Risk Management Serviceswww.riskmanagment.ubc.ca

Environmental Protection

• Environmental Impact of Research• Waste Minimization Practices• Pollution Prevention

o Source Reductiono Recycle and Reuse Options at UBCo Equipment containing Hazardous Materialso Air Emissionso Sanitary Waste Water Contamination

• Water & Energy Consumption• Green Purchasing• Resources

Environmental Protection Topics

Regulations and Policies

• Canadian Environmental Protection Act• Canada Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) Regulations• Environment Canada PCB Regulations• BC Hazardous Waste Regulations• BC Spill Reporting Regulation• BC Ozone Depleting Substances and Other Halocarbons Reg• Metro Vancouver Sewer Use and Air Bylaws• UBC Policy #6: Environmental Protection Compliance• UBC Policy #9: Hazardous Materials Management

Make Your Laboratory GREEN: Understand the environmental impact of YOUR research and attempt to reduce/minimize it!

Environmental Impacts of Research

Environmental pollution • Generation of hazardous waste• Generation of solid waste• Drain discharge of hazardous materials • Spills of hazardous materials to the

environment• Emission of air contaminants

Excessive use of resources• Water consumption• Energy usage• Transportation (Purchasing)

Develop a Lab Specific Pollution Prevention Plan

IDENTIFY: • Type & quantity of wastes disposed from your lab • Processes from which wastes were generated • Available reduction & recycling optionsREVIEW:• Your laboratory annual hazardous waste report and chemical

waste inventory forms • Lab processes, procedures and protocolsCONSIDER:• Other aspects of waste disposal: BCG#, waste manifest, TDG

trainingIMPLEMENT:• The most environmentally friendly, safe and effective

reduction options

Pollution Prevention Ideas

• Train new personnel in chemical and environmental safety, including methods of pollution prevention and waste minimization

• Prepare for leaks and spills • Review the chemicals in use to understand their hazards • Design your experiments with waste minimization in mind • Develop and implement a waste minimization plan for your

laboratory • Dispose of waste in a responsible manner by following

documented protocols• Conserve water & energy

Reduce Your Environmental Impact

Incorporate the 4 Rs of pollution prevention and wasteminimization in your lab:1. Redesign/Replace - implement material substitution and

process changes2. Reduce - eliminate waste at its source3. Reuse - find new uses for old chemicals and share what you

no longer need4. Recycle - convert used items back into raw materials, which

can be reused.

Replace Reduce Reuse Recycle

Rethink & Replace

• Operational improvementso Input changes o Process changes

• Design for energy efficiency• Design for water conservation• Consider the waste produced when

purchasing new equipment

Implement material substitution and process changes!

Reduce

• Substitute with non-toxic chemicals• Reduce the scale of laboratory

processes• Control chemical inventories• Take care to minimize spills

Minimize the quantity and toxicity of your waste!

Reuse

Chemical exchange

Find new uses for old chemicals and share what you no longer need!

Recycle

• Solvents (acetone, methanol)

• Silver recovery from photographic waste

• Oil waste

• Paint

• Batteries

• Lab plastic

• Lab Styrofoam

Convert used items back into raw materials, which can be reused!

Hazardous Waste

• Main environmental impact of research• Hazardous waste = any product, substance, or organism that

is dangerous to the environment or to human beings, and that is no longer used for its original purpose, at the time of disposal, or in storage/transportation prior to treatment or disposal.

• Hazardous waste is dangerous because of its quantity, concentration, physical, chemical, or infectious characteristics.

Waste Streams at UBC

1. Non-Hazardous Waste

2. Hazardous Waste

• Environmental Services Facility• Risk Management Services

• Waste Management• Building Operations

Segregation into two waste streams:

95+ tonnes hazardous waste generated by UBC research operations

Biohazard Risk Group 2

18%

Biohazard Risk Group 111%

Biomedical4%

Pathological8%

Sharps1%

Pharmaceutical0%

NR Contaminated solids3%

Solvents24%

Chemical waste13%

Photographic waste5%

Oil4% Batteries

9%

Typical Hazardous Waste Generated at UBC by Waste Stream (2011)

17+ tonnes (18%) recycled saving >$30K

Hazardous Waste Streams

1. Repeated Hazardous Waste:• Biological waste• Non-regulated contaminated solid waste• Solvents• Photographic fixer and developer• Oil• Tags with generator barcodes used for each container• Pre-approval NOT necessary

2. Chemicals• Online chemical inventory system• Tags not used, pre-approval EACH time• Old chemicals chemical exchange

Typical biological + chemical wastes from UBC research are managed as 2 waste streams:

Hazard classes (WHMIS & TDG)Waste compatibilities (e.g. chemicals)

Waste type: biological or chemicalto dispose of or recycle?

