Green Mountain College
OP-21: Hazardous Waste Management

Science Laboratories Biology and chemistry laboratories are intentionally structured to produce little to no hazardous waste. Where possible, biology labs use safe alternatives to hazardous materials, such as using non-hazardous electrophoresis gel stains (Sybr-safeTM for example instead of ethidium bromide) and running buffers. Animals for dissection are purchased in Caro-safeTM preservatives. Where possible, all chemistry laboratory experiments replace toxic and/or volatile organic compounds with more innocuous substances, reduce energy use and maximize the atom economy of all reactions to produce less waste.

Science Laboratories Innocuous (non-regulated) chemical waste from the biology and chemistry laboratories is disposed of with typical trash after appropriate treatment. For example, innocuous chemicals in aqueous solution are evaporated under a chemical hood before disposal. Others may be safely disposed of down sink drains. Some materials require treatment, for example we do use some ethidium bromide, which is then filtered through appropriate media prior to disposal. Biohazards (such as experimental plates of bacteria or potential pathogens) are autoclaved before disposal with typical trash. Untreated animal parts are buried off-campus at an appropriate site in accordance with Vermont state regulations. Because the volume of hazardous chemical waste is so small, these materials are taken to the Poultney Transfer Station during the times that hazardous waste is accepted.