I did something similar when I set up the hazardous waste system at
Catalytica many moons ago. Numbered waste bottles were checked out to
named individuals who were responsible for their contents. This avoided
the problem of folks using odd, potentially inappropriate, containers
and also let us keep track of accumulation start dates. Identity and
amount of all additions were recorded on a tag attached to the finger
ring. The type of waste allowed in the container was indicated by
colored tape around the body of the bottle so it was obvious even from a
distance. After collection, bottles with compatible contents were
emptied into a drum and the tags placed in an envelope taped to it. Once
full, it was a simple matter to summarize the contents by examining the
collection of tags.

This replaced the previous "system" that led to the discovery of a
bottle containing five liquid layers, helpfully labelled "waste".

Dave Lane
Principal
Clavis Technology Development

On 2/8/21 5:50 PM, Meg Osterby wrote:
> When I was still in charge of chemistry labs while teaching at Western
> Technical College in LaCrosse, WI, I found that since WI is not a state
> where OSHA regs are generally followed in schools, the bottom line was I
> had to provide the information and segregation of the waste that the waste
> hauler required. They followed OSHA and DOT and WISDOT rules. My labs
> were all semi-micro, and we were a small school. So I kept two jugs going,
> with vapor locking funnel lids (I forget the brand name). One jug got all
> organic, not water soluble waste, except if it contained either Benedict's
> reagent or Biuret's reagent, both principally copper (II) sulfate. The
> waste recycling facility that the hauler delivered my waste to, wanted the
> copper sulfate separate.
>
> For each jug, there was a signing sheet. Each student dumping their waste
> wrote in the sheet what they put in, including the various solvent rinses
> prior to washing. So an organic jug entry might read: Josey Student, 2mL
> acetone (rinse) today's date,. Next line, Josey Student, 2mL linolenic acid
> plus drops K2Cr2O7 solution.
> I'd stand by the jug and help the first groups get it written correctly,
> then all the other lab groups could copy the first entry.
>
> I found it rather silly, but that's what the folks who took it away wanted,
> and failure to comply could result in a fine and them refusing to take it
> away without a costly assay. So, I made the sheets for the students to
> sign, I helped them know what to write, and I used it as teachable moments
> about doing the right thing even though it is annoying. We literally could
> have dumped every test tube down the sink legally because we were such a
> small school and I filled 1 4-Liter jug of organic waste a year, and 1 of
> the copper (II) sulfate waste every two years. But our local water
> treatment plant did nothing to remove the dissolved or organics that went
> down our drains, and after treatment the water is returned to the
> Mississippi River, so it gave me the opportunity to talk about being
> "green" even when not required to because it's the right thing to do for
> our Planet, and for the local habitats and environment.
>
> Hope everyone is staying warm. Supposed to go down to -14 Fahrenheit here
> tonight, and that's by the river. Where I am, up in the bluffs, it will be
> colder.
>
> Meg Osterby
>
> On Mon, Feb 8, 2021, 11:21 AM Monique Wilhelm wrote:
>
>> Hello Everyone,
>>
>> I work in academia and most of teh haz waste taht I generate are
>> mixtures that come from our courses. Because they all follow the same
>> set procedure and are using known chemicals, I know the contents and
>> teh hazards prior to the wste benign generated and therefore it is
>> very unusual for me to have to do any actual tests to characterize the
>> waste prior to shipping it out.
>>
>> I have been determine the hazards of our waste based on the materials
>> we supply them for the experiment and even use the 49 CFR to include
>> the hazard class for most of the chemicals in these mixtures of the
>> bottle label.
>>
>> Our new EHS person wants us to start logging each waste bottle monthly
>> on a form similar to the one here
>>
>> https://www.michigan.gov/documents/deq/Optional_Waste_Characterization_Record_Form_460914_7.pdf
>>
>> Does anyone else do this or have any guidance for streamlining this
>> process?
>>
>> Thank you,
>> _________________________________________________________
>> Monique Wilhelm
>> Lab Manager
>> CAS, Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry | The University of
>> Michigan-Flint
>> 303 E. Kearsley St | Room 572 MSB | Flint, MI | 48502-1950
>> NEW EMAIL ADDRESS: mwilhelm**At_Symbol_Here**umich.edu
>>
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