Waste Disposal

Do not flush liquid chemicals (especially organic solvents) down the sink!
Separate all chemicals to be disposed, including liquid and solid waste and ensure that the containers are properly sealed and labeled. Contact your Environmental Health and Safety office about chemical hazard drop-off schedules.
Broken thermometers: This item deserves special attention. Clean up of a broken thermometer involves two hazards, broken glass and the handling of mercury, which is a very hazardous poison.
Inspect the area to see if mercury spilled out of the thermometer. If it spilled onto a bench top or laboratory item, scoop up the mercury and place it in a sealed container, which is then placed in a sealed plastic bag. Note: It is easy to scoop up mercury with a small plastic weight boat and place it into a 1.5 ml microtube.
Wipe the area where the mercury spilled and dispose of the towel in the same plastic bag as the mercury.
If the mercury spills onto the floor, you must call Environmental Health & Safety for further instructions on how to handle the clean up.
If spilled mercury is not cleaned up, it will seep into cracks in the floor or equipment. The fumes emitted are very toxic!!!
Wrap the broken thermometer in a blue pad. Tape the wrapped thermometer well and place it in the same plastic bag (if there's room) as the mercury. Label the bag and follow steps for the chemical disposal as above.