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Question about handling chemical waste from home film development
I shoot a lot of street photos on film and develop at home, but I'm concerned about where all the used chemicals go.
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henderson.mason4mo ago
Yeah but is it really that big of a deal though? I've been developing at home for like 15 years now and I just pour my used chemicals down the sink with a ton of water running, and I've never had a problem. The stuff is so diluted by the time it hits the pipes it's practically harmless. You're talking about a few ounces of developer and stop bath, not a drum of industrial waste. @diana314 I get the worry but the real environmental impact comes from big labs and factories, not someone rinsing out a Paterson tank once a week. And let's be real, the amount of water you waste driving to a drop-off site probably does more damage than the chemicals themselves.
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the_kai6mo ago
A few liters a month really adds up over time. I get why you're worried about pouring it down the drain. A lot of us use a neutralizer before disposal, but it never feels totally right. The package instructions make it seem fine, but it's hard to shake that nagging feeling. I've been looking into local hazardous waste drop offs as a better option. Honestly, this is the one part of home developing that bothers me too.
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