Why Use ECO Funnel?

Solve the "Open Waste Container" Problem with ECO Funnel™

Although it is common practice for chemists and lab workers to leave open funnels on waste containers, it is out of compliance with EPA, OSHA, and certain local Fire Code regulations and may result in fines of $5,000 or more. This applies even when the waste container is under a fume hood.

ECO Funnel™ is designed to address these concerns and help laboratories stay compliant with local health and safety codes. Fire Marshall Steve Carroll of San Diego, California said about ECO Funnel™.

"ECO Funnel™ is an ideal containment system that eliminates the danger of ignited vapors and spills from open chemical waste containers."

ECO Funnel™ is the ultimate lab safety product for collection of hazardous liquid waste. Its unique, patented design performs two functions, acting as both a sealed waste container and a solvent funnel.

Purpose, Design & Benefits

The Safety ECO Funnel™ provides important benefits:

Solves the "open waste container" problem
An open waste container sitting under a fume hood allows chemicals to evaporate at a rate of 30-60 mL per day and does not comply with OSHA and EPA standards. ECO Funnel™ screws securely onto a variety of bottles. Its latching lid prevents toxic emissions and promotes a healthier laboratory environment.

Prevents 99.9% of emissions of volatile waste solvents, acids, and bases in the laboratory
The gasket within the latching lid prevents nearly all chemical emissions when the funnel is not in use.

Maintains a low average daily operating cost - ECO Funnel™ is a cost-effective solution to waste management problems in laboratores, hospitals, and other facilities regularly working with hazardous chemical waste. Many ECO Funnels™ are used for several years. Your own usage may vary depending on usage.

Meets safety regulations
Unique, patented design includes a latching lid and gasket that meets most local, state and federal safety regulations and requirements (See "Safety Regulations")

May be used again and again
ECO Funnel™ resists nearly all corrosive chemicals and can be used safely for several years.

Is considered a state of the art product
Environmental health and safety officers and industry professionals consider ECO Funnel™ as a highly effective tool for chemical waste management.

Is widely used across diverse industry fields
Pharmaceutical, Biotech, Academic and Government laboratories all use ECO Funnel™ as part of their safety protocol.

Extends the life of your ductless fume hoods
Typically a ductless fume hood has no ventilation to the outside and extra fumes unnecessarily overwhelm its charcoal filters.

Strong enough to resist damage
Our ECO Funnel™ survived a University lab explosion completely intact and was documented in the photo to the right by a lab worker. Though the lab was mostly destroyed, the waste container remained closed, containing the volatile solvents inside and preventing a possible fire. ECO Funnel™ is a powerful tool for maintaining safety in the workplace.

Safety Regulations

The following Federal Regulations (EPA / OSHA) can be met through regular use of ECO Funnel systems and secondary containment:

29 CFR 1910.1450:  “Avoidance of routine exposure: develop and encourage safe habits; avoid unnecessary exposure to chemicals by any route.”

29 CFR 1910.1450:  “Indiscriminate disposal by pouring waste chemicals down the drain or adding them to mixed refuse for landfill burial is unacceptable.  Hoods should not be used as a means of disposal for volatile chemicals.”

40 CFR 264.173:  “A container holding hazardous waste must always be closed during storage except with it is necessary to add or remove waste.”

40 CFR 264.175:  “The containment system must have sufficient capacity to contain 10% of the volume of containers or the volume of the largest container, whichever is greater….”

29 CFR 1910.1450:  “Stockrooms/Storerooms: …chemicals which are highly toxic or other chemicals whose containers have been opened should be in unbreakable secondary containers….”

Clean Water

Chemists use volatile solvents such as acetone or isopropyl alcohol to wash their glassware in the sink. The Safety ECO Funnel™ facilitates the collection of waste solvent, makes sink solvent disposals easier and safer, reduces the chance of spillage and contamination, and helps comply with waste solvent regulations.

Clean Lab

Safety Officers find that an entire lab can benefit from the Safety ECO Funnel™. A simple and cost-effective way to control emissions and reduce the fire hazard, it minimizes the exposure of lab personnel to toxic fumes, reduces odor around the lab, protects users from odorless inhalants such as dichloromethane, and prevents the chance of cross contamination during lab procedures.

HPLC

ECO Funnels™ can be equipped with one or more HPLC fittings. Located on the side of the funnel body, HPLC fittings allow the operator to connect the HPLC waste line directly to the funnel to facilitate waste collection. Make your request for HPLC adapters when ordering your ECO Funnels™ and we will custom fit them to your specifications. You can also call us a (888) 322-5722 for more information on ordering ECO Funnels™ with HPLC.

Purchasing

ECO Funnel™ can be purchased individually or as part of a complete system. All systems include a waste collection container and 4" ECO Funnel™ or 8" ECO Funnel™. Some systems also include a secondary container for extra stability and spill control.

Systems that include secondary containers fulfill EPA Regulations for liquid containment. The Federal Regulation states that containers that contain free liquid must also be contained to prevent spills due to accidental breakage of the primary container.

"The containment unit must underlie the containers and must be free of cracks or gaps and be sufficiently impervious to contain leaks, spills and accumulated precipitation." (EPA 40 CFR 264.175)

Click here to see our complete line of ECO Funnels

Click here to see our complete line of waste containers and secondary containers