Safe labs that don't pollute....
Program summary:
This is a free service to King County schools to help them manage their hazardous chemicals. You can download fully scripted lesson plans for least-toxic chemistry labs, information on ways to reduce chemical stockpiles in biology labs, and a list of chemicals whose risks outweigh their educational utility.
Program details:
Through our visits to secondary schools in King County, Washington, we've found that most schools have accumulated numerous hazardous chemicals that are no longer needed. Most are located in stockrooms for science classes, but they can also be found in the photo lab, the crafts workshop or the janitorial closet.
The highest risk chemicals are found in the science labs and, no coincidence, these are also the most expensive to properly throw away. One of the primary goals of Rehab the Lab is to remove these chemical hazards from the schools.
Our long-term objectives include improving schools' chemical storage practices, reducing their hazardous waste generation rates and helping them incorporate practices and lesson plans that will reduce their chemical liabilities. Toward this end, we have produced and distributed Safe Labs That Don't Pollute, which includes several "Least-Toxic Chem Labs" and suggestions on ways to reduce chemical stockpiles in biology labs.
Lab Safety Videos (Windows media and Real formats)
Least-toxic chem labs: (pdfs)
Download instant lessons! A collection of fully-scripted, least-toxic chem labs ready for use by high school chemistry teachers.
Rehab the Bio Lab:
(pdf)
Two of the major hazardous waste streams from secondary school biology labs are formaldehyde (formalin) wastes and numerous partly-full containers of dyes, stains and indicator solutions, many lacking labels identifying their contents. 'Rehab the Bio Lab' can provide you with helpful information to improve these situations.
Excessive risk chemicals:
(pdf)
A list of chemicals whose dangers outweigh their educational utility--and why.
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