Chemical waste management in the State University of Distance Education: Chemical Management Office’s approaches.

Abstract

This work describes the strategies used by the Chemical Management Office within the Laboratory Program (PROLAB) of the State University of Distance Education (UNED) for the management of hazardous chemical waste generated, product of the academic activity of scientific courses, as well as the various research centers and projects attached to the university. As part of the responsibilities of this unit, the treatment of around 208 L and 75 kg per year of chemical waste takes places, being classified in six categories in order to be identified, segregated, stored and managed. The principal waste identified was the heavy metal liquid waste. In addition, about 60 L of acidic and basic substances are neutralized, and a thousand contaminated containers are sent to an authorized agent for treatment. This paper concludes with some future perspectives for the appropriate chemical waste management.