How do I tell if my waste is hazardous?

You should already know the hazards of your chemical if you've been using it. But, if you don't, look at the manufacturer's bottle. It should indicate any major hazards. Or use your chemistry knowledge, if useful. If still not sure, ask your coworkers. Do they have previous experience with this chemical? Are there laboratory-specific use and disposal protocols for this chemical, as required as a part of your lab's Laboratory Safety Manual?

Finally, you can always find information on hazards on your chemical's Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). Your MSDS will tell you if your chemical is toxic, flammable, reactive, or corrosive. The law requires that vendors include the MSDS when they ship your chemicals. You should keep all your MSDSs in an accessible place in your laboratory.

UW personnel can also view many MSDSs on the UW MyChem chemical inventory system. MyChem is accessible through the EH&S website.

The next five pages outline the types of information that you should look for on your chemical's MSDS.