Waste not, want not

Laboratory waste management in the UK has come a long way, with some waste now even regarded as a resource – but there is much more to be done to minimise the environmental impact of laboratory work says Peter Hunt

In the 20 years I have been working with UK labs to safely manage the huge variety of wastes they produce, the systems, processes and technologies have changed to cope with the changing profile of waste produced. Perhaps the most significant change, however, is in the mindset of waste producers and those responsible for managing it. The primary concern has become not how we dispose of waste in the most cost effective manner, but how we seek to exploit its value as a secondary resource.

Prior to 2007, the vast majority of lab waste was sent for disposal to one of the UK’s many hazardous landfill sites. Since the introduction of the Landfill Directive in 2007, all but five sites have been closed to hazardous waste. The annually increasing landfill tax has also been a great deterrent to disposal and encouraged producers and recyclers of waste to seek better alternatives. Today, we see over 72% of industrial waste being recycled or recovered. A significant proportion of waste produced by UK labs is classed as ‘hazardous’; as a result, it falls into a highly regulated system designed to minimise its environmental impact and reduce its health and safety risk.

There are a number of practical challenges associated with managing lab waste, which you would not experience in dealing with other more common non-hazardous waste streams, such as office waste. One of the major challenges is that, whilst it is generally found in relatively small volumes, lab waste encompasses a vast range of materials. We work with hospitals, universities, pharmaceutical companies and forensic labs with materials ranging from concentrated acids to highly toxic organic compounds, radioactives, desensitised explosives, flammable gases, cytotoxic material and anything in between!

These wastes are commonly stored in glass bottles, which are difficult to transport without being securely packed. They are also often very hazardous.

In some instances the contents of the container is not known or differs from the labelling. Compounds are sometimes created in the laboratory where the nature and risk are not defined. In other cases the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) no longer applies to the modified substance. For this reason there is often a disproportionate amount of time taken in preparing accurate lists for transport and pre-acceptance versus the volume of the waste and the potential gain as a business. The result is that you need technically competent people to provide this type of collection in order to prevent potentially incompatible materials being mixed. The collection of waste itself is also often very time-consuming – listing materials and packaging in Vermiculite (inert silica based mineral used to pack laboratory chemicals) containers.

Unlike other waste types, which are generally stored in wheeled containers outside or in service yards with easy access, labs are often located within larger premises, meaning space is limited and access often more difficult.

Another increasing important waste stream is Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment (WEEE) and specifically IT equipment, which requires secure disposal due to the confidential information stored on it. This material requires special handling, storage and processing. All our sites have either 24 hour manned security or 24 hour video surveillance with central station activation and alert. All confidential waste collections are undertaken by security vetted staff and our systems will ensure that only authorised staff will have access to customers’ data. Our data eradicating tools are approved by Her Majesty’s Government’s Communications Electronic Security Group (CESG).

These practical challenges result in significant risks for waste producers. These could include, for example, small volumes of very hazardous materials being incorrectly packaged or transported (e.g. cyanides, sulphides in contact with acid). Scenarios like this can present real dangers for those responsible for opening the storage drums or treating the waste. Fires or explosions which may result can cause serious injury or even fatality.

Whilst undoubtedly the human risk is the most significant, there are other risks to be considered – failure to comply with health and safety or environmental regulation can lead to prosecution resulting in substantial fines or even prison sentences for those responsible. Often the reputational damage is just as costly as any fines which may be imposed. The negative publicity and resultant damage to an organisation’s brand will often result in a loss of customers and make it extremely hard to win new ones. Whilst operationally and financially businesses may be able to recover from an incident, they are often not able to overcome the reputational damage they experience.

Despite these challenges and risks, the lab waste management sector has rapidly transitioned from disposal to recycling and recovery and has the potential to continue to do so. There are a number of drivers for this change:

• Increased Regulation – elements of the Landfill Directive, including the tightening of the Waste Acceptance Criteria (WAC) and the Hazardous Waste Regulations have had a significant impact on limiting the types of material which can be directed to landfill. Leachate testing means landfill is no longer an easy route for disposal as solvent discharge is now heavily monitored. We have also seen increased emphasis on the ownership of waste through Duty of Care, evidenced in the need for registration as a Hazardous Waste Producer.

