What to do with used developer?

[Rogier]

Hi,

What to do with the used chemicals from developing my own B&W film?

I assume that pouring down the drain is not environmentally sound...:bang:
Can I neutralize them?
Collect them in one canister and bring to a ??? facility?
Or keep the chemicals separated?

Thanks for your advice!

Smiles across the wires,


Rogier

 

[thomasw_]

Hi, I develop only B+W film at a rate of ~1 or 2 rolls/week. I pour it all down the sink. My home has a sceptic field, too; I have never had any problems.

 

[ItsReallyDarren]

Fixer is generally the chemical that should be disposed of properly. Developer and stop bath are the two I pour down the drain.

I believe its the silver from the fixer that raises concern about pouring it down the drain.

 

[BigSteveG]

I'd say use a shot of tequila for every 6 oz and a wdge of lime in your glass!!

 

[maddoc]

Developer is not as problematic as (exhausted) fixing solution because Ag (silver cations) accumulates. Draining this into the sink has a bad effect onto the micro-organism in the wastewater treatment plant, it kills them. Best is to keep exhausted solutions separately and bring them to a hazardous waste collection place.

 

[drewbarb]

I pour my stop and developer together to neutralize the pH, and dump them down the drain. Most developers are relatively harmless- especially in the volumes produced in most home darkrooms.

 

[SolaresLarrave]

If you were using gallons and gallons of developer and fixer per day or per week, you'd need to dispose of it in any way other than pouring it down the drain. Since you're doing only your personal work (and you probably dispose of 650cc of developer per couple of rolls developed, and you do only four per time... when you develop, which may be once a week), it has no environmental impact.

At least, that's what I've been told. 🙂

 

[Rogier]

Thanks for the fast reply's!

Thanks for the fast reply's!

You have confirmed my thoughts, developer + stop is ok to drain.
But keep the fix for proper processing.

I love these forums, the best invention of the internet!

Thanks 🙂