Where to dump reef chemicals responsibly?

[West1]

This question has probably been asked before.
After doing tests with reagents and stuff, how can I get rid of the stuff without dumping them down the drain and eventually into the ocean?
I tried dumping in an area near the outside of my house but now I’m seeing the dirt turning colors and starting to grow weird stuff around it.

Any ideas or suggestions?

 

[Borat]

This question has probably been asked before.
After doing tests with reagents and stuff, how can I get rid of the stuff without dumping them down the drain and eventually into the ocean?
I tried dumping in an area near the outside of my house but now I’m seeing the dirt turning colors and starting to grow weird stuff around it.

Any ideas or suggestions?

What are the "reagents and stuff" that you refer to?

 

[liddojunior]

I think the outside is probably not at all ideal.

So it depends on each reagent. You should check the SDS page for each product. Like for Hanna https://sds.hannainst.com/vi

Basically some are fine to dump in trash. None of them are okay for the drain. And others require you to collect in a container and take to household hazard disposal sites. Most people don’t do that, but is the legal and safe method of disposing chemicals such as formalin in titration testing.

 

[West1]

In example, Hanna dkh vile.
Ca, mag, nitrate, old kalk paste from reactor.
Basically anything reef related that isint Food Safe.

 

[gbroadbridge]

This question has probably been asked before.
After doing tests with reagents and stuff, how can I get rid of the stuff without dumping them down the drain and eventually into the ocean?
I tried dumping in an area near the outside of my house but now I’m seeing the dirt turning colors and starting to grow weird stuff around it.

Any ideas or suggestions?

Mine go into the sewer drain.

Waste treatment plants (at least here) are perfectly fine with them as well as all the other household cleaning chemicals that end up in them.

Obviously, do not dump them into storm water drains that end up untreated into rivers, lakes and the ocean.

 

[Peace River]

Some companies will offer a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for each chemical that includes disposal instructions in section 13.

 

[liddojunior]

Mine go into the sewer drain.

Waste treatment plants (at least here) are perfectly fine with them as well as all the other household cleaning chemicals that end up in them.

Obviously, do not dump them into storm water drains that end up untreated into rivers, lakes and the ocean.

The last part is true. But the water treatment is not happy nor would your home plumbing. Some household cleaning supplies need to go to disposal sites, that’s why they exist. Specially solvent based cleaners, like degreasers used for oven cleaning.

For example the nitrate reagent specifically says not to allow entering sewage systems. And some reagent react with the pipes and seals.

 

[gbroadbridge]

The last part is true. But the water treatment is not happy nor would your home plumbing. Some household cleaning supplies need to go to disposal sites, that’s why they exist. Specially solvent based cleaners, like degreasers used for oven cleaning.

For example the nitrate reagent specifically says not to allow entering sewage systems. And some reagent react with the pipes and seals.

I'm simply stating what my local waste management told me. The systems are designed to handle it.

Obviously in California where everything causes cancer you have some stricter rules.

I also dump all my photographic chemicals straight down the sewer, the waste management captures and recycles all that is necessary.

 

[West1]

What if I put all liquid chemicals into a bucket to evaporate?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

What if I put all liquid chemicals into a bucket to evaporate?

Then you will be left with a solid waste to get rid of.

Some tests are more of an environmental hazard than others. Alk tests are quite non toxic once used in seawater.

 

[exnisstech]

For example the nitrate reagent specifically says not to allow entering sewage systems. And some reagent react with the pipes and seals.

I hope this isn't true. All of my waste including water has been going down the drain and out to my septic leach bed for the last 9+ years.

 

[liddojunior]

I hope this isn't true. All of my waste including water has been going down the drain and out to my septic leach bed for the last 9+ years.

Here’s the sds for the nitrate test

https://site.jjstech.com/pdf/Hanna-Instruments/SDS_HI 3874-0_2012-05-21.pdf
We use little volumes so it’s not toooo bad. But it’s kinda just better to be responsible. And the nitrate kit uses copper sulfate which is bad for pipes.
For the most part going to trash bag is better.

 

[exnisstech]

Here’s the sds for the nitrate test

https://site.jjstech.com/pdf/Hanna-Instruments/SDS_HI 3874-0_2012-05-21.pdf
We use little volumes so it’s not toooo bad. But it’s kinda just better to be responsible. And the nitrate kit uses copper sulfate which is bad for pipes.
For the most part going to trash bag is better.

I agree nothing wrong with being responsible. Here our trash goes to a landfill and into the earth as does the liquid from my septic system so probably about the same at the end of the day I would think. I doubt the small amounts being diluted from rinsing would cause any damage to plumbing.

 

[liddojunior]

I agree nothing wrong with being responsible. Here our trash goes to a landfill and into the earth as does the liquid from my septic system so probably about the same at the end of the day I would think. I doubt the small amounts being diluted from rinsing would cause any damage to plumbing.

Yeah. It’s more as in as a collective we should be careful since as a group all of us putting a toxic liquid in the sewage it does add up.
But it’s not like you’re a bad person. Most people just aren’t aware. Its trace amounts so it’s okay, just good practice to become aware of chemical safety guides for any chemicals we buy.

I’m trained in understanding how to manage hazardous waste including radioactive so I’m just a bit more annoying about it.

 

[Dan_P]

This question has probably been asked before.
After doing tests with reagents and stuff, how can I get rid of the stuff without dumping them down the drain and eventually into the ocean?
I tried dumping in an area near the outside of my house but now I’m seeing the dirt turning colors and starting to grow weird stuff around it.

Any ideas or suggestions?

An average solution might be to absorb the chemicals onto a solid like cat litter and put it in a landfill.

 

[RelaxingWithTheReef]

Here’s the sds for the nitrate test

https://site.jjstech.com/pdf/Hanna-Instruments/SDS_HI 3874-0_2012-05-21.pdf
We use little volumes so it’s not toooo bad. But it’s kinda just better to be responsible. And the nitrate kit uses copper sulfate which is bad for pipes.
For the most part going to trash bag is better.

This SDS is for the Hanna HI3874 Nitrate test. But this test is for surface water and groundwater. It’s unclear if the results are accurate with seawater.

Most concerning is unlike the typical hobby nitrate test kit like the Hanna Marine Nitrate HR Checker that uses zinc as a reducing agent, this test uses Cadmium that is highly toxic.

Please be careful if you are using this kit.