3R Waste
Activity (Experimental)
※Kumamoto University provides support for waste management related to experiments as a part of chemical substance management, but for the sake of clarity, it is summarized under "3Rs and Waste.
Collection of experiment waste liquids
Flow of collection of experiment waste liquids

Costs for disposal of experiment waste liquids
The Environmental Safety Center will bear the cost.
However, if the amount exceeds the budget, it will be borne by the beneficiaries.
Frequency of experiment waste liquids collection
Collected monthly.
See the Environmental Safety Center calendar.
Definition of experiment waste liquids
- Cleaning Manual(PDF)
Items such as laboratory liquid waste resulting from educational, research, etc., activities containing chemical substances and liquid used to rinse containers containing laboratory liquid waste are to be treaded as experimental liquid waste.

※ If solids are mixed in the experiment waste liquids when it is stored, filter it before discharging it.
※ When discharging experiment waste liquids, check the pH using test paper.
※ When storing the experimental liquid waste, it should be stored in a white two-lipped polyethylene container of either 10L or 20L designated for each type.
Does it contain hazardous substances?
Hazardoussubstances are difined as those:
・ Not allowedto be discharged into sewers by "Precaoutions in dispasal" in MSDS
・ Subject to laws and regulations on chemical substances (refer to the designated laws and regulations conceming chemical substances management)
・ Cannot be determinedtheir harm or danger
・ With pH ≦5, or ≧9
"MSDS stands for "Material Safety Data Sheet"
Method of storing experiment waste liquids
Experiment waste liquids is classified into different storage categories according to the degree of toxicity and treatment method.
Note: Experiment waste liquids containing PCBs, dioxins, explosives, narcotics, radioactive substances, and infectious laboratory wastewater cannot be collected.
- Retention Scheme for Experimental Liquid Waste(PDF・A4)
- Storage and cleaning scheme for experimental liquid waste (simplified version)
Collection of experiment waste liquids
Register the experiment waste liquids to be discharged in YAKUMO.
At that time, please attach the output experiment waste liquids storage record sheet on the polyethylene container.
- Note
-
- ・If solids are mixed in the experiment waste liquids when it is stored, filter it before discharging it.
- ・When discharging experiment waste liquids, check the pH using test paper.
- ・Do not completely fill the container. It may cause leakage.
- ・Be careful about container damage. It may cause leakage.
- ・It is not necessary to wait until the container becomes full. A small amount can be collected.
- ・If the amount is very small, you do not need to use the designated container. It will be collected with unnecessary chemicals.

Return of polyethylene containers
A new polyethylene container will be returned from the Environmental Safety Center after the experiment waste liquids is discharged.
Status of collection of experiment waste liquids

Collection of unnecessary chemicals
Flow of unnecessary chemicals collection

Costs for disposal of unnecessary chemicals
The Environmental Safety Center will bear the cost.
However, if the amount exceeds the budget, it will be borne by the beneficiaries.
Frequency of unnecessary chemicals collection
Collected twice a year. However, those who have retired and those who have been transferred will also be collected at the end of the fiscal year.
Classification of unnecessary chemicals
Classification | Contents | Note |
---|---|---|
Toxic heavy metal liquids | Chemicals containing mercury, chromium, arsenic, selenium, lead, or cadmium | Specified hazardous waste |
Toxic heavy metal solids | ||
Cyan liquids / toxic solvents | Chemicals containing cyanides, trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethylene, dichloromethane, carbon tetrachloride, 1,2-dichloroethane, 1,1-dichloroethylene, cis-1,2-dichloroethylene, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, 1,1,2-trichloroethane, 1,3-dichloropropene, benzene, or 1,4-dioxane | |
Cyan solids | Solid chemicals containing cyanides | |
Valuable metals | Chemicals containing gold, platinum, silver, or palladium | |
General liquids | Chemicals whose content can be identified (other than above and “Other”) | |
General solids | ||
Unidentified liquids | Chemicals whose content cannot be identified | |
Unidentified solids | ||
Other | Organophosphorus compounds (limited to parathion, methyl parathion, methyl dimetone, and EPN), simazine, thiuram, and thiobencarb | Specified hazardous waste |
Spontaneously combustible substances and water-reactive substances (metallic potassium, metallic sodium, alkyl aluminum, yellow phosphorus, and Type 3 hazardous materials), and spray chemicals (High pressure gas cylinders are not included in chemicals.) , Toxic sludge |
- Items outside the scope of disposal
-
- ・Internationally controlled materials
- ・Stimulants/stimulants’ raw materials
- ・Narcotics
- ・Radioactive substances
- ・Medical waste/infectious waste
- ・Asbestos-containing substances
- ・PCB-containing substances, dioxins
- ・Experiment waste liquids (discharged during waste liquid collection on campus)
Collection of unnecessary chemicals
Please apply for unnecessary chemicals through YAKUMO.
For chemicals that are not registered in YAKUMO (e.g., those outside the scope of registration, synthetic products, and subcontracted products), please make a list and attach an unnecessary chemicals discharge form to each bottle according to the list number.
- Precautions
-
- ・Put unnecessary chemicals in sealable containers. (A polyethylene bag must not be used in principle. Regarding materials for containers, take reactivity of chemicals into account.)
- ・Close the cap of chemicals. (If there is liquid leakage or an odor, replace the cap or put the container in a different container.)
- ・Put the containers of chemicals upright in a cardboard box. (Do not lay containers on their side or stack them.)
- ・If there is extra space to fill in a box, put cushioning materials or crumpled newspaper, etc. to prevent bottles from falling.
- ・Wrap each glass bottle with a cushioning material or a sheet of paper, or provide partitions in a box. (Prevent breakage of bottles due to contact with each other.)
- ・Chemicals should be sealed tightly to prevent leakage. (For items that are corked with frosted glass, use sealing tape, Parafilm, etc. to prevent the cork from coming off.)
- ・Drain off as much water as possible from the toxic sludge, put it in a bag or container to prevent it from leaking or scattering, and label it with the name of the substance it contains (especially heavy metals) before discharging it.
- ・Chemicals should be placed in a box for each chemical handling group, and a list of unnecessary chemicals should be attached to each box.
- ・If the application was submitted using YAKUMO, please make sure that the YAKUMO barcode is attached.
- ・Please check beforehand to ensure that you are not discharging anything other than what you have applied for.

