Australia's Science Forum

The CSIS is NOT being updated as far as I know. Their was an addtion back in 24 June 2002 for some extra chemicals that were left out altogether. You can still down load this from Chemwatch site. or perhaps from CSIS site its shelf. The CSIS is still law, in NSW.

Here we are, another year, and the Department has said probably by the end of this term, the pickup will take place. Meanwhile they have told us that it is now up to the Regional Director, Peter Haigh at Coffs Harbour, to organise the collection. I have emailed him already, (no reply after 5 days!) and will email him again this morning with details of the collection companies noted from this site - so I guess I am helping him do his job! How hard can it be? Why doesn't the Dept ask US for advice. Surely most of what we have done, and are still doing re: sorting, packing, doing research into both companies, costings, etc demands an Executive wage! I wonder if Mr Haigh will be pleased that I have offered some assistance by giving him company names/contact details to follow through??
Things can only get better.

I was "politely" rapped over the knuckles too,(as was another Labbie, earlier) for having the audacity to email Mr Haigh. But it may be that the collection goes ahead this term but I won't be holding my breath.

Well, looks like the collection IS happening. Our quote is $166 (plus $395 transport costs, PLUS 12.7% fuel levy, PLUS $5 per pallet, PLUS environmental levy) for less than 12 bottles (doesn't quite fill two small cardboard boxes in which reams of paper are delivered). Pickup here is on 20th March! Many Principals are having palpitations over the costs - naturally some schools here on the coast have quotes well over the $2500 (plus all the above charges).

Not that I would ever do it, but it almost makes you want to 'accidentally' misplace the chemicals! "Now, where did those bottles of waste go... Oh dear! They must have gone out with the regular garbage!" You'd think the government (especially for DET schools) would have a system worked out! Those prices are insane!

Makes me realise how lucky we are here. I don't actually know who organises it, but approx each year chemical pickup people come to the Council depot where anyone can take up to 20 litres or 20kg for free! I guess it is mainly aimed at farmers, but I had a wonderful cleanout the first time they came and only went over the limit a little and it cost about $5. The next time, we were well under the limit, so no cost. It is therefore a little surprising that this service is not universal, but as I say maybe it is aimed at farmers.

Darelle, I think there's a separate one aimed at farmers - for collection of old chemical containers - is it called 'Drum Muster'?

The Council collection up here is for household chemical waste, but costs are very small for businesses to take part. That's what we did in '07 - see earlier posts on this subject. I dispatched about 20 boxes of excess chemicals that I couldn't dispose of via landfill, for around $100 (or thereabouts).

In this region, it happens every August/September, with spercial trucks coming up from Sydney, and covering all regional towns in turn.

Contact your local Council for details.

Hi All
For all of us in Dept schools a little brid told me that for us we may get a chemical pick up for free from the dept not sure when but the little brid said sometime this year so if you can hold off for a little while as it is a very rich exersice I know
Remember this is only for DEPT SCHOOLS sorry to all the rest .
NOONA

I've just been notified this morning that our pickup will occur over the next couple of weeks at a cost of $800 or so. I have my chemicals ready to go but don't know about anyone else here - Industrial Arts , general assistant etc! It's been a long time coming so thanks to those who have pushed it along!

hi Lizzie
Well the drum muster is actually for clean ex-chemical drums, not the actual chemicals. So they need the other chemical pickup for everyone I guess.

Yep, that's right, Darelle, thanks.

Hi!
On the topic of waste disposal, I have a bottle of conc nitric acid with a corroded lid. I have other waste to pick up next week. Should I include this, or try diluting/neutralising it and tip it down the sink? or try to get it into a new bottle? It is a 1 litre bottle.
Same for a 2L of conc H2SO4 battery acid that we dont need...

I also have a couple of litres of metho/kero - can I re use these for anything?

Just trying to reduce waste disposal costs

Thanks
Tina

Hi Tina,
I reuse metho for cleaning bench tops, rinsing dissection equipment after washing etc. You could probably use them in your spirit burners too. As for the acids, I'll let someone else comment on that!
Rosalie

Hi Rosalie!
my metho has been used for the chorophyll extraction prac., and so is pretty green. Would you still use that in spirit burners, etc?
Thanks
Tina

errr... maybe not! I don't know... I don't think we do that prac...

OK, the collection has happened. Pickup was with Transpacific, basic cost for my 5kgs was $166 plus numerous other expenses shared by about 25 schools from Ballina to Bulahdelah. (Approximately $800 all up I think). The pickup guys were polite, friendly, and we actually didn't need to sort anything - they just carried it into the truck in boxes and I signed their form, all done. Arrived, collected, signed all within 4 minutes! Well done.

Hi Everyone
I've just had a guy come and collect the waste. I was gobsmacked when my carefully labelled and packed box of flammable liquids in glass bottles was picked up and hurled a great distance into the back of a truck atop a mountain of otto bins. The same company last year sent a bloke with ute to pick a drum with sodium and calcium in it, it was a drizzly afternoon and I watched in horror as he tied it with some rope on the tray of the ute . "Ah its raining and you shouldn't get that wet" says I. "oh okay I'll put it at my girlfriends feet then". Hmmmmm Maybe they were ready to break up or something. So my question is does anyone know a good waste company to use in the Sydney area?
Another huge problem , can anyone tell this computer illerate how to put smilies in the posts, they're so funny.
Thanks for all your help this year
Krysia

This thread should help you.

Hi All,

I am in Kingscliff N.S.W. and could anyone have details of a company who picks up unknown chemicals please.
Thank you.

Please so a search (top right hand corner) for Chemical waste.