Hazardous Waste Reduction and You

For many laboratories, hazardous chemicals are a necessity. The burden of disposal and the risk of spills are small compared to the benefits for society.

However, we currently treat or recycle a third of the hazardous waste generated at the UW, and we help people avoid hazardous chemicals in the first place. The result? Hazardous waste volumes have remained about the same for the last few years, even though research dollars are increasing.

There might be room to reduce your hazardous chemicals, either through reduction, reuse, or recycling. So please keep these concepts in mind as you plan your projects and your daily routine. And feel free to contact us. We monitor what other universities choose to do for hazardous waste reduction, and we are often notified when new products and technologies come on the market. So, if there is a good alternative for you, chances are good that we know about it or can find out.