How to Dispose of Filter Paper

Disposal of filter paper follows the same guidelines as disposal of hazardous or non-hazardous solid waste.

Hazardous waste disposal of filter paper follows the guidelines for solid waste. The way the filter paper was used determines the exact method of disposal. Filter paper may be either recycled, sealed and incinerated, or placed in a solid waste landfill.

Instructions

1. Categorize filter paper according to its use: organic compound or inorganic compound. Organic compounds include stench compounds such as acetic acid. Inorganic compounds include hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid and sodium hydroxide.

2. Place filter paper that is contaminated with stench compounds in a fume hood to evaporate the stench compounds before disposing of the filter paper.

3. Seal filter paper, after evaporation in a fume hood, in a sealed container for disposal.

4. Rinse filter paper that was used for inorganic compound filtering with water. Drain filter to remove excess water before placing the filter in a solid waste container.

References

• Denison: Hazardous Waste Disposal
• University of Waterloo: Hazardous Waste Segregation
• Stephen F. Austin University: Hazardous Waste Program Manual
• Process Cooling: How to Dispose of Waste Oil and Filters

Resources

• Laboratory Reference Manual: Disposal