chemical disposal

[phil_brammer1]

Hello

 

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How would one go about thoughtfully disposing of spent chemicals (dev/bleach/fixer). I understand i mix them together in the correct order to neutralize (p30 ilford) but whatdo i do with it then? take it to a minilab?

[hal_hardy]

How much are you disposing of? What are your local ordinances for

hazardous waste disposal? Where does it eventually end up ( local

resevoir, large river system, an ocean)? Does it go through a

treatment facility?

 

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I work for a local newspaper in the lith reproduction area. We run

three rapid access b&w film processors. The photograpers have gone

digital, so their color processors are gone.

The only requirement we have is to recover the silver from the fix.

The recovered silver and scrap film is sold to a recycler. We run the

fix through two recovery systems to make sure to clean it up. The

rest of it ends up in a major river five miles away after going

through a treatment facility.

 

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If you want to play it safe, you could pay a hazardous waste company

to take it off your hands.

[hal_hardy]

"local resevoir" should have said "your own septic system". If your

sewage is just pumped back into the water supply resevoir, I wouldn't

worry about some photo chemicals. :-(

[joe_freeman]

Here's another question; Am I able to drain my chemicals into my

septic system? Or will they screw with the balance in there?

[dan_smith]

Take the chemistry & pour it into a plastic 'jar' made from saran

wrap. Tape the saran wrap inside a thin, cheap cardboard box, being

sure to tape it so it will tear open easily when someone opens the

box. Then go to New York or other locations where people seem to

habitually steal stuff and take a ride on the subway, leaving the

package invitingly open on a seat near you & then let the theives get

a nice surprise when they open what they stole.

[wayne__]

This question comes up so often we need an FAQ. The only problem is

there are lots of Q's and few A's

 

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some facts:

 

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1-There have not been any controlled, scientific studies of

photochemical breakdown or safety of disposal in home septics (yes, I

searched), but the internet is full of free _anecdotal_ advice that is

worth what it costs you. the variable nature of septic designs, soils,

maintenance, age, and condition would render such a study virtually

irrelevant, which is probably why it hasnt been done

 

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2-It is advised that no chemicals be put down home septics, but small

quantities end up there anyway with no apparent ill effects

 

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3-Many people have dumped photo chemicals in their septics with no

apparent ill effects, and all present this as evidence of its safety

(see #1 and #4)

 

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4-No apparent ill effects is NOT necessarily the same thing as no ill

effects

 

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5-Most people agree that small quantities will "probably" do no harm

 

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6-There is no way to know when a "small" quantity becomes "large".

Most people will agree that a liter a month is OK, and that 2500

liters probably isnt. Somewhere in between the totally arbitrary and

completely unscientific safety line is crossed

 

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7-many people have failing septics and dont even know it. In my area,

50% of septics are failing. If your septic is failing, the question

becomes much larger than "will this harm my septic" and becomes a

matter of basically dumping chemicals directly in your yard

 

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8-Many people dont know how to maintain and keep even a new septic in

good condition, let alone an older one. I know people who spent $8000

on a septic, only to have it fail 5 years later due to their failure

to understand how to keep it working.

 

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In other words its a decision everyone has to make for themselves,

based on too little information, all of it anecdotal. I limit myself

to an occasional liter down the drain (less than once a month, when

all my buckets are full) and collect most of my waste in 5 gallon

buckets that I got free from a restaurant. The fix goes to hazardous

waste (or try a lab near you), the rest goes to the nearest sewage

treatment plant where they let me dump it right into the soup. If you

do decide to dump it down the drain, you should make the effort to

learn what kind of septic you have, how they work, and how to use and

maintain them properly. You can order a "septic owners manual" at the

U of Minnesota Extension

website.

 

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http://216.239.39.100/search?q=cache:OwM323T5T1AC:www.extension.umn.ed

u/distribution/naturalresources/DD6651.html+septic+owners+manual&hl=en

[saulius_eidukas]

I did a search at the www.kodak.com and came up with with the

following:

http://www.kodak.com/US/en/corp/environment/kes/pubs/pubsList.jhtml

http://www.kodak.com/US/en/corp/environment/kes/pubs/pdfs/j300.pdf

[pookie]

phil...you might consider contacting a WASTE HAULER.

you can dump it all in a 55 GALLON DRUM (that they will provide)

and after it is just about filled up, you can have it all taken away,

(about $40 USD) and RECEIVE A CHECK in the mail for the

SILVER recovered from your chemistry. while some folks say it

WILL NOT HARM your septic system, just the same I wouldn't eat

any vegtables grown in a garden of a photographer who pours

photochemistry in their septic system. HEAVY METALS ARE

NOT GOOD TO INGEST

happyshootin'

p-dog