Cleanouts of Chemical Waste
When persons who use chemicals in wet labs terminate their connection to the university, they frequently leave both chemical inventory and chemical waste in their laboratory. If the associated department wishes to use the lab space, it must often assume the responsibility for a cleanout of chemicals, used and unused. EH&S strongly advocates that each department have a laboratory check in and check out procedure to minimize the occurrences of laboratory cleanouts. EH&S has only 2.5 employees in the chemical waste management group, meaning we have limited ability to meet the needs of a laboratory cleanout. EH&S has made the following arrangement to provide this service:
EH&S funds two knowledgeable individuals to help research groups and departments conduct chemical cleanouts, be it, for example, an annual departmental spring cleaning, or a chemical collection left by a deceased researcher. These individuals are John Terry (Chemistry & Chemical Biology department) and Judy Jones (retired from CALS) You can e-mail them directly or request their aid through EH&S. John runs the Cornell chemical recycling program and will see that all chemicals which can be safely and usefully recycled are moved into his program. They will also see that any residual chemical storage is appropriate and safe. John and Judy's availability is first come first served and must fit into their busy schedules. The cost of this service is paid for from the chemical waste account for the first five hours of help from John and Judy (10 hours total work.) For work beyond the first five hours of Judy and John’s time, EH&S expects compensation from the department to pay half of their salary. If you have a big cleanout, please request John and Judy's services through EH&S (E-mail Chemwaste) so that we can set up the billing ahead of time. Should the demand on John and Judy's time greatly exceed their availability or exceed the amount budgeted, EH&S can arrange to bring in outside contractors, but we will be looking to the department to fully fund the effort.