CLEAN

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CLEAN OUT

• Alfred C. Glatz, Ph.D.
• Physical Scientist
• Waste Reduction Partners
• Land-of-the Sky Regional Council
• Asheville, NC

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WASTE REDUCTION PARTNERS

• A volunteer program of Land-of-the-Sky Regional
  Council.
• WRP is a group of about 50 retired engineers and
  scientists, who use their expertise to provide
  technical assistance to local businesses,
  industries, and institutions.
• Areas of involvement include water efficiency,
  energy efficiency and waste reduction.
• The program is funded by private donations, and
  local, state, and federal grants to provide
  services at no charge to the client.

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WRP ASSISTED CHEMICAL CLEAN-OUT OF TWO DIFFERENT
ORGANIZATIONS

• Collected Outdated and Obsolete Chemicals from a
  UNCA Chemical Building
• Helped with the Industrial Chemical Clean-out
  after a Business had shut down (ECUSTA
  Corporation)

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UNCA AT ASHEVILLE, NC

• Cleanout Requested by the Campus/Environmental
  Officer.
• Inventory Records were not properly maintained
  and updated.
• MSDS not well-organized and accessible
• Lab Manuals were old and required updating
• Some faculty members were cooperative and helpful
• Other faculty members were not receptive to a
  cleanout crew removing chemicals from their
  laboratory

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TECHNIQUES/JUDGEMENTS USED UNCA CLEAN-OUT

• Examine all chemical storage bottles, cans, bags
  vials on shelves and in cabinets and
  refrigerators.
• Make decisions to remove those that are
  decomposed, contaminated and improperly packaged
  or stored
• Water soluble and non-hazardous chemicals were
  washed down the drain with ample amounts of water
• All removed chemicals were categorized by
• Geneva name
• Size and type of container
• Condition of chemical
• Date of purchase
• Remove all selected chemicals to a designated
  area for packing disposal/recycling by chemical
  waste haulers
• Segregate hazardous chemicals to a special hood
  for hazardous chemical removal
• All of this information was listed in a notebook
  and given to the safety officer for proper
  inventorying

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ECUSTA CORPORATION

• WRP helped with the chemical clean-out after the
  business had been shut down
• Inventories and MSDS existed and were quite well
  organized
• The chemicals were in disarray. They were hauled
  there and dumped into one room with no regard for
  their contents
• There were very few hazardous chemicals in the
  mix
• Chemicals were organized in alphabetical groups
  on benchtops for speed and convenience

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ECUSTA - Continued

• The chemicals that were water soluble and
  non-hazardous were washed down the drain. ECUSTA
  had a functional and well-maintained treatment
  facility.
• ECUSTA invited high school and college groups to
  select wanted chemicals
• Bulk chemicals (production quantities) were given
  to selected clients and others advertised on
  Waste Trader.
• Disposing of as many chemicals as possible
  defrayed the cost of professional disposal
  services.
• Inconveniences to be expected with shut-down
  businesses
• Heat and AC may be turned off
• Lighting may be inadequate
• Rest rooms may be ill-equipped
• Drinking fountains not functioning
• Bring necessary protective clothing and equipment
  (Safety goggles, latex gloves, dust masks, lab
  coats) since they may be unavailable

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RECOMMENDATIONS

• Install an Electronic Management System for
  inventory management to avoid duplication. There
  are free ones available.
• All members (faculty for a college or school,
  and lab managers for industry) must buy into
  the Management System.
• Assign the operation of the Management System to
  a committee.
• Contact your state Dept. of Education. Many
  states have a state science supervisor who may be
  able to make suggestions or advise you about
  existing disposal programs already operating.

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RECOMMENDATIONS continued

• Keep alert for offering surplus chemicals to
  local schools or other businesses and
  organizations that can use them.
• Offer to help client to list large quantities of
  surplus chemicals on a waste exchange website,
  e.g. Waste Trader.
• In many metropolitan areas, there are local
  sections of the American Chemical Society (ACS).
  Any area with a lot of chemical industry is
  likely to have a local ACS section. Contact
  these professionals for specific information.
• Personnel involved in the clean-out should never
  work alone!! They should work as a team and have
  appropriate backgrounds to recognize problem
  areas.

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RECOMMENDATIONS continued

• Use appropriate safety procedures for handling
  the chemicals, e.g. Fume hoods, apron, chemical
  splash goggles, fire extinguisher, gloves , etc
• Always practice your intended disposal activity
  on tiny (micro) sample of the targeted substance
  before moving on to the larger (macro) size
  volume.
• All of the procedures should be performed in a
  well-ventilated area.
• Chemical Removal and Disposal are serious
  undertakings. Examine your options carefully and
  responsibly.

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Contact Information

• Alfred C. Glatz , Ph.D.
• Physical Scientist
• Waste Reduction Partners
• Land-of-the Sky Regional Council
• 25 Heritage Drive
• Asheville, NC. 28806-1998
• (828)-251-6622