Hazardous Substances

How do I manage the risks associated with hazardous substances at the University?

FAQs

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Please check with your departmental local procedure as some departments collect centrally before completing either of the following:

Note: Computer equipment falls within the scope of the WEEE Regulations

See HW-5 Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations   (PDF)

 

Please check with your departmental local procedure as some departments collect centrally before completing the following:

Please check with your departmental local procedure as some departments collect centrally before completing the following:

  • Gas discharge lamps (GDLs) - must not be placed in waste skips and care should be taken not to break them.
  • Fluorescent tubes - each department is responsible for disposing of its own tubes, preferably regularly and in small batches (a maximum of 50), rather than in a single large batch. Tube stillages of different sizes are provided for this purpose in various locations around the University. The largest tube stillage, for use by departments is located in the Science Area, it is in the basement of Zoology and departments should arrange to use it by contacting Intake at Zoology on 71106. There are other stillages at Begbroke Science Park, the Old Road Campus, and the hazardous waste stores. If in doubt, please contact the Safety Office for the location of the most appropriate disposal site for your department.

Departments on hospital sites may continue to dispose of fluorescent tubes via the appropriate NHS Trust provided a service agreement is in place

Where there is no such agreement then disposal must be arranged through the University Safety Office

 

Note: Ordinary tungsten and halogen light bulbs need no special disposal arrangements

They are neither hazardous nor do they fall under the WEEE Regulations

 

Please check with your departmental local procedure as some departments collect centrally before completing the following:

Note: Although not all batteries are hazardous for disposal, using the Safety Office’s service will ensure they are correctly disposed of or recycled

 

Batteries of all types, including disposable and rechargeable batteries (e.g. alkaline, lithium, Ni-Cd, NiMH), lead acid non-spillable batteries (e.g. from UPSs) and lead acid wet batteries (e.g. from University vehicles) - use the Disposal of Hazardous Substances Form  (Word)

Most wet batteries are corrosive and are transported as dangerous goods, so must be correctly identified for disposal. Some dry sealed batteries are also classed as dangerous goods (Ni-Cd batteries, batteries containing sodium or lithium, and lithium ion batteries) and these must be collected separately for disposal. The terminals of lead acid and lithium batteries must be covered to avoid possible short circuits.

Hazardous waste from outlying University departments or remote buildings may be disposed of through the red ‘Haz Box’ service provided by the University’s waste contractor by prior arrangement with the University Safety Office. This involves the provision of 55 litre lidded plastic containers with a regular (usually quarterly) collection round.  More frequent collections can be made, or other items included where necessary, by prior arrangement with the University Safety Office.

To find out more contact the Environmental Sustainability team and Strategic FM team

EMAIL TO FIND OUT MORE

Guidance Documents