF TWO DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONSORGANIZATIONS

Collected Outdated and Obsolete Collected Outdated and Obsolete Chemicals from a UNCA Chemical Chemicals from a UNCA Chemical BuildingBuilding

Helped with the Industrial Helped with the Industrial Chemical Clean-out after a Chemical Clean-out after a Business had shut down (ECUSTA Business had shut down (ECUSTA Corporation)Corporation)

UNCA AT ASHEVILLE, NCUNCA AT ASHEVILLE, NC

Cleanout Requested by the Campus/Environmental Cleanout Requested by the Campus/Environmental Officer.Officer.

Inventory Records were not properly maintained Inventory Records were not properly maintained and updated.and updated.

MSDS not well-organized and accessibleMSDS not well-organized and accessible Lab Manuals were old and required updatingLab Manuals were old and required updating Some faculty members were cooperative and Some faculty members were cooperative and

helpfulhelpful Other faculty members were not receptive to a Other faculty members were not receptive to a

cleanout crew removing chemicals from their cleanout crew removing chemicals from their laboratorylaboratory

TECHNIQUES/JUDGEMENTS TECHNIQUES/JUDGEMENTS USED UNCA CLEAN-OUTUSED UNCA CLEAN-OUT

Examine all chemical storage bottles, cans, bags vials on Examine all chemical storage bottles, cans, bags vials on shelves and in cabinets and refrigerators.shelves and in cabinets and refrigerators.

Make decisions to remove those that are decomposed, Make decisions to remove those that are decomposed, contaminated and improperly packaged or storedcontaminated and improperly packaged or stored

Water soluble and non-hazardous chemicals were washed Water soluble and non-hazardous chemicals were washed down the drain with ample amounts of waterdown the drain with ample amounts of water

All removed chemicals were categorized by:All removed chemicals were categorized by:– Geneva nameGeneva name– Size and type of containerSize and type of container– Condition of chemicalCondition of chemical– Date of purchaseDate of purchase

Remove all selected chemicals to a designated area for Remove all selected chemicals to a designated area for packing & disposal/recycling by chemical waste haulerspacking & disposal/recycling by chemical waste haulers

Segregate hazardous chemicals to a special hood for Segregate hazardous chemicals to a special hood for hazardous chemical removalhazardous chemical removal

All of this information was listed in a notebook and given All of this information was listed in a notebook and given to the safety officer for proper inventoryingto the safety officer for proper inventorying

ECUSTA CORPORATIONECUSTA CORPORATION

WRP helped with the chemical clean-out after the WRP helped with the chemical clean-out after the business had been shut downbusiness had been shut down

Inventories and MSDS existed and were quite well Inventories and MSDS existed and were quite well organizedorganized

The chemicals were in disarray. They were hauled The chemicals were in disarray. They were hauled there and dumped into one room with no regard for there and dumped into one room with no regard for their contentstheir contents

There were very few hazardous chemicals in the There were very few hazardous chemicals in the mixmix

Chemicals were organized in alphabetical groups Chemicals were organized in alphabetical groups on benchtops for speed and convenienceon benchtops for speed and convenience

ECUSTA - ContinuedECUSTA - Continued

The chemicals that were water soluble and non-hazardous The chemicals that were water soluble and non-hazardous were washed down the drain. ECUSTA had a functional were washed down the drain. ECUSTA had a functional and well-maintained treatment facility.and well-maintained treatment facility.

ECUSTA invited high school and college groups to select ECUSTA invited high school and college groups to select wanted chemicalswanted chemicals

Bulk chemicals (production quantities) were given to Bulk chemicals (production quantities) were given to selected clients and others advertised on ‘Waste Trader’.selected clients and others advertised on ‘Waste Trader’.

Disposing of as many chemicals as possible defrayed the Disposing of as many chemicals as possible defrayed the cost of professional disposal services.cost of professional disposal services.

Inconveniences to be expected with shut-down Inconveniences to be expected with shut-down businesses:businesses:– Heat and AC may be turned offHeat and AC may be turned off– Lighting may be inadequateLighting may be inadequate– Rest rooms may be ill-equippedRest rooms may be ill-equipped– Drinking fountains not functioningDrinking fountains not functioning– Bring necessary protective clothing and equipment (Safety Bring necessary protective clothing and equipment (Safety

goggles, latex gloves, dust masks, lab coats) since they may goggles, latex gloves, dust masks, lab coats) since they may be unavailablebe unavailable

RECOMMENDATIONSRECOMMENDATIONS

Install an “Electronic Management System” Install an “Electronic Management System” for inventory management to avoid for inventory management to avoid duplication. There are ‘free’ ones available.duplication. There are ‘free’ ones available.

All members (faculty for a college or school, All members (faculty for a college or school, and lab managers for industry) must ‘buy’ and lab managers for industry) must ‘buy’ into the Management System.into the Management System.

Assign the operation of the Management Assign the operation of the Management System to a committee.System to a committee.

Contact your state Dept. of Education. Many Contact your state Dept. of Education. Many states have a state science supervisor who states have a state science supervisor who may be able to make suggestions or advise may be able to make suggestions or advise you about existing disposal programs already you about existing disposal programs already operating.operating.

RECOMMENDATIONS continuedRECOMMENDATIONS continued

Keep alert for offering surplus chemicals to local schools Keep alert for offering surplus chemicals to local schools or other businesses and organizations that can use or other businesses and organizations that can use them.them.

Offer to help client to list large quantities of surplus Offer to help client to list large quantities of surplus chemicals on a waste exchange website, e.g. “Waste chemicals on a waste exchange website, e.g. “Waste Trader”.Trader”.

In many metropolitan areas, there are local sections of In many metropolitan areas, there are local sections of the American Chemical Society (ACS). Any area with a the American Chemical Society (ACS). Any area with a lot of chemical industry is likely to have a local ACS lot of chemical industry is likely to have a local ACS section. Contact these professionals for specific section. Contact these professionals for specific information.information.

Personnel involved in the clean-out should never work Personnel involved in the clean-out should never work alone!! They should work as a team and have alone!! They should work as a team and have appropriate backgrounds to recognize problem areas.appropriate backgrounds to recognize problem areas.

RECOMMENDATIONS continuedRECOMMENDATIONS continued

Use appropriate safety procedures for handling Use appropriate safety procedures for handling the chemicals, e.g. Fume hoods, apron, chemical the chemicals, e.g. Fume hoods, apron, chemical splash goggles, fire extinguisher, gloves , etcsplash goggles, fire extinguisher, gloves , etc

Always practice your intended disposal activity Always practice your intended disposal activity on tiny (micro) sample of the targeted substance on tiny (micro) sample of the targeted substance before moving on to the larger (macro) size before moving on to the larger (macro) size volume.volume.

All of the procedures should be performed in a All of the procedures should be performed in a well-ventilated area.well-ventilated area.

Chemical Removal and Disposal are serious Chemical Removal and Disposal are serious undertakings. Examine your options carefully undertakings. Examine your options carefully and responsibly.and responsibly.

Contact InformationContact Information

Alfred C. Glatz , Ph.D.Alfred C. Glatz , Ph.D.Physical ScientistPhysical Scientist

Waste Reduction PartnersWaste Reduction PartnersLand-of-the Sky Regional CouncilLand-of-the Sky Regional Council

25 Heritage Drive25 Heritage DriveAsheville, NC. 28806-1998Asheville, NC. 28806-1998

(828)-251-6622(828)-251-6622