Australia's Science Forum

Outside the school science laboratories is what I have discovered is an "acid trap" It is a pit in the ground covered by metal plates which can be lifted up. Apparently it is used to tip chemicals into to evaporate for disposal. I have been at the school for 14 years and have never used it let alone known what it was for. After investigation it appears to be full of very dank murky liquid, probably water as it is not exactly water tight and I am sure rain would get into it, I certainly have not tipped any chemicals into there!
Does anyone have one at their school, and if so do you use it and how is it used? Are school laboratories meant to have one or is this just left over from some other dark age of education. Are there regulations regarding use?

I hope someone can enlighten me!

we dont have one of these - but all our sinks go into a grease trap which we share with kitchens.. these are emptied every few years

Yes we have a "grease trap" too.

We have chemical pits or "scrubbers". They are layered with carbon, glass beads and aggregate (not i that order) The are regularly pumped out by Veolia (waste company)