Sample vial disposal/recycling
Peter Robinson
Sorry if this is a bit off-topic, but I suspect others have the same
problems as us.
We are being audited against a New Zealand Envirosmart standard
http://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/services/sustainablesoc/enviromark/envirosmart/
This requires us, as I am sure you all do as well, to consider what we do
with our wastes. As NZs largest commercial lab, we go through a very
large number of GC and HPLC vials, which in the past have been dumped
with other waste.
We are now considering how best to minimise our environmental impact from
these. I guess this will involve decapping, removing excess solvent [we
redistill our solvent, mainly DCM, after use, then check and reuse it],
perhaps crushing before recycling the crushed glass.
We do a wide range of organics, including large numbers of pesticides.
Is it necessary to wash either the vials or the crushed glass before
recycling? My gut feeling is that the risk from the crushed glass will
be very low, many of our samples are low tho' some are high and we do, of
course, run reasonably high standards. We could do a TCLP or SPLP to
check each crushed batch I guess.
I vaguely remember that there used to be a small lab scale crusher, which
may have also rinsed the crushed glass, but have been unable to find any
info in the catalogues we have [Supelco, Restek, Phenomenex] or on the
internet.
We would appreciate any feedback on this, or advice on another more
appropriate forum.
Many thanks
Peter Robinson and Lucy Hodgson
Hill Labs, Private Bag 3205, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand
1 Clyde Street, Hamilton East, ph 07 858 2806
www.hill-labs.co.nz
Not all chemicals are bad. Without chemicals such as hydrogen and oxygen,
for example, there would be no way to make water, a vital ingredient in
beer
________________________________________________________________________________
Attention:
The information in this email and in any attachments is confidential. If
you are not the intended recipient then please do not distribute, copy or
use this information. Please notify us immediately by return email and
then delete the message from your computer. Any views or opinions
presented are solely those of the author.
________________________________________________________________________________
John Dulak
Peter:
Perhaps something here:
http://www.norcalcompactors.com/html/GLASS%20CRUSHERS.htm
http://www.edie.net/products/view_entry.asp?id=2150
Would meet your needs.
HTH & GL
John
--
\\\||///
------------------o000----(o)(o)----000o----------------
----------------------------()--------------------------
'' Madness takes its toll - Please have exact change. ''
John Dulak - 40.4913ºN,79.904ºW - http://tinyurl.com/2qs6o6
Bertra...@epamail.epa.gov
"Peter wrote:
We use Al crimp caps on most of our vials, and we collect them in
Hazardous Waste buckets. Then when the buckets are full, we crush them,
caps and all, with "The Vial Crusher" from Alltech. I don't know if they
still sell it. The liquid drains out a valved port at the bottom, and
the collected liquid and crushed material are packaged separately and
given to the hazardous waste folks for proper disposal. I don't have
anything to do with it from that point on. The crusher is used in a fume
hood, and is itself a contaminated object now. I hope this helps.
I like your quote, too!
Frank