ICP holds much-awaited seminar on Practical and Cost Effective Solutions to Laboratory Chemical Wastes, Part II

By Ms. Mutya Samonte

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.

Two participants from first seminar have now come full circle and were speakers in the second seminar, entitled “Practical and Cost Effective Solutions to Laboratory Chemical Wastes, part II”, which was held on October 24-25, 2012, at MetroClub, Makati.

Two of invited speakers who presented their respective programs and insights were Mr. Joel Ballesteros, PCO for UP Diliman Institute of Chemistry, and Ms. Lilia Molina, Head of the Analytical Services Laboratory at IRRI.

Other 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.

Dr. Luerne De Sales, General Manager of All Wastes Services, Inc. (formerly Inchem) showed 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 capped by a workshop which involved exercise on how to identify, estimate and classify chemical wastes based on procedures from laboratory exercises and analytical methods.

The main coordinator and lively emcee for this seminar was Ms. Edna Mijares and the workshop exercises were developed by Dr. Fabian Dayrit.

The 118 participants from government, academe, and industry were able to take home valuable information and skills. Many were inspired to start and improve on their lab waste management process.

The two-day seminar was well worth the wait. The ICP plans to bring the seminar to the regions in the near future.

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