It was in 2008 when the ICP held its first seminar on Chemical Laboratory Waste Management. As a result of this seminar, a number of laboratories initiated changes in their chemical waste management practices. This seminar series have now come full circle and were speakers with the subsequent seminar, entitled “Practical and Cost Effective Solutions to Laboratory Chemical Wastes, part II”, which was held on October 24-25, 2012, at MetroClub, Makati.
Mr. Joel Ballesteros, PCO for UP Diliman Institute of Chemistry, and Ms. Lilia Molina, Head of the Analytical Services Laboratory at IRRI presented their respective programs and insights on chemical waste management. Rounding up the roster of speakers included Engr. Edwin Navaluna, Supervising Environmental Specialist of DENR-EMB and Dr. Veronica Migo, Head of the Central Analytical Services Laboratory of Biotech, UP Los Baños, shared the process for Hazardous Chemical Identification and the relevant laws applying to chemical waste management. Ms. Tess Cayton, former plant Manager for Bayer Crop Science and now a private Environmental Consultant, presented an overview of the best practices on chemical waste disposal as practiced at Bayer (Philippines), to comply with local regulations and national laws, in particular with respect to pesticides. And last but not certainly the least is Dr. Luerne De Sales, General Manager of All Wastes Services, Inc. (formerly Inchem) who presented how chemical wastes are treated in their facilities and Mr. Mark Castillo, an Applications Specialist of Merck Millipore, provided a review of innovations in chemical waste management.
The seminar was concluded with a workshop that involved practice exercises developed by Dr. Fabian Dayrit, on how to identify, estimate and classify chemical wastes based on procedures from laboratory exercises and analytical methods. There were 118 participants representing the government, academe, and industry sectors who were able to acquire valuable information and skills. Many were inspired to start and improve on their lab waste management in their own workplace. With the success of this seminar series, ICP plans to bring the seminar to the provincial regions in the near future. (Mutya Samonte)