In many cases, laboratories or other users may be able to use these chemicals even though they have a lower purity. In addition, outside organizations may be willing to accept waste streams from laboratories if they can economically recover the valuable constituents. Talk with other schools in your area to see if you can set up a simple exchange mechanism for school district. Consult the Merck Index to see what types of manufacturers in your area may be interested in your chemicals. This is most likely to happen with unused raw material that is properly labelled and in good condition.
Services are mostly regional to minimize transportation of potentially hazardous wastes.
Passive services rely on advertisers and readers to communicate directly to negotiate any exchanges. Brokers charge a fee for an exchange, but may offer a free consultation visit to inform you of potential customers for your chemicals. Some state agencies can provide information on waste or chemical exchange services in your area. Remember that containers must be properly labelled and in good condition. If you regularly generate spent solvents, recovery can be very cost-effective, as well as environmentally sound.