Labeling and packaging to match identification

Use & inspect designated waste storage areas

IDENTIFICATION

PACKAGING

STORAGE

Hazardous Waste Management Considerations

PROCEDURES Proper disposal procedures

TRANSPORTATION Transportation of Dangerous Goods

S E G R E G A T I O N

Examples of Biological Waste

Waste Type Examples

Microbiology laboratory(Biohazardous)

laboratory cultures, stocks of specimens of micro-organisms, live or attenuated vaccines, human or animal cell cultures used in research, and laboratory material that has come into contact with any of the above

Animal animal tissues, organs, body parts, carcasses, bedding, animal blood and blood products

Human anatomical human tissue, organs, body parts

Human blood and blood products

human fluid blood/blood products, items saturated or dripping with blood, body fluids contaminated with human blood, human body fluids removed for diagnosis or during surgery, treatment or autopsy

Clinical & laboratory waste sharps

needles, syringes, blades or laboratory glass capable of causing punctures/cuts

defined as per BC Hazardous Waste Regulation

Biological Waste Minimization Measures

• SEGREGATE uncontaminated solid waste from

biomedical and biohazardous waste (all risk groups)

• Use products with less environmental impact:

− Petri dishes with 35% less plastic

− Glassware that can be decontaminated and reused

− Refillable pipette racks

− Other reusable or recyclable products

Non-Hazardous Chemical Disposal

Dispose of non-hazardous laboratory waste via the regular garbage or sewer:

• Reduces disposal costs and helps the environment• Do this ONLY when safe and allowed by regulations and bylaws• Review chemicals A-Z on the Risk Management Services (RMS)

website• Recycle:

o waste oil (flammable liquid)o batterieso scrap metals

• Pharmaceutical drugs to be disposed according to a special procedure

www.riskmanagement.ubc.ca/environment/hazardous-waste-management/waste-disposal-guide/chemicals

Non-Hazardous Chemicals

• Non-hazardous wastes commonly disposed of as hazardous include:

− Salts (e.g. potassium chloride, sodium carbonate)− Natural products (e.g. sugars, amino acids, agar)− Inert materials (e.g. non-contaminated

chromatography resins and gels)• Non-contaminated materials can be disposed of safely and

legally in the regular trash/sink

www.riskmanagement.ubc.ca/environment/hazardous-waste-management/waste-disposal-guide/chemicals

Examples of Chemical Waste

Includes solids, liquids or gases containing or contaminated with:

Hazardous materials Examples

Flammable solvents acetone, alcohols, acetonitrile

Leachate toxic materials heavy metals, pesticides

Corrosives hydrochloric acid, potassium hydroxide

Toxics (mutagenic, carcinogenic, acute or chronic toxicity materials)

chloroform, ethidium bromide

Reactives (oxidizers, cyanides, sulphides, explosives, unstable, water-reactive materials)

sodium metal, benzoyl peroxide

Polychlorinated biphenyls PCBs PCBs >50 ppm

Gases (non-returnable cylinders) propane, butane

What About Other Hazardous Waste?

• Unknown solids or liquids• Explosives and potentially explosive materials• Compressed gas cylinders and lecture bottles

– Some vendors offer returnable lecture bottles/small size cylinders:

• Disposal with an approved contractor• Generators will pay the disposal cost• NOTE: Radioactive materials disposal is managed by the UBC

Radiation Safety Program.

Linde Canada - Praxair - Spectra Gases - Air Liquide

Chemicals Minimization Measures

• Manage/control inventories• Substitute with less hazardous chemicals

− MIT Green Wizard

− EPA Green Chemistry

• In-lab treatment (corrosives, ethidium bromide)• Reuse chemicals via the Chemical Exchange Program• Solvent recycling (methanol, acetone)

Waste Contaminated with Ethidium Bromide

• Segregate contaminated, non-regulated solid waste from toxic waste

• Deactivate liquid waste before drain disposal• Replace ethidium bromide with: GelRed®,

SYBRSafe®, SYBRGreen®

Inventory Control

• Use free surplus chemicals • Keep an up-to-date inventory of lab chemicals, including

location (mandatory WHMIS/WorkSafeBC requirement) • Rotate stock: follow the FIFO principle• Keep track of expiration dates + storage times (peroxide-

forming, degradable chemicals)• Purchase only chemicals + amounts you need• Accept only gifts or samples you plan to use in the near

future• Borrow small amounts from other labs • Purchase smaller containers: large containers often become

waste • Keep Material Safety Datasheets (MSDS) and disposal

procedures for chemicals used and produced in your lab

In-Lab Treatment Options

• Consider ALL environmental consequences of YOUR lab activities• Adjust experimental designs to minimize type and quantity of

hazardous waste • Replace with less hazardous materials (e.g. non-mercury

thermometers)• Use hazardous materials sparingly• Monitor experimental reactions, add chemicals only as necessary • Include experimental steps that destroy or inactivate any

hazardous products• Scale down the volume of experiments

Reduce Your Solvent Waste Stream

Minimize health and environmental impacts:

