Noble metals such as mercury and silver can be recovered. Use a Surplus Chemical Exchange Program . Large companies have set up sophisticated programs for in-house chemical exchanges. At 3M's corporate research facilities, for example, chemists are encouraged to return unused chemicals to a central stockroom. The only requirements are that the bottle be more than half full, the label be intact, and the outside of the container be clean.
Smaller companies can use intermediaries to pair originators and potential users.
If you do keep surplus chemicals, test solutions, and products around the lab, label them clearly. When you move out, arrange for disposal or transfer of the chemicals. Testing everything you leave behind can be a major expense for the new occupant of the lab. With a little creativity and chemical know-how, you may be able to turn your waste into a useful product. As these suggestions illustrate, pollution prevention makes good sense.