EHS would like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude and appreciation to all those who have helped with hazardous waste issues this year. With all the preparations for an EPA audit, there are a number of people to thank. Please forgive us if we've left anyone out. Whenever you are using empty chemical bottles to collect waste, make sure the container is clean and dry, unless you are collecting the exact same material that was originally in the container. Be careful when reusing chemical containers that the waste you are collecting is compatible with the original contents.
Residual material can react with waste being collected and cause unwanted results.
When disposing of empty chemical containers, you must triple rinse them before placing them in receptacles for recycling. If the material is acutely hazardous, you must collect the rinsate and dispose of it as hazardous waste. While most gas suppliers offer lecture bottles for purchase, many will not accept the empty or partially full cylinders back for disposal or refilling. Lecture bottle disposal can be very costly, depending on the original contents. Princeton University researchers should only purchase lecture bottles that can be returned to the distributor.