Waste reduction and pollution prevention on school campuses encourages safety for students, teachers and building staff, as well as the environment.  Schools are highly visible members of the community, and waste reduction provides the opportunity to set an example for the community. By emphasizing the importance of these approaches to their students, teachers can help instill habits that will be of value the rest of their lives.

Science class is one of the first places kids formally learn about our natural world. Who could forget that satisfactory ‘pop’ in the test tube when hydrogen molecules meet oxygen! The best learning happens in a safe and secure environment; one that includes safety gloves, safety glasses, and a tidy chemical storage cabinet.

Unfortunately, mismanagement and improper storage of hazardous chemicals in school labs has become a nationwide safety issue and is one that effects Michigan schools. The typical middle or high school science lab stocks a variety of chemicals, some of which may be highly toxic, carcinogenic, corrosive, reactive, or even explosive. Many stockpiled chemicals were purchased for laboratory procedures no longer considered appropriate for children and teens. Examples of such chemicals are benzene and carbon disulfide.

Science teachers commonly hoard chemicals, with the idea they will have a use for them someday. Additionally, thinking they were getting a “good deal” by buying in bulk, teachers may have purchased excessive amounts of chemicals. As time goes on and science teachers come and go within the school system, that stockpile of lab chemicals grows. Old and outdated chemicals may become unstable, and chemical containers may deteriorate. Chemicals get shoved to the back of the storage cabinet and forgotten. Even under the best storage conditions, accidents and spills can happen, exposing school personnel and students to these potentially hazardous substances.

Benefits of cleaning out the science lab storage cabinet are many. A few come to mind: a safe learning and working environment for kids, teachers, and school staff; elimination of excess chemicals; and improved chemical purchasing and storage practices.