To improve safety and housekeeping, Argonne is holding “Disposal Days” Monday, July 23, through Friday, July 27, 2018, with the goal of reducing clutter and material stored in active work areas and common spaces across the laboratory. Everyone is asked to inspect their areas in the coming weeks to identify materials and chemicals that can be removed. Eligible items will be scheduled for pick-up at no cost.
“While Disposal Days is mainly about safety, it is also about showing pride in our work and our laboratory,” said Sustainability Program Manager Catherine Hurley (PMO), who is coordinating the effort. “This is a high priority for the laboratory and deserves the attention of every employee.”
The Disposal Days effort will focus on non-hazardous and non-radiologically impacted equipment and materials that are located in offices, laboratories and common areas. Non-radioactive chemicals will be inventoried and assessed during Disposal Days with pick-up of these materials to be scheduled at a later date.
Materials that qualify for no-cost disposal include:
- Obsolete industrial or laboratory equipment (with, or without an Argonne property tag)
- Electronics: computers, monitors, keyboards, wires, etc.
- Obsolete furniture: desks, chairs, tables, file cabinets, shelves, etc.
- Labware: glassware, disposables, benchtop items, etc.
- Obsolete parts and materials
- Wooden crates, pallets, boards and plywood
- Non-radioactive chemicals
Infrastructure Services will coordinate the removal and disposal effort. Due to the expected large volume and variety of items, occupants are asked to submit a Vector request for disposing material using the guidelines below. Complete your request by Friday, July 20, 2018, to help the planning process and receive priority for pick up during Disposal Week.
General refuse and recycling
For all non-chemical items, including office furniture, equipment, electronics, metals, pallets and crates:
- Identify items for disposal by placing colored tape or a sign on the item(s) stating “Disposal Days.”
- Submit information about the item(s) and location(s) using the Disposal Days Vector request.
- Contact your building manager with any questions.
- Start paper recycling at any time. Contact the custodial foreman in your building for additional gurneys for paper recycling by using the Custodial Vector request or calling them directly.
If necessary, a Disposal Days representative will contact you with any specific instructions related to your material. Eligible items will be scheduled for pick-up at no cost as part of the Disposal Days event. Items that are too large or too complex to disassemble or transport within the timeframe of Disposal Days will be tracked for future removal and disposal.
Non-radioactive chemicals
Three options are available to schedule disposal of non-radioactive chemicals and cylinders (that are not part of current research program process waste):
- Fill out the Vector request for Disposal Day chemicals. This form allows you to ask for Waste Management assistance in filling out the chemical waste requisitions. OR
- Send an email to your ESH coordinator with “Disposal Days” in the subject line and describing the quantity of chemicals one gallon or less, the quantity of chemicals greater than one gallon and the number of cylinders. Please identify any items that are unknown or are potentially unstable (for example, peroxide formers or reactive metals). Include the room number and contact information. OR
- Fill out a chemical waste requisition and put the words “Disposal Days” into the pick up instruction section at the top of the requisition.
Note that all chemicals must be on a submitted requisition or included on a Vector request prior to close of business on Friday, July 27, 2018, to be eligible for the Disposal Days program. Due to the chemical disposal process timeframe, Waste Management will schedule times for assistance in writing up requisitions based on the receipt of the Vector requests. Pick up of non-radioactive chemicals will be scheduled at a later date.
Take before-and-after photos
Take before-and-after pictures of the cleanup progress in your work area.
Safe Work Areas
Disposal Days is part of our ongoing effort to maintain a safe, efficient working environment for everyone at Argonne.
While Disposal Days is mainly about safety, it is also about showing pride in our work and our laboratory. Let’s maintain our exemplary workplace so that we can continue to pursue science that changes the world.
Visit Inside Argonne for additional details on Disposal Days.