• Economics – materials which were formally regarded as waste are now recognised as having value as secondary resource and it is therefore economically viable to recycle them, e.g. recycled solvents going into thinners or paint. This has been coupled with a significant increase in the cost of raw materials, which has led to greater demand for recycled ones. We have also seen an increase in Landfill Tax which now stands at £72 per tonne and is set to increase to £80 next year.

• Technology – the economic pressure and opportunity outlined above, coupled with a greater focus and investment in R&D, has led to the development of a range of technologies, e.g. single stream solvents which are redistilled into a grade fit for their new intended purpose.

• Process – regulation and the desire to realise the economic value of material has meant we are now seeing greatly improved storage, transportation and pre-treatment of waste.

• Branding – UK businesses have recognised the opportunity that the ‘green’ element of their brand has to play in differentiating their products or services from their competitors. As a result, many have highly developed Corporate Social Responsibility strategies and environmental reporting, a key element of which is the sustainable management of the waste they produce.

There is however still a proportion of waste which cannot be recycled. The majority of this waste is now disposed of via High Temperature Incineration (HTI) which serves to eliminate any future environmental risk resulting from landfill. Most hazardous lab smalls are high temperature incinerated to ensure complete destruction and a safe cost efficient disposal. In the UK, there is only one facility which can process these materials and give an R code demonstrating the recovery of waste as opposed to disposal. WasteCare use this facility wherever possible as it produces a non-hazardous ash, which is used in a variety of processes as a raw material and which also produces electricity which is fed directly back into the national grid.

So, there is little doubt that we have come a long way. But there is more we can do to minimise the environmental impact of the waste we produce and increase the value we derive from it.

One option to consider would be to require HTI facilities to recover energy. Any new legislation to this effect would need to be implemented in a practical manner, giving operators sufficient time to develop their facilities.

We should also seek to increase competition to reduce prices. Some parts of the country, such as the North East, need improved access to hazardous waste incineration and treatment in order to maximise recycling and the opportunity to recover energy.

We should also consider reducing the organic carbon threshold on hazardous landfill to 3%.  This would potentially divert more highly calorific waste streams into energy recovery.

We should explore the opportunity for consolidation of unused inorganic laboratory products which are either out of date or no longer required. There is a significant volume of useable and useful raw materials in these waste streams which are being destroyed unnecessarily. A vast amount of energy is spent producing these high spec products and they potentially have a use in applications where a lower grade product is required, e.g. metal extraction, inorganic treatment or as feedstock for bulk effluent plants.

Whilst this must be closely regulated, we should continue to place emphasis on reuse rather than disposal. Only wastes which are contaminated beyond a sensible measure of purification should be disposed of.

We can also improve the support we provide to those working in labs or responsible for their waste management. For example, at WasteCare we offer qualified chemists who come on site to safely pack and list all the chemicals according to ADR regulations. We also generate all the required paperwork and offer asset tracking and secure disposal for any sensitive lab materials.

More can also be done in terms of communication and awareness. The reality is that the people working in the lab are likely to be most familiar with the materials they produce but they are often not responsible for the procurement of waste and recycling services. As a result, recycling opportunities are often missed. It is important that lab workers are consulted and included in decisions on waste management and that waste management companies such as WasteCare work hard to ensure that information on regulation, services and recycling options is available and easily accessible.

If we continue to address these internal and market opportunities, I can see no reason why the recycling rate for the sector cannot continue to increase, ensuring that we minimise the environmental impact, maximise the commercial value of these resources and ultimately help control future waste management costs.

Check list to ensure safe and cost effective collection and treatment of your laboratory waste:

1. List the description, quantity, and concentration of the chemicals you wish to have collected.

2. Identify the nature of the hazard and the appropriate European hazardous waste code.

3. Ensure chemicals are stored in secure and appropriate containers and segregated appropriately.

4. Ensure all containers are correctly labelled.

5. Make sure you apply the Packing Group limitations of each waste type.

6. Ensure the waste management site is authorised to accept the relevant waste types.

7. If in doubt seek help and advice from your waste management company.

Author Peter Hunt is Managing Director of WasteCare