Environmental Protection

1. Environmental Protection

2. Environmental Protection Topics Environmental Impact of Research Waste Minimization Practices Pollution Prevention Source Reduction Recycle and Reuse Options at UBC Equipment containing Hazardous Materials Air Emissions Sanitary Waste Water Contamination Water & Energy Consumption Green Purchasing Resources

3. Regulations and Policies • Canadian Environmental Protection Act • Canada Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) Regulations • Environment Canada PCB Regulations • BC Hazardous Waste Regulations • BC Spill Reporting Regulation • BC Ozone Depleting Substances and Other Halocarbons Reg • Metro Vancouver Sewer Use and Air Bylaws • UBC Policy #6: Environmental Protection Compliance • UBC Policy #9: Hazardous Materials Management

4. Make Your Laboratory GREEN: Understand the environmental impact of YOUR research and attempt to reduce/minimize it!

5. Environmental Impacts of Research Environmental pollution • Generation of hazardous waste • Generation of solid waste • Drain discharge of hazardous materials • Spills of hazardous materials to the environment • Emission of air contaminants Excessive use of resources • Water consumption • Energy usage • Transportation (Purchasing)

6. Develop a Lab Specific Pollution Prevention Plan IDENTIFY: • Type & quantity of wastes disposed from your lab • Processes from which wastes were generated • Available reduction & recycling options REVIEW: • Your laboratory annual hazardous waste report and chemical waste inventory forms • Lab processes, procedures and protocols CONSIDER: • Other aspects of waste disposal: BCG#, waste manifest, TDG training IMPLEMENT: • The most environmentally friendly, safe and effective reduction options

7. Pollution Prevention Ideas • Train new personnel in chemical and environmental safety, including methods of pollution prevention and waste minimization • Prepare for leaks and spills • Review the chemicals in use to understand their hazards • Design your experiments with waste minimization in mind • Develop and implement a waste minimization plan for your laboratory • Dispose of waste in a responsible manner by following documented protocols • Conserve water & energy

8. Reduce Your Environmental Impact Incorporate the 4 Rs of pollution prevention and waste minimization in your lab: • Redesign/Replace - implement material substitution and process changes • Reduce - eliminate waste at its source • Reuse - find new usesfor old chemicals and share what you no longer need • Recycle - convert used items back into raw materials, which can be reused. • Replace • Reduce • Reuse • Recycle

9. Rethink & Replace • Operational improvements • Input changes • Process changes • Design for energy efficiency • Design for water conservation • Consider the waste produced when purchasing new equipment Implement material substitution and process changes!

10. Reduce • Substitute with non-toxic chemicals • Reduce the scale of laboratory processes • Control chemical inventories • Take care to minimize spills Minimize the quantity and toxicity of your waste!

11. Reuse Chemical exchange Find new uses for old chemicals and share what you no longer need!

12. Recycle • Solvents (acetone, methanol) • Silver recovery from photographic waste • Oil waste • Paint • Batteries • Lab plastic • Lab Styrofoam Convert used items back into raw materials, which can be reused!

13. Hazardous Waste • Main environmental impact of research • Hazardous waste = any product, substance, or organism that is dangerous to the environment or to human beings, and that is no longer used for its original purpose, at the time of disposal, or in storage/transportation prior to treatment or disposal. • Hazardous waste is dangerous because of its quantity, concentration, physical, chemical, or infectious characteristics.

14. Waste Streams at UBC Segregation into two waste streams: 1. Non-Hazardous Waste • Waste Management • Building Operations 2. Hazardous Waste • Environmental Services Facility • Risk Management Services

15. 95+ tonneshazardous waste generated by UBC research operations 17+ tonnes (18%) recycled saving >$30K

16. Hazardous Waste Streams Typical biological + chemical wastes from UBC research are managed as 2 waste streams: • Repeated Hazardous Waste: • Biological waste • Non-regulated contaminated solid waste • Solvents • Photographic fixer and developer • Oil • Tags with generator barcodes used for each container • Pre-approval NOT necessary • Chemicals • Online chemical inventory system • Tags not used, pre-approval EACH time • Old chemicals chemical exchange

17. Hazardous Waste Management Considerations • Hazard classes (WHMIS & TDG) • Waste compatibilities (e.g. chemicals) S E G R E G A T I O N • Waste type: biological or chemical • to dispose of or recycle? IDENTIFICATION Labeling and packaging to match identification PACKAGING Use & inspect designated waste storage areas STORAGE TRANSPORTATION Transportation of Dangerous Goods PROCEDURES Proper disposal procedures

18. Examples of Biological Waste defined as per BC Hazardous Waste Regulation

19. SEGREGATE uncontaminated solid waste from biomedical and biohazardous waste (all risk groups) Use products with less environmental impact: Petri dishes with 35% less plastic Glassware that can be decontaminated and reused Refillable pipette racks Other reusable or recyclable products Biological Waste Minimization Measures

