The disposal of chemicals from science laboratories is regulated by federal, state, and local agencies. At the federal level, it is the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). At the state level, it is the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Waste and Hazardous Materials Division.  With the public's ever-increasing concern about protecting the environment and the need for schools to serve as model global citizens, school laboratories must comply with all federal, state, and local regulations.

Assistance in determining your regulatory requirements can be found in the Michigan Guide to Understanding Hazardous Waste Management at www.michigan.gov/deq/0,1607,7-135-3312_4118_4240-10188--,00.html or by contacting the MDEQ Environmental Assistance Center at 1-800-662-9278.  Additionally, for information on facilities that are licensed for the treatment, storage and disposal of hazardous waste in Michigan, visit www.envcap.org/statetools/tsdf/ .

A strong hazardous-waste-management program, including the development of written instructions and training programs, promotes compliance with EPA and state regulations, and ensures that chemical wastes are managed safely.

Establishing guidelines and training on labeling waste, and managing containers and unknown chemical substances, as well as having a laboratory drain-disposal policy, are important elements of a chemical waste-management program.