The UBC Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering aims to be a good steward of the environment by following all applicable federal, provincial, and municipal environmental laws, and by fostering best environmental practices amongst our employees and students.
List of non-hazardous chemicals that are safe to throw out with your garbage
List of non-hazardous chemicals that are safe to dispose down the drain
Frequently Asked Questions about hazardous waste disposal
| Type of Waste | Disposal information |
|---|---|
| Chemical Waste | All chemicals for disposal must be pre-approved for disposal by an ESF Technician. Generator contact information and full chemical names (no abbreviations), must be listed through the online CHEMICAL WASTE INVENTORY SYSTEM. For more information about chemical waste disposal, please contact: Environmental Services Technician Valeriy Kichenko (604 822-6306, valeriy.kichenko@ubc.ca) Detailed information on chemical waste disposal procedures |
| Biohazardous Waste | CHBE currently produces Autoclaved Risk Group 1 waste. Please bring your bag(s) of autoclaved waste to CHBE Stores, when ready. Detailed information on biohazardous waste treatment & disposal procedures |
| Organic Solvent Waste | Includes various types of flammable organic solvents, is collected in a specially provided UBC Jeri cans, and uses a blue solvent waste tag. Halogenated and non- halogenated waste must be segregated for accumulation and disposal. Empty solvent bottles should be triple rinsed and disposed of as laboratory glass waste. Note that these bottles are not accepted for recycling. Refer to the detailed procedure “Disposal of Laboratory Glass Waste” below. |
| Laboratory Glass Waste | In general, for the disposal of glass waste follow the steps below: 1. Decontaminate safely as required (more info below). 2. Clean completely of residues, including organic vapours and chemicals (leave bottles of organic solvents in a fume hood for at least one day, rinse other reagent bottles well with cold water) 3. Remove all bottle caps. 4. Remove or deface all labels and hazard warnings. 5. Place in Glass Waste containers (glass disposal buckets and extra thick clear plastic bags – available in CHBE Stores). 6. Once glass waste container is 3/4 full, tie bag closed, ensuring that no glass objects protrude past the top of the container. 7. Label the container indicating your building, room, and telephone number. 8. Take container to CHBE Stores, when ready NOTE: NO sharps (e.g. needles, blades, syringes) and glass vials/jars containing chemicals or other hazardous materials can be disposed of in the glass waste containers. More information on laboratory glass waste disposal Chemical-Contaminated Glass Waste Dispose of chemical contaminated glass waste through UBC Building Operations Waste Management in the appropriately labeled white 20 litre plastic buckets supplied by Building Operations Stores (604-822-5272). If it is possible to decontaminate the glass waste then this is preferred. For decontaminating: Biologicals-Contaminated Glass Waste Glass contaminated with biologicals must be autoclaved prior to being disposed of as hazardous waste. Separate glass waste according to Risk Group. Biologicals & Chemical-Contaminated Glass Waste Glass contaminated with both chemical and biological Risk Group 1 must be autoclaved prior to being disposed of as chemical-contaminated glass waste. |
| Aqueous Waste | Detailed information on aqueous waste disposal procedures |
| Non-Regulated Contaminated Solid Waste | Includes lab solid waste contaminated with traces of ethidium bromide and silica gel contaminated with solvents. This waste must be accompanied by a yellow tag. Detailed information on non-regulated contaminated solid waste disposal procedures |
| Unknown Laboratory Chemicals | Unknown chemicals, explosives & potentially explosive materials, compressed gas cylinders & lecture bottles of hazardous gases are not acceptable by the Environmental Services Facility. The cost of waste removal and disposal by external contractor is the generators’ and/or their department’s responsibility. Detailed information on unknown laboratory chemicals disposal procedures |
| Potentially Explosive Chemicals | Detailed information on Potentially explosive chemicals disposal procedures |
| Waste Oil | Includes automotive lubricating, cutting, gear, hydraulic, refined petroleum based oil, synthetic, emulsion, crude and, vacuum pump oil. Important note: Waste oils must not be contaminated with water, solvents, toxic materials, or poly-chlorinated biphenyls (PCB’s). |
| Mercury Waste | Burnt out light bulbs/tubes can be brought down to CHBE Stores for recycling/disposal. Detailed information on Mercury Waste disposal procedures |
| Sharps | Detailed information on Sharps disposal procedures |
| Waste Batteries | Batteries can be brought to CHBE Stores for recycling. |
| Laboratory Equipment | Detailed information on Laboratory equipment disposal procedures |
| Polychlorinated Biphenyls | Detailed information on polychlorinated biphenyls disposal procedures |
| Propane and Butane Gas Cylinders | Detailed information on propane and butane gas cylinder disposal procedures (page 53) |
| Ethidium Bromide Liquid Waste | Detailed information on ethidium bromide liquid waste disposal procedures |
| Photographic Waste | Includes fixer and developer which must be segregated and accumulated for disposal in 20L Jeri cans, accompanied by photochemical tag (purple); refer to detailed manual procedure for additional information. |
| Waste Paint | Detailed information on Waste paint disposal procedures |
| Biomedical Waste | Detailed information on Biomedical waste disposal procedures |
| Pharmaceuticals and Controlled Substances | Detailed information on Pharmaceuticals and controlled substances disposal procedures |
| Non-Human Primate Pathological Waste | Detailed information on Non-human primate pathological waste disposal procedures |
| Uncontaminated Pathological Animal Waste | Detailed information on Uncontaminated pathological animal waste disposal procedures |
| Non-Indigenous Species | Detailed information on Non-indigenous species disposal procedures |
| Animal Bedding | Detailed information on Animal bedding disposal procedures |
More information on UBC Hazardous Waste Disposal
Electronic waste, printer cartridges, batteries, and burnt out light bulbs/tubes can be brought down to CHBE Stores for recycling/disposal.
More information on UBC Recycling Programs
What are UBC hazardous waste tags and generator barcode stickers and how do I get them?
For repeated waste streams such as: solvents, oils, non-regulated contaminated solids, and biological waste UBC has implemented a serialized, colour-coded, tag system that identifies the type of waste and allows for specific waste package or container tracking. The barcode sticker is a self-adhesive label that must be affixed to the UBC Hazardous Waste Tags on each container of waste sent to ESF. The barcode allows ESF to identify the Hazardous Waste Generators for waste tracking and legal purposes. Without the barcode sticker affixed to the tag, ESF may refuse collection and disposal of hazardous waste. In order to register as a UBC Hazardous Waste Generator and receive barcode stickers, tags, or waste containers, contact an ESF Technician at 604-827-5389.
Waste Disposal Contacts:
| CHBE Safety Coordinator Erin Hagen 604-822-3857 safety@chbe.ubc.ca | Technician, Environmental Services Valeriy Kichenko 604 822-6306 valeriy.kichenko@ubc.ca |
| Technician, Environmental Services Bang Dang 604-822-1285 bang.dang@ubc.ca | Technician, Environmental Services Kenneth Cheng 604-827-5389 kenneth.cheng@ubc.ca |