Reducing chemical footprint to keep workers, environment safe

Conscientious tracking massively reduces Los Alamos National Lab’s chemical inventory – and saves money

November 5, 2024

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Over the past year, the Lab brought down its chemical inventory by six percent.

To help ensure the safety of workers and the environment, Los Alamos National Laboratory continually monitors the number of chemicals it stores on-site and strives to reduce that number. In fiscal year 2024, the effort was particularly successful, with the Lab cutting its chemical footprint by six percent.

“The Lab is committed to providing a safe work environment for employees, ensuring compliance with the regulations that protect the community and the environment. Our Chemical Management Program takes seriously its role in that effort,” said J’nette Hyatt, senior director of the Lab’s Environment and Waste Programs.

Why track the chemicals we have on-site?

The Lab has several regulatory requirements that mandate proper chemical management sitewide — from the New Mexico Environment Department and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to name just two. The EPA’s Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act compels facilities storing hazardous and toxic chemicals to report custodianship of those substances to the State Emergency Response Commission. That commission, in turn, helps local authorities plan for potential emergencies, such as chemical releases.

By constantly improving the management of chemical containers stored on-site, the Lab strives to prevent such chemical-related incidents that pose risks to human health and the environment.

Efficient chemical management also means enhanced fiscal responsibility. When chemicals are tracked from pre-purchase to waste disposal in the Lab’s database, employees can check whether their organization has certain items on-hand before spending money to procure new ones. Not only does this prevent spending on excess product, but it reduces the likelihood of chemicals going unused and then expiring, which may present safety hazards and result in unnecessary waste that entails a complex disposal pathway.

“To put things in perspective, we’ve been told that disposal of a can of unused paint costs twice as much as it does to buy a new can of paint,” said Rebecca Hollis, program manager for Chemical Management.

The Lab’s chemicals include those used during research and development of national security challenges, but also common consumer items like cleaning products, glue, concrete and tubes of caulk.

2024-11-05
Valerie Montoya helps label waste drums with chemicals for off-site disposal.

LA-UR-24-31810

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