State officials concerned about how schools are handling hazardous oldchemicals may launch a project to help deal with the out-of-date chemistryclass materials. Next Monday, the Iowa Environmental Protection Commission will consider an80-thousand dollar iniative to start helping a group of Iowa schools (in theGrant Wood Area Education Agency district) properly dispose of chemicalslike mercury. Becky Wehrman of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources hasbeen working on the project. She says chemistry and even art classesgenerate hazardous chemicals which schools must dispose of properly.Wehrman says nearly all Iowa schools can dispose of those chemicals inregional collection centers set up by the D-N-R.Wehrman says a few large schools have to contact a commercial waste vendor,which can be expensive, and Wehrman says the state is trying to find a way toreduce the price.
