[Histonet] RE: Waste Flammable Info Please

[Michael LaFriniere]

I found each State that I have been in has a little different method to hazardous waste handling/reporting in the laboratory. I have found that recycling alcohol, xylene and formalin greatly reduces cost; my labs demonstrate 60-70% cost reduction in all areas of concern, (usage, disposal and regulation costs). However, you must invest time for a successful "program", that includes ample space, training and monitoring to assure its maximum benefit. In today's environment of decreasing laboratory reimbursement this is a major "LEAN" process that can be highly valuable in the pathology laboratory!    

Michael R. LaFriniere, HT (ASCP) 
Executive Director
 

Capital Choice Pathology Laboratory
12041 Bournefield Way, Suite A * Silver Spring, MD 20904  
P: 240.471.3427 * F: 240.471.3401 * Cell 410-940-8844
michael.lafriniere <@t> CCPLab.com
 

-----Original Message-----
From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Elizabeth Chlipala
Sent: Tuesday, April 15, 2014 1:21 PM
To: Dennis Hahn; 'histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu'
Subject: [Histonet] RE: Waste Flammable Info Please

Dennis

First of all we are in Colorado.  If you dispose of more than 650 gallons a year in waste you are considered a small quantity generator, that amounts to one 55 gallon drum a month.  Once you become a SQG this requires being registered with the EPA, additional safety training,  every other year on site audits (In Colorado the Colorado Department of Public Health takes care of this) and then the other year a self-certification check list needs to be completed.  If you dispose of less than 650 gallons you are considered a conditionally exempt small quantity generator and are not required to be registered with the EPA.  Since you are disposing of 1 to 2 - 55 gallon drums a month that would mean that you would need to decrease your waste by at most 660 gallons a year or by 50%.   

When we recycled only alcohol in 2013 it looked like we still had around 1 - 55 gallon of waste per month.  In 2014 We started recycling alcohol, xylene and proper, so far this year we have only had 2 - 55 gallons of waste picked up, that accounts for a 50% decrease in total waste, so it might be possible for you to start recycling and decrease your waste stream by 50%.  We have also seen a cost saving in the purchasing of both alcohol and xylene the amount we purchase has decreased I don't have the specifics on the amount I just know we order less often that we used to.

Liz

Elizabeth A. Chlipala, BS, HTL(ASCP)QIHC
Premier Laboratory, LLC
PO Box 18592
Boulder, CO 80308
(303) 682-3949 office
(303) 682-9060 fax
(303) 881-0763 cell
liz <@t> premierlab.com
www.premierlab.com

March 10, 2014 is Histotechnology Professionals Day

Ship to Address:

Premier Laboratory, LLC
1567 Skyway Drive, Unit E
Longmont, CO 80504


-----Original Message-----
From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Dennis Hahn
Sent: Tuesday, April 15, 2014 10:55 AM
To: 'histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu'
Subject: [Histonet] Waste Flammable Info Please

I have an inquiry specifically for Texas and/or Children's hospitals:

What is your current volume of waste flammables and how do you handle it? Are you recycling, or is it removed by an outside vendor? A combination of the two? Suggestions on recycling instrumentation? Any drawbacks?

We currently collect all waste flammable materials into a 55 Gallon drum and it is removed once or twice a month by a contracted vendor. The problem is, we are disposing of so much now that the vendor is requiring the medical center to obtain a high-use license involving the state and the EPA. We have evaluated recycling many years ago and found the process to be slow and sort of cumbersome. I know that the process has improved quite a bit over the years, but what about the tech time, tech exposure, time for recycling, etc.? Have you found it to be highly cost effective?

Thanks in advance for any info you can share.

Dennis

Dennis Hahn, HT (ASCP)
Histology Lab Supervisor
Cook Children's Medical Center
801 7th Avenue
Ft. Worth, TX 76104
(682) 885-6133

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