Is it acceptable to have open containers of solid phenol/chloroform waste in the hood?
There are cases where you would not be permitted to store phenol/chloroform waste open in the hood. If the waste consisted of an eppindorf tube that, after use, still contained 3% or more of its contents, then drying the remaining liquids would constitute treating the waste (which requires a permit). In this circumstance, the materials would have to be collected in a labeled hazardous waste container with a lid, kept closed at all times except so as to add or remove waste. An open container would not be permitted. Chloroform/phenol wastes (solid debris) can only be stored open if it is determined that the waste is non-RCRA hazardous waste. If a pipette is used to transfer chloroform, then when that process is finished the pipette becomes solid waste. If it no longer contains more than 3% of its original contents, it is RCRA empty. At that point there may be a small amount of residual chloroform in the pipette. If you choose to further dry the pipettes in the hood for subsequent disposa
