The role of recycling and chemical substitution in pollution prevention programs

The disposal of certain laboratory chemicals provides a challenge from a pollution-prevention perspective. Using substitutes, treating the chemical, and recycling can solve this problem. Recycling chemicals not only provides a pollution-prevention solution for the laboratory, but also cuts down on costs of materials and associated waste disposal. In this article, specific information concerning these waste-management practices is given for various toxic and hazardous reagents. Together, these chemicals make up the bulk of hazardous waste generated by medical laboratories.