The planning of every purchase must include the consideration of the disposal of leftover starting materials and of the products and by-products that may be generated as a result of usage of a hazardous material. Hazardous materials should be purchased in the smallest possible volumes to reduce the amount of unused chemicals that could end up as wastes. As the cost of chemicals and disposal continues to climb, any reduction in volume of chemicals purchased will offer benefits. Keep in mind that the perceived economy of buying in bulk is more than offset by disposal costs for the package and its residues. The recycling process is exempt from hazardous waste regulation except that waste accumulated prior to recycling must be managed according to accumulation requirements.
Distillation is an example of a viable recovery option.
All residues such as still bottoms from the recycling process are regulated and must be managed as hazardous waste. Photographic fixer solutions cannot be discharged to the sink and will be collected for silver recovery. The Environmental Health and Safety Office operates a silver recovery unit in SB-3 McGregory Hall. Other candidates for recycling include batteries, precious metals, scrap metals, waste oil, and formaldehyde. Every effort must be made to determine if other materials can be reused, recovered, or recycled.