University of Alberta
OP-21: Hazardous Waste Management

CENTRALLY FUNDED HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM The University of Alberta has a centrally funded program to manage hazardous materials for recycling or disposal. Laboratories are encouraged to reduce the amount of chemicals they store by completing chemical audits and using targeted chemical disposal programs. Additionally, annual laboratory audits are conducted by the Operations Team that encourages labs to maintain only a minimal chemical inventory. BULK PURCHASING University departments using chemicals typically have central stores that manage many of the chemicals common to labs in the department. This allows for bulk purchasing, which reduces duplicate purchases and individual lab storage volumes. CHEMICAL REUSE The university has a Recycle Chemical Program that encourages labs to reduce their inventory by relinquishing surplus chemicals that are then made available to other labs on campus. The surplus chemical inventory is a searchable electronic database available to all labs registered in the database.

The University of Alberta has operated a centrally funded program to manage hazardous waste both on main campus and at our satellite campuses for almost 40 years. The Hazardous Waste Program manages both hazardous and non-regulated waste, including chemical, radionuclide, bio-hazardous waste and some hazardous recyclables such as paint and mercury. The program operates with one technician and a supervisor. Both the tech and supervisor are trained in bio, chemical and radiation safety, defensive driving and Transportation of Dangerous Goods. The Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) website provides information on management of hazardous waste, and EHS administers an electronic waste tracking program that maintains records of receipt and disposal of hazardous materials. The hazardous, non-regulated and select universal waste for disposal are collected on campus and transported in accordance with the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations to the hazardous waste transfer facility. At the facility the waste is sorted and packed for transfer to a licenced hazardous waste disposal vendor. Solvents are bulked into two 10,000 litre tanks from which the contents are sent out with a licenced hazardous waste disposal vendor for disposal.

There have been no incidents of hazardous material release in the previous three years.

RECYCLE CHEMICAL PROGRAM Environment, Health, and Safety (EHS) has a Recycle Chemical Program that encourages labs to reduce their chemical inventory by relinquishing surplus chemicals that are then made available to other labs on campus. The surplus chemical inventory is a searchable electronic database called Chematix that is available to all labs registered in the database. To access Chematix, a lab simply has to register, and then can use the inventory to donate chemicals or to request surplus chemicals from EHS. Donated chemicals are picked up directly from the lab by EHS and chemicals requested from surplus are delivered to the lab within 1-3 business days. We are conducting a pilot test of a laboratory electronic inventory system with two departments, Chemistry and Pharmacy. This inventory program not only allows for development of a chemical database for each laboratory in the pilot but also allows labs to manage their own surplus or recycle materials by transferring the material directly to an interested lab. SOLVENT RECYCLING In 2015/16 the Department of Chemistry received a grant from the Sustainability Enhancement Fund to purchase a solvent recycling unit for both the undergraduate teaching and research laboratories. This project will lead to an approximate recovery of 6,160 litres of acetone per year saving approximately $16,500 annually in disposal costs.

All university-owned electronic waste is processed through the Surplus Department at Supply Management Services (SMS). Individual departments are responsible for identifying the items and submitting a request to SMS for pickup. Once the request is received, SMS' drivers are dispatched to pick up the items. When the equipment arrives in SMS' warehouse, a sort is performed and it is prepared for transport off-campus to a local recycler. The local recycler processes the equipment and provides our department with a record of destruction. Collection centers are set up on campus by the university two times per year to collect large electronics. Smaller personal items can be dropped off at collection centres managed by the Students' Union and picked up by SMS. Students and staff are permitted to dispose of personal electronics, including old or obsolete computers, televisions and other electronic devices at these collection centres. The items are removed from campus and taken to a local recycler. All electronic waste is collected centrally, picked up and transported to an electronic waste recycle center. The recycler is certified by the Government of Alberta and has met all the required safety and environmental standards within the province of Alberta.

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBLE PARTIES: Jessie Kwasny Waste Diversion/Recycling Supervisor Buildings and Grounds Services Kris Urbanczyk Associate Director, Distribution Services Supply Management Services Daniel Kielback Specialist, Sustainable Engagement Sustain SU, Students' Union Christopher Avelar Team Lead, Involvement Students' Union