Australia's Science Forum

Hi All,
For those of you who know so much more than me, I'm wondering if anyone has a list of which substances go in what waste containers. I usually ask the teachers where to put it when they bring whatever can't go down the sink to me. For example, how do I know what is 'halogenated inorganic waste' etc. Heavy metals I can do (if I know what prac they have come from)... but the organic/inorganic and halogenated/non-halogenated ones I am not sure of... Is there a simple rule for knowing/remembering? Or is it just learned over time? Now that I am starting my second year I am trying to make sure I get it right without having to ask too much! (of the teachers that is - you guys will probably cop all my questions!!)
Rosalie

If you have a copy of the CSIS, Chemical Safety In Schools, their are two volumes. Appendix E disposal of waste chemicals. Volume 2, pages 1-30. You should have a waste glass jar for silver, Copper, and most of your heavy metals. You treat most of solutions and Neutralise, then they may go down the sink to waste. Their is no way we can know it all, I have a copy in the prep room, and have to look at it each time. I have made up a list of Disposal numbers, and put them on each chemical. If I can help in any other way, please just say.

Hi Rosalie,
I guess you have seen the list in section 3.2.7.3 of the CSIS (Vol. 2) manual. I am with you though. I would not have a clue as to what was a "halogenated organic liquid" and what was a "non-halogenated organic liquid". I figure that with the amount that the teachers get paid more than us, they are paid to know what ever we don't, and they have a vested interest in telling us what we need to know, because if it all goes pear shaped, they will probably get the gun before we do! Still, it is nice to be able to do the job and at the same time APPEAR competent in ALL aspects of science.

All the best
Ian

Hi Ian, remember me from the safety course?
I know a little bit about those organic liquids. Halogenated are ones with Cl, Br, or I attached to the molecule eg di chloro methane or tetra chloro ethane. Non halogenated are the rest, like alcohols, hydrocarbons etc. We use waste removalist from St marys "Chemsal" and they dont need those separated. I put the water immiscible solvents(hexane, cyclohexene dichloromethane etc) in large glass bottle, labelled "organic waste" and get teachers to put all organic waste there.
Water soluble waste like ethanol ,acetone can go down the sink with lots of water.
Hope this is clear as mud.
Welcome back to another eventful year
lada

Of course I remember you Lada! Lovely to hear from you. Thanks for the tips re. the Chem waste.
I always hated Chemistry when I was at school (I liked Physics though!) now I find that Chem is a major part of my job and I am expected to be the "School Chemistry Expert". Funny how things turn out, isn't it!
You know, I could not tell you how much time I have spent in the Chem store searching for "Ethanoic Acid" There is so much Acetic Acid and vinegar stacked in front of it, that it is hard to find! Maybe I was just not destined for a PhD in Chemistry!

have a great 2008

regards
Ian

ian, just for your troubles with acetic acid i gave you extra karma.
Enjoy 2008

I,too, gave you karma for that one, Ian, because I have actually done that myself!!! Embarrassingly enough, on more than one occasion.
Cheers,
Lisa

Hi ALL,
Can someone advise me how to dispose copper carbonate please? Thank you.

regards

The solid can be wrapped and put into the bin.

Ian wrote: ↑01 Feb 2008, 07:24 Of course I remember you Lada! Lovely to hear from you. Thanks for the tips re. the Chem waste.
I always hated Chemistry when I was at school (I liked Physics though!) now I find that Chem is a major part of my job and I am expected to be the "School Chemistry Expert". Funny how things turn out, isn't it!
You know, I could not tell you how much time I have spent in the Chem store searching for "Ethanoic Acid" There is so much Acetic Acid and vinegar stacked in front of it, that it is hard to find! Maybe I was just not destined for a PhD in Chemistry!

have a great 2008

regards
Ian

Hey Ian I had to laugh at this old post. As I now have your old HT here, I too have scratched my head over the ethanoic acid puzzle

Merilyn1 wrote: ↑17 Feb 2023, 10:46 The solid can be wrapped and put into the bin.

Thank you Marilyn.

what about the liquid? any idea/

Isn't copper carbonate insoluble in water? If you have some in water, I would filter it out and throw the filter paper in the bin.

I'm hoping the brains trust can help me here.
I'm sure that with all the recent flooding in northern NSW and elsewhere there has been a fairly universal problem with mould getting into storage areas. We have been trying to deal with a mould problem in our flammable chemicals store of all places. Consequently we have boxes of flammable chemicals that need to be disposed of, and potentially the rest of the chemicals in the store room as well.
Has any school out there encountered the same problem and been made aware of the best method of disposal of these chemicals, or is there another school we could team with to share the cost of disposal?
J

J which area are you in please.

North Coast NSW near Coffs Harbour.

We recently had Cleanaway take chemicals for disposal. It's expensive (in the hundreds), so shop around. Most of the cost is transport - getting together with another school might help reduce the price for you. Use RiskAssess if you have it, because some stuff you can dispose of in the rubbish or down the drain.

Thanks J other school may get in contact with you now.

Thank you.
I'll look at Cleanaway in our area if possible as a starting point.

Hi All,
Can anyone help me and give mean idea how to dispose copper nitrate?
Thank