How to dispose of chemicals?

[J Rollinger]

I have apx 50 or so gallons of chemicals that i need to dispose of. I could not sell them or even give them away so now i have to dump them. I could not do that to the sewer system so im asking for advice on what to do. They are all E6 chems in 5 gallon jugs. Is there such a place i can go to dispose of them?

Thanks

 

[SuzanneR]

Not sure where you are, but we have the occasional "toxic waste day" about twice a year in my area of New England, or there is a company called Safety-Kleen that can help you dispose of your chemistry.

 

[J Rollinger]

Thank you Suzanne! I will see if we have that here in Chicago.

 

[2F/2F]

You live in a huge city. They must have a public hazardous waste collection program like we have here in L.A. Check with your government's (probably city, but possibly county) sanitation bureau.

The fact that these are NOS chemicals makes things easier on everyone, and makes them less hazardous. They are not loaded with silver, and they are already appropriately labeled. It really could not get any easier for the hazmat facilities.

I recently disposed of about 30 liters worth of NOS Ilfochrome chemistry that was given to me. I kept it for about two years, but every kit was missing one component of the developer, and the bleach powder was liquefying and starting to burn through the metal bags. I decided it all had to go, so I took it all down there. It was free and easy.

It's a great opportunity to take all your other waste while you are at it. Paint, batteries, rags, solvents, auto fluids, electronic waste, etc.

Here, it is illegal to take in more than 15 gallons or 125 pounds of hazardous waste at a time, so you may need to make a few trips if the law is similar in Chicago.

(Here is an example of L.A.'s program: http://www.lacitysan.org/solid_resources/special/hhw/safe_centers/index.htm.)

 

[J Rollinger]

I have found a location in Chicago about 1 or 2 blocks from Calumet Photo! 2 birds with one stone!

 

[mgb74]

http://egov.cityofchicago.org/city/...ycling+Chicago&deptMainCategoryOID=-536897322

Note "hobby chemicals"

 

[J Rollinger]

http://egov.cityofchicago.org/city/...ycling+Chicago&deptMainCategoryOID=-536897322

Note "hobby chemicals"

Thats what i found. I think the chems are considered hobby chemicals?

 

[fotch]

Sounds more like stuff from a lab or a mini-lab. The link indicates No business/commercial sector waste.

 

[removed account4]

I have apx 50 or so gallons of chemicals that i need to dispose of. I could not sell them or even give them away so now i have to dump them. I could not do that to the sewer system so im asking for advice on what to do. They are all E6 chems in 5 gallon jugs. Is there such a place i can go to dispose of them?

Thanks

go to the porter's photo store website
search for "silver magnet"
it costs about 45$ and will plate just about all of the silver out of your
spent fixer.

you can get upto 38 or so troy oz on the magnet and
ship the cathode to a company that will reclaim it for you ..
no minimum amount, just the $$ for the silver ...
... and you don't need to worry about 50gallons of fixer
tipping over in your back seat ...

good luck!
john

 

[J Rollinger]

go to the porter's photo store website
search for "silver magnet"
it costs about 45$ and will plate just about all of the silver out of your
spent fixer.

you can get upto 38 or so troy oz on the magnet and
ship the cathode to a company that will reclaim it for you ..
no minimum amount, just the $$ for the silver ...
... and you don't need to worry about 50gallons of fixer
tipping over in your back seat ...

good luck!
john

John

All of the chems are new and in sealed jugs.

 

[removed account4]

John

All of the chems are new and in sealed jugs.

ahh,
i misread your first entry, sorry about that

good to see you found a new home for them !

john

 

[Mike Wilde]

I 'found' a number of e-6 chems on the 'recycle' shelf of my local HHW depot about 2 years ago. Enough bleach to keep me going with e-6 and c-41 use of it as well for many years. I regularly check it out when I drop off used fixer, etc. All sorts of good stuff can be had there, for free.