20. Non-Hazardous Chemical Disposal www.riskmanagement.ubc.ca/environment/hazardous-waste-management/waste-disposal-guide/chemicals • Dispose of non-hazardous laboratory waste via the regular garbage or sewer: • Reduces disposal costs and helps the environment • Do this ONLY when safe and allowed by regulations and bylaws • Review chemicals A-Z on the Risk Management Services (RMS) website • Recycle: • waste oil (flammable liquid) • batteries • scrap metals • Pharmaceutical drugs to be disposed according to a special procedure

21. Non-Hazardous Chemicals www.riskmanagement.ubc.ca/environment/hazardous-waste-management/waste-disposal-guide/chemicals • Non-hazardous wastes commonly disposed of as hazardous include: • Salts (e.g. potassium chloride, sodium carbonate) • Natural products (e.g. sugars, amino acids, agar) • Inert materials (e.g. non-contaminated chromatography resins and gels) • Non-contaminated materials can be disposed of safely and legally in the regular trash/sink

22. Examples of Chemical Waste Includes solids, liquids or gases containing or contaminated with:

23. What About Other Hazardous Waste? • Unknown solids or liquids • Explosives andpotentially explosive materials • Compressed gas cylinders and lecture bottles • Some vendors offer returnable lecture bottles/small size cylinders: • Disposal with an approved contractor • Generators will pay the disposal cost • NOTE:Radioactive materials disposal is managed by the UBC Radiation Safety Program. LindeCanada-Praxair-Spectra Gases-Air Liquide

24. Chemicals Minimization Measures • Manage/control inventories • Substitute with less hazardous chemicals • MIT Green Wizard • EPA Green Chemistry • In-lab treatment (corrosives, ethidium bromide) • Reuse chemicals via the Chemical Exchange Program • Solvent recycling (methanol, acetone)

25. Waste Contaminated with Ethidium Bromide Segregate contaminated, non-regulated solid waste from toxic waste Deactivate liquid waste before drain disposal Replace ethidium bromide with: GelRed®, SYBRSafe®, SYBRGreen®

26. Inventory Control • Use free surplus chemicals • Keep an up-to-date inventory of lab chemicals, including location (mandatory WHMIS/WorkSafeBC requirement) • Rotate stock: follow the FIFO principle • Keep track of expiration dates + storage times (peroxide-forming, degradable chemicals) • Purchase only chemicals + amounts you need • Accept only gifts or samples you plan to use in the near future • Borrow small amounts from other labs • Purchase smaller containers: large containers often become waste • Keep Material Safety Datasheets (MSDS) and disposal procedures for chemicals used and produced in your lab

27. In-Lab Treatment Options • Consider ALL environmental consequences of YOUR lab activities • Adjust experimental designs to minimize type and quantity of hazardous waste • Replace with less hazardous materials (e.g. non-mercury thermometers) • Use hazardous materials sparingly • Monitor experimental reactions, add chemicals only as necessary • Include experimental steps that destroy or inactivate any hazardous products • Scale down the volume of experiments

28. Reduce Your Solvent Waste Stream Minimize health and environmental impacts: • Avoid and reduce use of solvents • Substitute with less hazardous solvents • Use “green” solvents • Solvents from renewable resources (e.g. ethanol, or ethyl lactate) • Ionic liquids (salts that are fluid at RT, e.g. ethyl ammonium nitrate) • Solvent-less reactions (e.g. solid state or reagents serve as solvents) • Water-based solvents • Send solvents for recycling

29. Ideal Solvent Qualities • Minimal health and safety hazard: • low toxicity • low flammability and volatility • low peroxide formation • lower vapourpressure, higher boiling point • Minimal environmental impact: • increased biodegradability • reduced ozone depletion potential • reduced toxicity • less air emission • Reactivity that fits the reaction • Phase control ability (easy precipitation/separation of product) • Safe degradation or evaporation after use

30. Photographic WasteFixer and Developer Solutions Photographic waste is treated onsite at ESF: • Ion exchange of fixer for silver removal (~$1000 back per year) • Neutralization • Drain disposal To minimize waste:whenever practical, use digital photography

31. Waste Oil • Send for recycling • Do NOT contaminate waste oil with water, solvents or PCBs • Types of waste oil include: • Automotive lubricating oil • Cutting oil • Fuel oil • Gear oil • Hydraulic oil • Synthetic oil • Emulsion • Vacuum-pump oil (add traps between experiment and vacuum pump)

32. Spills of Hazardous Materials • Use secondary containment for chemical transportation, use and storage • Get spill response training • Ensure proper equipment and materials are available in your spill kit • Identify drain locations and use drain covers • Immediately report all spills to: • Risk Management Services (RMS): 604-822-2029 • Provincial Emergency Program (PEP): 800-663-3456

34. Laboratory Plastic Recycling http://www.riskmanagement.ubc.ca/environment/laboratory-plastic-recycling Accepted  All Plastic Containers that: • Plastic code: #1,2,3,4,5,7 • Previously contained non-hazardous materials • Are empty, clean & dry Not Accepted X • Plastic #6 (polystyrene) • Pipettes/tips, syringes • Empty plastic containers previously containing or contaminated with hazardous materials

