Authors: Harshita Sharma, Saniya, Meenal Maan
Abstract: Laboratories are significant generators of diverse hazardous waste streams including chemical, biological, radioactive, sharps, and electronic waste. Improper management of such waste endangers human health, occupational safety, and environmental integrity. This study examines sustainable laboratory waste management practices through the framework of Green Chemistry, as established by Anastas and Warner (1998). The study reviews the classification of laboratory waste, current segregation and treatment protocols, and the effectiveness of sustainability interventions including microscale experimentation, green solvent substitution, solvent recovery, and digital laboratory management. Data analysis from published institutional case studies reveals that laboratories implementing green chemistry principles achieve waste reductions of 50–70%, E-factor improvements of 60–90%, and annual cost savings of approximately 50%. Key challenges including institutional inertia, cost barriers, and inadequate training are identified, alongside evidence-based recommendations for overcoming them. The study concludes that sustainable laboratory practice is simultaneously an environmental imperative, a safety strategy, and an economic advantage.
DOI: http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20321194
