Liquid Waste
What are they and why do we use them? What types are there?
Liquid waste containers are a necessary part of any lab space. They are used to hold the liquids too nasty to tip down the drain. They are separated based upon halogen content to prevent the accidental release of chlorine gas, or a similarly nasty substance. Your lab should have two liquid waste containers;
Halogenated Liquid Waste - Only for liquids that contain a halogen (e.g. F, Cl, etc.). Absolutely do not allow any bleach into the halogen waste.
Non-Halogenated Liquid Waste - For any nasty liquids that do not contain a halogen.
When do you use?
Liquid waste should be used for the disposal of any liquid that could be potentially harmful to the environment. This is most liquids.
Liquid waste containing GMOs or potential GMOs should be autoclaved or soaked in bleach before disposal. Autoclaved GMO cultures can be considered dead and disposed of down the drain. Bleached GMOs go into the non-halogen liquid waste. Absolutely DO NOT add bleached GMO waste to the halogen waste.
How do you use?
Keep liquid waste sealed and only open the liquid waste bottles when you are disposing of additional waste. Once a liquid waste bottle is full, take it to your local waste disposal centre for destruction. If you are a small lab or individual researcher you can potentially do this as an individual, but larger labs will require a waste disposal contract which can be prohibitively expensive.