Laboratory Waste Disposal
Our laboratory waste collection and disposal service provides universities, schools, research facilities, healthcare laboratories, and industrial sites with a safe and compliant way to manage laboratory waste.
We operate a team of ADR-trained mobile chemists, who are available to attend your site to identify, sort, package and handle waste properly. So, whether you need a routine laboratory waste collection, support during a lab clear-out, or help identifying legacy chemicals and unknown containers, CSG is here to help.
Our specialist chemists support laboratories, universities, research facilities and manufacturers with compliant laboratory waste management.
500+
laboratory collections
completed every year across the UK
How Does Our Laboratory Waste Disposal Service Work?
Laboratory waste management requires specialist knowledge and careful handling. Our chemist-led site support helps keep the process as straightforward as possible, while supporting your waste management compliance through appropriate assessment, handling and documentation.
We work with you to understand your laboratory waste streams and provide a collection and disposal solution suited to your site.
ADR-Trained Chemists
Available to sort, segregate, package and label lab waste
Collection & Packing
Our trained team packs your laboratory waste into suitable containers and collects it from your site for safe transport.
Treatment, Recovery & Disposal
Our licensed treatment facilities prioritise recovery over landfill disposal
Waste Documentation & Reporting
Including consignment notes and supporting paperwork for your audit records
What You Can Expect From Our Laboratory Waste Management Service
When you work with CSG, you benefit from a reliable service designed to keep your operations safe, compliant, and efficient.
- Safe handling of hazardous and small-volume laboratory waste streams
- Chemist-led packing of laboratory smalls into suitable containers for safe transport and removal
- Clear reporting to support auditing, compliance and internal record-keeping requirements
- Advice on segregation and storage to help reduce waste volumes
Additional Support Available
If required, we can provide a chemist to attend site and produce a detailed list of your laboratory waste before collection. Where suitable, our chemist may also be able to help identify unknown materials using specialist equipment, depending on the type of container. These services are available at an additional charge and are not included as standard.
OUR CREDENTIALS
Built On Recognised Standards
Quality, environmental, and safety credentials supporting our laboratory waste disposal services.
DNV-Certified
Quality, Environmental & Health and Safety
CIWM
Affiliated Member
Safe Contractor
SSIP Accredited
JOSCAR
Registered Supplier
Sedex
Responsible Sourcing
CHAS
Accredited
Laboratories and Organisations We Support
Our laboratory waste disposal services support organisations managing hazardous and specialist laboratory waste across multiple sectors.
Schools & Universities
Teaching labs, research departments and lab clearances
Research & Development Facilities
For small-volume hazardous waste streams
NHS & Healthcare
Managing suitable laboratory chemicals and non-infectious hazardous waste. Infectious waste is generally excluded.
Emergency Spill Response
24/7 emergency call out
We’ll help you identify the safest disposal method. Speak with our team
Laboratory Chemical Waste Treatment and Recovery
CSG does more than collect laboratory chemicals. Our chemists segregate and compatibility-test lab smalls (laboratory smalls — small containers of waste chemicals) so suitable materials can be safely consolidated into controlled treatment batches. These can then enter our physicochemical treatment processes at Cadishead, part of the specialist infrastructure through which CSG treats approximately 10% of the UK’s hazardous chemical waste.
- Chemist-led segregation and compatibility testing
- Safe consolidation of compatible lab smalls for treatment
- Processes including neutralisation, oxidation, reduction, filtration and metal removal
- Recovery routes for suitable solvents, metals and high-calorific waste
Unknown Chemicals? We Can Help Identify Them
Unlabelled and legacy chemicals can be difficult to handle safely. Our mobile chemists can use a handheld Raman spectrometer to help identify many unknown liquids and solids at your site, including through certain sealed glass and plastic containers. Raman identification is available as an additional service and is charged separately.
Identification is not possible for every material or container, but where a suitable match can be achieved, it helps us determine the appropriate packaging, collection and treatment route without unnecessarily opening the container. See how the service helped Manchester University.