• Avoid and reduce use of solvents • Substitute with less hazardous solvents • Use “green” solvents

– Solvents from renewable resources (e.g. ethanol, or ethyl lactate)

– Ionic liquids (salts that are fluid at RT, e.g. ethyl ammonium nitrate)

– Solvent-less reactions (e.g. solid state or reagents serve as solvents)

– Water-based solvents• Send solvents for recycling

Ideal Solvent Qualities

• Minimal health and safety hazard:o low toxicityo low flammability and volatilityo low peroxide formationo lower vapour pressure, higher boiling point

• Minimal environmental impact:o increased biodegradabilityo reduced ozone depletion potentialo reduced toxicityo less air emission

• Reactivity that fits the reaction • Phase control ability (easy precipitation/separation of product) • Safe degradation or evaporation after use

Photographic WasteFixer and Developer Solutions

Photographic waste is treated onsite at ESF:• Ion exchange of fixer for silver removal (~$1000 back per year)• Neutralization• Drain disposal

To minimize waste: whenever practical, use digital photography

Waste Oil

• Send for recycling• Do NOT contaminate waste oil with water,

solvents or PCBs

• Types of waste oil include: o Automotive lubricating oilo Cutting oilo Fuel oilo Gear oilo Hydraulic oilo Synthetic oil o Emulsion o Vacuum-pump oil (add traps between

experiment and vacuum pump)

Spills of Hazardous Materials

• Use secondary containment for chemical transportation, use and storage

• Get spill response training• Ensure proper equipment and materials are available in

your spill kit• Identify drain locations and use drain covers• Immediately report all spills to:

– Risk Management Services (RMS): 604-822-2029– Provincial Emergency Program (PEP): 800-663-3456

Laboratory Plastic Recycling

Accepted All Plastic Containers that:

•Plastic code: #1,2,3,4,5,7•Previously contained non-hazardous

materials •Are empty, clean & dry

Not Accepted X• Plastic #6 (polystyrene)• Pipettes/tips, syringes• Empty plastic containers previously

containing or contaminated with hazardous materials

http://www.riskmanagement.ubc.ca/environment/laboratory-plastic-recycling

Styrofoam Reduction & Recycling• Reduce Styrofoam packaging by collaborating with suppliers• Recycle Styrofoam via WCS Recycling in North Van

Recycled Materials @ UBCMaterial Service provider Use of recycled material

Solvents: Acetone & Methanol

ESF Re-distilledBack to the labs FREE

Solvents: Other non-halogenated

Sumas Fuel additives in cement kilns

Chemicals ESF Chemical exchangeBack to the labs FREE

Photographic Waste Fixer ESF Recovered silver reused in silver refinery

Oil M&R Environmental Recycled oil for new use

Paint Product Care Reused, recycled or fuel additive

Batteries Call2Recycle andMetalex

New batteries and stainless steel products

Plastic UBC Waste Management

Carpets, textiles, furniture, bottles

Styrofoam (EPS) WCS Recycling More EPS, picture frames, door/window frames

Equipment Containing Hazardous Chemicals

• Remove hazardous materials from equipment before sending for disposal, e.g.

− Refrigerators & freezers (refrigerants = ozone depleting substances)

− Manometers (mercury = toxic)• Refrigerants to be removed by certified

personnel or approved contractors• Disassembly of units containing mercury also

required• Cost is the users’ responsibility• Note ALL equipment containing OTHER

hazardous materials

Air Emissions

Research can impact air quality through accidental release or emissions of any of the following:

• toxic chemicals• volatile organic compounds (solvents, formaldehyde)• ozone-depleting substances• greenhouse gases (CO2, methane)

• acid rain gases (NOx)

Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS)

Class ODS Example Use

I Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

trichlorofluoromethane (freon-11, CFC-11, R-11)dichlorodifluoromethane (CFC-12, R-12)

refrigerants

I Halons bromochlorodifluoromethane (Halon-1211)

fire extinguishant

I Chlorocarbons tetrachloromethane (carbon tetrachloride, R-10)

solventfire extinguishant

II Hydrochlorofluorocarbons chlorodifluoromethane (HCFC-22, R-22)

refrigerant

III Hydrofluorocarbons trifluoromethane (HFC-23, R-23)

refrigerant

III Perfluorocarbons tetrafluoromethane (FC-14) solvent, refrigerant

Reduce Laboratory Air Emissions

• Keep containers of volatile chemicals tightly capped• Do not dispose of chemicals by evaporation• Do not dispose of hazardous gases by venting• Avoid experimental procedures using open containers

of volatile chemicals• Trap emissions from processes that evaporate

hazardous chemicals

Sink Disposal

DO NOT pour hazardous materials down the drain!!

