Chemistry Laboratory Waste Management Practices of Selected Universities and Colleges in Batangas City, Philippines

Proper laboratory waste management is vital not only of manufacturing industries or testing laboratories but also for academic institution. Academic institutions that commonly operates chemistry laboratory where basic and specialized experiments and exercises are conducted. This study aimed to look into the chemistry laboratory waste generated and the waste management practices of the selected universities and colleges in Batangas City, Philippines. The researchers utilized survey, key informant interview and focus group discussion in the conduct of the study. Results showed that the amount of hazardous wastes generated from chemistry laboratory was 1-10 liters/year of liquid hazardous waste such as acid and alkali wastes, less than 1 liter/year of other liquid wastes such as plating liquid wastes and less than 1 kg/year of hazardous solid wastes. For the management of hazardous wastes in chemistry laboratory, the collection practices were employed to the great extent. Hazardous wastes such as acid, alkali, oxidizing agents, organic wastes were placed on separate collection bottles; excess liquid chemicals were placed in labeled containers while excess solid chemicals were stored in labeled containers. Source reduction through minimization or non-usage of carbon tetrachloride, chloroform and other toxic organic chemicals was employed to the great extent in chemistry laboratory. Treatment of hazardous waste in the chemistry laboratory such as neutralization of acids and bases was employed in a great extent while encapsulation of inorganic residues was employed to a least extent. Waste management practices employed in chemistry laboratory to a least extent require considerable attention.

Keywords: chemistry laboratory, waste management, hazardous wastes