35. Styrofoam Reduction & Recycling • Reduce Styrofoam packaging by collaborating with suppliers • Recycle Styrofoam via WCS Recycling in North Van

36. Recycled Materials @ UBC

37. Equipment Containing Hazardous Chemicals • Remove hazardous materials from equipment before sending for disposal, e.g. • Refrigerators & freezers (refrigerants = ozone depleting substances) • Manometers (mercury = toxic) • Refrigerants to be removed by certified personnel or approved contractors • Disassembly of units containing mercury also required • Cost is the users’ responsibility • Note ALL equipment containing OTHER hazardous materials

38. Air Emissions Research can impact air quality through accidental release or emissions of any of the following: • toxic chemicals • volatile organic compounds (solvents, formaldehyde) • ozone-depleting substances • greenhouse gases (CO2, methane) • acid rain gases (NOx)

39. Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS)

40. Reduce Laboratory Air Emissions • Keep containers of volatile chemicals tightly capped • Do not dispose of chemicals by evaporation • Do not dispose of hazardous gases by venting • Avoid experimental procedures using open containers of volatile chemicals • Trap emissions from processes that evaporate hazardous chemicals

41. Sink Disposal DO NOT pour hazardous materials down the drain!! • Metro Vancouver Sewer Use By-Law prohibits discharge of contaminants to the sanitary sewer (e.g. corrosives, flammables, toxics, metals, radioactives) • Corrosives must be neutralized (pH = 5.5-10.5) before pouring down the drain with lots of water • Collect hazardous solutions in containers and dispose appropriately

42. Non-Regulated Environmental Impacts • Solid Waste  picked-up byUBC Waste Management • Paper recycled via UBC Waste Management • Plastic  recycled via UBC Waste Management • E-waste  recycled via UBC Waste Management • Water • Energy

43. UBC Reuseit! & Recyclopedia Reuseit! UBC (www.reuseitubc.ca) • Pilot program designed to assist UBC employees at the Point Grey campus to find and exchange low-value items between departments: • e.g. furniture, audio-visual equipment, office supplies • Registered members can post both wanted and available listings • Like the former Surplus Equipment Recycling Facility (SERF) • Items posted on this site considered low cost (e.g. ≤$1000) and to be posted for free to encourage a culture of reuse on campus Recyclopedia(www.reuseitubc.ca/?content=recyclopedia) • Access an A-Z listing of materials you can recycle on campus: • e.g. batteries, cartridges, cell phones, composting, e-waste, glass, paper, plastic, textbooks, Xmas trees, etc

44. Reduce Water Consumption General Consider reusing and recycling water from some lab machines into appropriate processes Establish procedures for sampling, testing and cleaning up that minimize the amount of water required Faucets Install more efficient faucets and consider: aerators pressure-reducing valves automatic sensors

45. Reduce Water Consumption Washing & Cleaning • Run only full loads in dishwashers • Reduce rinse times where possible • Minimize the use of hoses as cleaning tools; use dry-cleaning methods • Add water-efficient, high-pressure nozzles to hoses Equipment • Use closed-loop cooling water for equipment cooling instead of open-loop (once through) • Use vacuum pumps instead of water aspirators • Evaluate the necessity of water heaters and water softeners • Turn off ice machines when not needed

46. Reduce Energy Consumption Chemical Processes • Minimize energy requirements of chemical processes • Know the actual time + temperature needed to run your reactions • Run experiments at ambient temperature and pressure • Use microwave energy to power reactions • Use catalytic systems rather than stoichiometric processes Refrigeration • Combine contents of laboratory refrigerators and freezers • Unplug any unused refrigerators or freezers • Set temperatures as low as necessary for current lab work • Dust coils on back of refrigerators and clean door seals • Replace deteriorating door seals

47. Reduce Energy Consumption Fume-Hoods & Biosafety Cabinets • Operate hoods with sash at proper height for safety • Close sashes when fume hoods not in active use Lab Operations • Run dishwashers + autoclaves with full loads • Turn lights off when rooms not in use • Use natural light • Turn equipment off when not in use • Keep lab doors and windows shut (helps keep the building air system in balance) • Use energy efficient pumping systems

48. Green Purchasing • Consolidate orders: reduces multiple deliveries, greenhouse gases and saves time • Purchase multiple-item packs instead of singles: reduces waste from packaging materials • Increase item lines per order: saves paper, energy and reduces multiple shipments • Purchase as many lab supplies as possible from one source • Order online: saves paper, time and avoids errors

49. Purchasing Decisions for Big Energy Impacts • Replace old, large refrigerator/freezers with smaller, newer refrigerator-only units where appropriate • Purchase energy-efficient equipment during lab renovations or when older pieces of equipment stop working • Ask vendors for energy usage information or to supply more sustainable products at a reasonable cost • Look for the ENERGY STAR® label

50. Equipment with Energy Efficient Options • Biosafety cabinets • Fume hoods • Centrifuges • - 80°C Freezers • Fridges and freezers • Ice machines • Heat blocks • Incubators • Ovens • Mixers and shakers • Vacuum pumps