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Appendix A - Disposal of Nonhazardous Laboratory Waste As Regular Trash for Ithaca Campus

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The following table, adapted from Prudent Practices, lists solid chemicals which are not considered hazardous and are therefore suitable for disposal with regular trash. However, neither custodians nor trash collectors can readily distinguish between hazardous and nonhazardous wastes. Therefore, the packaging of such waste for disposal must be secure, and carried to the dumpster by laboratory personnel.

  1. Organic Chemicals
    • Enzymes
    • Sugars and sugar alcohols 
    • Starch 
    • Naturally occurring amino acids and salts 
    • Citric acid and its Na, K, Mg, Ca, NH4 salts 
    • Lactic acid and its Na, K, Mg, Ca, NH4 salts
  2. Inorganic Chemicals 
    • Silica
    • Sulfates: Na, K, Mg, Ca, Sr, NH4 
    • Phosphates: Na, K, Mg, Ca, Sr, NH4 
    • Carbonates: Na, K, Mg, Ca, Sr, NH4 
    • Oxides: B, Mg, Ca, Sr, Al, Si, Ti, Mn, Fe, Co, Cu 
    • Chlorides: Ca, Na, K, Mg, NH4 
    • Borates: Na, K, Mg, Ca
  3. Laboratory Materials Not Contaminated with Hazardous Chemicals 
    • Chromatographic adsorbent
    • Glassware 
    • Filter papers 
    • Filter aids 
    • Rubber and plastic protective clothing

Other examples of nonhazardous biochemicals include polysaccharides, nucleic acids and naturally occurring precursors, and dry biological media.

Instructions for Packaging:

  1. Package securely for the dumpster by using at least two layers of packaging so that material cannot spill during collection.
  2. Leave label on the innermost container.
  3. Label the outer container with the words "Non-hazardous". 
  4. Place containers in the dumpster yourself since custodians do not handle chemicals, including nonhazardous laboratory chemicals.
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