Laboratory Waste Guides & Advice
Frequently Asked Questions About Laboratory Waste Disposal
What types of laboratory waste can CSG remove?
We can safely manage a wide range of laboratory waste streams, including:
- Acids and alkalis
- Solvents
- Oxidising chemicals
- Contaminated containers
- Aerosols
- Batteries
- Pharmaceutical wasteÂ
- Laboratory equipment
- Hazardous sludges and suspensions
We can’t accept radioactive or explosive waste with restrictions on some types of clinical waste. Acceptance depends on the waste type and contamination. Please tell us about biological contamination or infectious materials before booking. If your waste is outside of our permits, we can out you in trust with a trusted sub-contractor who can assist.Â
Can you work to site rules and operational restrictions?
Yes. We regularly work within universities, healthcare and research facilities, which often means planning around permit systems, escorted access, laboratory shutdown windows and multi-building collections.
What kinds of chemicals can you process?
We can safely dispose of most types of chemical waste, including highly reactive and oxidising chemicals. Here are some examples of the kinds of chemicals we can remove and dispose of from your site:
- Acids and alkalis
- Metal complexes
- Cyanide and sulphites
- Sludges and suspensions
- Fuming acids such as oleum, chlorosulphonic acid and acidic solvents
- Water reactive chemicals such as thionyl chloride or phosphorus oxychloride
- Strong oxidising agents such as chromic acid, potassium permanganate and sodium hypochlorite
- Solvents
- Drums contaminated with water reactive residues and other toxic chemicals
Can you help reduce the environmental impact of our chemical waste?
At our treatment facilities, our chemists re-use, recycle and recover a large variety of wastes using methods that keep the protection of the environment in mind. We reduce the need for incineration or landfill by offsetting one waste stream with another during the treatment or recovery process. This helps your business to minimise the environmental impact of its waste. Non-recyclable waste is sent for recovery in waste to energy facilities wherever possible. The final route depends on composition and treatment requirements.
What information do you need for a quote?
To provide you with an accurate quote, we’ll require you to share the such as:
- Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
- UN number (if known)
- Waste composition
- Volume
- The packaging the waste is contained in (e.g. small containers, drums, IBCs, in bulk liquid form)
- Location and accessÂ
- Frequency of collections
Can you remove unknown chemicals or unidentified waste?
Waste must be appropriately identified and classified before collection. We can help assess unknown materials through surveys, sampling or Raman identification where suitable. Dangerous goods transport requirements also apply where relevant.
Are your staff ADR trained?
Yes. You can be sure that all your laboratory waste is collected by ADR-trained chemists and drivers experienced in this area. They will make sure waste chemicals are correctly segregated and packed for safe compliant transport to our registered treatment facilities.Â
Can you support multiple departments or buildings during one visit?
Absolutely. If there are multiple departments or laboratories within your campus or site, let us know and we can coordinate collections during a structured site visit.
How are laboratory smalls prepared for treatment?
Our chemists segregate and compatibility-test laboratory smalls before treatment. Where it is safe to do so, compatible materials can be consolidated into controlled treatment batches and directed through an appropriate physicochemical treatment process.
What happens if a laboratory chemical is not suitable for CSG’s physicochemical treatment process?
Not every laboratory chemical is suitable for the same treatment route. Where a waste cannot enter our physicochemical processes, we assess whether it can be recovered or managed through another approved specialist treatment or disposal facility.
Request a Free Waste Management Audit
The easiest way to start improving your waste management is with a Free Waste Management Audit from CSG. Our team will assess your current waste streams, identify opportunities to reduce costs and make practical recommendations to improve how you manage your waste.
Safety Built Into Every Service
See how CSG protects people, sites and the environment
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Arrange Laboratory Waste Disposal
Tell us about your laboratory waste and the postcode of your site. Whether you need a routine collection, a laboratory clearance or help with unidentified chemicals, share what you know. Our team can advise on assessment, packing and collection requirements.
For urgent enquiries, call 0800 011 6600.