CHEMICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT IN TEACHING LABORATORIES: an activity proposal for academic community awareness

Given the large amount of chemical waste stored in the teaching laboratories of the IFRJ Campus Duque de Caxias, emerged the need to manage and treat the chemical waste, according to 357 and 420 CONAMA resolutions1,2. These resolutions set waste disposal parameters for fresh and underground water respectively, most commonly polluted by companies and residents in general. During the VIII Science and Technological Week, an activity was presented with the aim to evaluate the public knowledge on the disposal, treatment and storage of chemical wastes. Furthermore, was emphasized the difference between waste and tailings, in order to classify the different types of waste according to 358 CONAMA3 and 10004 ABNT NBR4. The activity was geared at the academic community (students, teachers from different areas and other employees) of the IFRJ Campus Duque de Caxias and 48 visitors participated. Questionnaires were applied before and after the presentations in order to diagnose the knowledge of the academic community about the theme and to evaluate the effects of the project, Figure 1. The questionnaires replies showed that 70% of visitors were able to define precisely what a chemical residue is. The activity followed the ideals of 5R’s sustainability, aiming at the awareness and engagement the reuse of natural resources, as well as promoting the reduction of waste generated.