Collection of unnecessary chemicals

Collection of Mercury-containing apparatuses
Mercury-containing apparatuses
The University discharges both mercury-based waste liquids and waste to which mercury adheres.
By taking toxicity of mercury into account, the Environmental Safety Center collects all such waste, and disposal is undertaken by a specialized contractor once a year.
Status of collection of equipment containing mercury

Collection of experiment waste
Experiment waste
In the course of the university's business activities (education, research, and medical care), waste that is not generated in daily life is generated. This type of waste is called "industrial waste. At Kumamoto University, we refer to waste directly used in experiments (including unused substances) as "experiment waste. In other words, anything that the appearance would use in an experiment is equivalent to "experiment waste. For example, when a container of chemicals is emptied, it is disposed of as "experiment waste.
Handling of experiment waste at Kumamoto University (Decision by the Facilities and Environmental Committee, May 28, 2012)
- Storage method
-
- (1) Experiment waste (waste directly used in the experiment (including unused waste). Specifically, those that fall under the attached table.) must be separated from "business-related general waste" and handled as "industrial waste.
- (2) Experimenl waste should not be placed in collection points for general wastes (hereinafter referred to as "waste collection point"), but shall be stored in each department. (A sign shall be posted at the waste collection point.)
- (3) If experimental waste is found at a waste collection point, it should be disposed of by the department that may be using the site.
- Processing method
- Dispose of the experiment waste as "industrial waste". It is desirable to render it harmless by incineration.
- Budget
- The cost of disposal shall be borne by the beneficiary (department, division, chemical substance handling group, etc.).
- Other
- Effective from July 1, 2012.
Separation of industrial waste | Type (Proposed by the Environmental Safety Center) |
Concrete example |
---|---|---|
Waste plastics Hazardous sludge Infectious waste etc. |
Experiment-related combustibles | Disposable plastics (e.g., pipetter tips, pipettes), gels(ethidium bromide-containing gels shall be considered infectious waste), paper (e.g., filter paper, medicine wrapping paper), gloves, aluminum foil, etc. |
Glass waste, ceramic waste etc. |
Experimental incombustibles | Beakers, pipettes, sample bottles, chemical bottles with a capacity of less than 500 mL, crucibles, etc. |
Waste chemical bottles | 500mL to 3L chemical bottles that contained chemicals | |
Metal scraps
etc. |
Experimental incombustibles | Metal spartels (injection needles shall be considered infectious waste) etc. |
Waste chemical cans | Eighteen litre drum, small drums, etc. that contained chemicals |
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How to separate and dispose of laboratory wastes (Kurokami, Oe)
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How to separate and dispose of laboratory wastes (Honjo)
-
Methods of discharging non-infectious wastes (Kurokmai, Oe)
Experiment waste
In the course of the university's business activities (education, research, and medical care), waste that is not generated in daily life is generated. This type of waste is called "industrial waste. At Kumamoto University, we refer to waste directly used in experiments (including unused substances) as "experiment waste. In other words, anything that the appearance would use in an experiment is equivalent to "experiment waste. For example, when a container of chemicals is emptied, it is disposed of as "experiment waste.
Separation and storage of laboratory waste (for collection at the Environmental Safety Center)
- (1) In accordance with "How to separate and dispose of experimental waste," separate and store the waste into five categories: combustible experimental waste, non-combustible experimental waste, waste chemical bottles, waste chemical cans, and non-infectious waste.
- (2) When storing wastes, wash and drain them as much as possible to prevent abnormal odors.
- (3) Chemicals that are not suitable for washing with water, such as water-resistant chemicals, should be washed with a safe washable material as appropriate.
Bottles of chemicals that are difficult to clean should be disposed of as unnecessary chemicals. Store at least 3 washes as experiment waste liquids. - (4) If there is a possibility that the bag will be punctured by a pipettor tip, etc., take measures such as doubling the bag.
- (5) Store them by yourself until the collection day (do not leave them outside).
Status of collection of Experiment waste (for collection at the Environmental Safety Center)

Honjo and Ohe districts and non-infectious waste added from October, 2008.