disposal of PMK Pyro?

[brian_jefferis]

I've recently begun deveolping my large format negs. in PMK Pyro. So far I've had good results. Disposal is quickly becoming a concern. I have been storing the spent solution in empty milk jugs but need to find a permanent disposal solution. I have a septic system and city water. Gordon Hutchings explains that for the past 14 years he has been draining the pyro from his darkroom into his septic system. I am concerned about taking this route because of pyro's toxicity. If anyone could offer a suggestion as to the disposal of it I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks!

[sean_yates]

Sorry, I'm no Pyro mayven, and no chemist either, but I'd check with

the local municipalities about chemical disposal unless you live in

California. They may have a system already in place for this sort of

thing, a local dump/recycle center or a annual or bi-annual hazmat

run or some such. I'd try to be careful though, I've read horror

stories about over-zealous beaurocrats enacting onerous legal

penalties for small home darkroom users.

 

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Try contacting some of the larger labs in your area, assuming they

are within driving distance. When I worked at a farm based arts camp

with a well and septic system, we saved our expired chemicals for 3

months or so in plastic 5 gallon gasoline cans. When we were close

to full, we drove them in to a large commercial lab in the city, 45

minutes away and they disposed of it for us. Couple of days later we

drove out and collected the empty jugs. This was all conventional

black & white though, and we went through about 5 gallons of D-

76/week.