Hach DR/850, Procedures Manual, Page: 61 / 460

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WASTE MANAGEMENT AND SAFETY
, continued
adding an acid such as hydrochloric acid. Slowly add the neutralizing
agent while stirring. Monitor the pH. When it is at or near 7, the material
is neutralized and may be flushed down the drain. Many wastes generated
from Hach procedures may be treated in this manner.
Other chemical or physical treatments such as cyanide destruction or
evaporation may require a permit. Check with your environmental
department or local regulators to determine which rules apply to your
work facility.
Laboratory chemicals may be mixed and disposed of with other
hazardous wastes generated at your facility. They may also be
accumulated in accordance with 40 CFR 262.34 satellite accumulation
rules. After collection they may be disposed of in a “labpack.” A number
of environmental and hazardous waste companies offer labpacking
services. They will inventory, sort, pack, and arrange proper disposal for
hazardous waste. Find companies offering these services in the Yellow
Pages under “Waste Disposal - Hazardous” or contact state and local
regulators for assistance.
Management of Specific Wastes
Hach has several documents to assist customers in managing waste
generated from our products. You can obtain the following documents by
calling 1-800-227-4224 or 970-669-3050 and requesting the literature
codes given:
Special Considerations for Cyanide-Containing Materials
Several procedures in this manual use reagents that contain cyanide
compounds. These materials are regulated as reactive (D003) waste by
the Federal RCRA. Waste disposal instructions provided with each
procedure tell you how to collect these materials for proper disposal. It is
imperative that these materials be handled safely to prevent the release of
hydrogen cyanide gas (an extremely toxic material with the smell of bitter
almonds). Most cyanide compounds are stable and can be safely stored
for disposal in highly alkaline solutions (pH >11) such as 2 N sodium
hydroxide. Never mix these wastes with other laboratory wastes that may
contain lower pH materials such as acids or even water.
Literature Code Title
1321 Waste Reduction: A Primer
9323 Mercury Waste Disposal Firms
9325 COD Waste Management
9326 COD Heavy Metal Total Concentrations