• Metro Vancouver Sewer Use By-Law prohibits discharge of contaminants to the sanitary sewer (e.g. corrosives, flammables, toxics, metals, radioactives)

• Corrosives must be neutralized (pH = 5.5-10.5) before pouring down the drain with lots of water

• Collect hazardous solutions in containers and dispose appropriately

Non-Regulated Environmental Impacts

• Solid Waste picked-up by UBC Waste Management• Paper recycled via UBC Waste Management • Plastic recycled via UBC Waste Management• E-waste recycled via UBC Waste Management• Water• Energy

UBC Reuseit! & Recyclopedia

Reuseit! UBC (www.reuseitubc.ca)• Pilot program designed to assist UBC employees at the Point Grey

campus to find and exchange low-value items between departments:o e.g. furniture, audio-visual equipment, office supplies

• Registered members can post both wanted and available listings• Like the former Surplus Equipment Recycling Facility (SERF)• Items posted on this site considered low cost (e.g. ≤$1000) and to be

posted for free to encourage a culture of reuse on campus

Recyclopedia (www.reuseitubc.ca/?content=recyclopedia)• Access an A-Z listing of materials you can recycle on campus:

o e.g. batteries, cartridges, cell phones, composting, e-waste, glass, paper, plastic, textbooks, Xmas trees, etc

Reduce Water Consumption

General• Consider reusing and recycling water from some

lab machines into appropriate processes• Establish procedures for sampling, testing and

cleaning up that minimize the amount of water required

Faucets• Install more efficient faucets and consider:

o aerators o pressure-reducing valveso automatic sensors

Reduce Water Consumption

Washing & Cleaning• Run only full loads in dishwashers• Reduce rinse times where possible• Minimize the use of hoses as cleaning tools; use dry-

cleaning methods • Add water-efficient, high-pressure nozzles to hoses

Equipment• Use closed-loop cooling water for equipment cooling

instead of open-loop (once through)• Use vacuum pumps instead of water aspirators • Evaluate the necessity of water heaters and water

softeners• Turn off ice machines when not needed

Reduce Energy Consumption

Chemical Processes• Minimize energy requirements of chemical processes • Know the actual time + temperature needed to run your reactions• Run experiments at ambient temperature and pressure• Use microwave energy to power reactions• Use catalytic systems rather than stoichiometric processes

Refrigeration• Combine contents of laboratory refrigerators and freezers• Unplug any unused refrigerators or freezers • Set temperatures as low as necessary for current lab work • Dust coils on back of refrigerators and clean door seals • Replace deteriorating door seals 

 

Reduce Energy Consumption

Fume-Hoods & Biosafety Cabinets• Operate hoods with sash at proper height for safety• Close sashes when fume hoods not in active use 

Lab Operations• Run dishwashers + autoclaves with full loads• Turn lights off when rooms not in use• Use natural light• Turn equipment off when not in use• Keep lab doors and windows shut (helps keep the

building air system in balance)• Use energy efficient pumping systems

Green Purchasing

• Consolidate orders: reduces multiple deliveries, greenhouse gases and saves time

• Purchase multiple-item packs instead of singles: reduces waste from packaging materials

• Increase item lines per order: saves paper, energy and reduces multiple shipments

• Purchase as many lab supplies as possible from one source

• Order online: saves paper, time and avoids errors

Purchasing Decisions for Big Energy Impacts

• Replace old, large refrigerator/freezers with smaller, newer refrigerator-only units where appropriate

• Purchase energy-efficient equipment during lab renovations or when older pieces of equipment stop working

• Ask vendors for energy usage information or to supply more sustainable products at a reasonable cost

• Look for the ENERGY STAR® label

Equipment with Energy Efficient Options

• Biosafety cabinets • Fume hoods • Centrifuges • - 80°C Freezers • Fridges and freezers • Ice machines • Heat blocks • Incubators • Ovens • Mixers and shakers • Vacuum pumps

Resources

• RMS Environment webpage (www.riskmanagement.ubc.ca/environment)o Laboratory Pollution Prevention and Hazardous Waste Man

agement Manualo Green Researcho Virtual Green Lab Touro Green Checklist

• UBC Sustainability (www.sustain.ubc.ca/)• Reuseit!UBC (www.reuseitubc.ca/)• Call2Recycle (www.call2recycle.ca/)• Recycling Council of British Columbia (www.rcbc.bc.ca/)• Environment Canada (www.ec.gc.ca/)