Chemical Recycling and Waste Reduction

UWM is required to have a program in place to reduce the quantity and toxicity of waste we generate, to the extent our efforts are economically feasible. Among ways we accomplish this goal are:

  1. Source Reduction:

    • Substitute non-hazardous chemicals for more hazardous chemicals.

    • Reengineer chemical activities to use less chemicals.
    • Replace hazardous chemical use with non-chemical methods.
    • Order smaller quantities of chemicals to match need.

  2. Surplus Chemical Redistribution: (Surplus Chemical Inventory as of February 8, 2008)

    Miscellaneous Chemicals
    Chemical Manufacturer Amount
    Sealed?
    A-101 Spray Cleaner for Floors 3M 21 oz. x 10
    Yes
    Dip-It Oygen Bleaching Detergent and Destainer Ecolab 3 x 40oz
    Yes
    Dip-It XP Concentrated Coffee and Tea Destainer Ecolab 1x40oz
    Yes
    Coleman Fuel Coleman 1 gal. x 30
    Yes
    Flush Northwoods 18 oz x 2
    Yes
    Kool-Klene No Thaw Freezer Cleaner Ecolab 16x 1gal
    Yes
    Lacquer Thinner Sunnyside 1 gallon
    No
    Mikro-Quat Detergen, Germicide, Deoderizer Ecolab 16x 1gal
    No
    Rustoleum Spray Paint -- Bright Red Rustoleum 15 oz.
    No
    Rustoleum Spray Paint -- Safety Green Rustoleum 15 oz.
    No
    Rustoleum Spray Paint -- Safety Yellow Rustoleum 2 - 15 oz.
    No
    Soil Master Enzyme Activated Presoak Ecolab 46x40oz
    No
    Soil Metal-Pro Chlorinated Solid Detergent Ecolab 5x8lb
    No

    Printer Cartridges
    Cartridge Manufacturer Amount
    Sealed?
    HP 15A Laserjet Printer Cartridge HP 1
    Yes
    Shadowfax 1300 premium toner cartridge for use in HP 1300/1300N Shadowfax 2
    Yes
    HP Laserjet toner cartridge 92295A, 95A HP 3
    Yes
    HP Laserjet toner cartridge 92275A, 75A HP 2
    Yes
    HP Laserjet printer cartridge 27X, C4127X HP 1
    Yes
    Replacement for 92275A   2
    Yes
    HP Laserjet 13A, Q2613A HP 4
    Yes
    Premium compatible cartridge, 92295A, 95A   2
    Yes
    Shadowfax 2100 premium toner cartridge for use in HPLJ 2100/2100M/2100TN/2200/2200D Shadowfax 2
    Yes
    HP Laserjet 96A, C4096A HP 3
    Yes

    Art Chemicals
    Chemical Manufacturer Amount
    Sealed
    Paint, assorted colors    
    No

    Photo Chemicals
    Chemical Manufacturer Amount
    Sealed
    Ektacolor RA Developer Replenisher RT Kodak To make 10 liters
    Yes
    Ektacolor RA Bleach-Fix and Replenisher Kodak To make 10 liters x 2
    Yes
    Subtractive Plate Finisher Kodak polychrome 142 4613
    Yes
    RA 3000 Automix Kodak 187 3322
    Yes
    RA 2000 Kodak 163 8238
    Yes

    • Give surplus chemicals to campus redistribution program for reuse elsewhere on campus

    • Transfer unneeded chemicals to surplus chemical redistribution program before the chemicals go bad
    • Check the surplus chemical redistribution inventory before ordering new chemicals

  3. Neutralization of Acid and Caustic Waste Chemicals:

    • Ensure chemicals do not contain other hazardous constituents

    • Ensure that proper work practices are followed (ventilation, personal protective equipment, etc.)
    • Ensure proper chemistry is followed
    • Dispose of non-hazardous residuals properly

  4. Examples of waste minimization at UWM:

    • Campus Preventive Maintenance reduces ethylene glycol usage by 80%

    • Fleet garage recycles ethylene glycol, oil, oil filters, oil-dri, oil sorbent pads
    • Campus recycles batteries, mercury, fluorescent lamps and ballasts, toner cartridges
    • Soils lab neutralizes acid waste stream
    • Chemistry teaching labs convert from mercury thermometers to red liquid thermometers
    • Researcher converts from Nitric Oxide gas cylinder to gas generator
    • Fleet powered by natural gas rather than gasoline
    • Grounds Department reduces gasoline waste from small engines
    • Art Department uses redistilled mineral spirits and kerosene
    • Campus painters reduce use of solvent-based paints
    • Custodial Services reduces chemical usage through dispensing system
    • Heating/Chilling Plant reduces chemical inventory and minimizes freon waste
    • Biosciences replaces formaldehyde-based preservatives
    • Chemistry researcher redistills solvent for reuse
    • Chemistry classes use redistilled acetone
    • Fine Arts intaglio classes replace solvents with oil and citrus cleaner for brush and equipment clean-up
    • Chemistry converts three mercury diffusion pumps to oil diffusion pumps
    • Mercury thermometers exchanged for red liquid thermometers
    • Physics & CEAS labs turn in mercury manometers
    • Surplus computers sent for refurbishing/reuse
    • Scrap metals, paper, glass sent to recycling

Other Resources:

For additional information, please contact Environmental Affairs staff at x4999 or x2883.

Updated March 11, 2008 by SAK