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 University departments currently manage their own chemical and equipment reuse programs.

The University of Alberta has operated a centrally funded program to manage hazardous waste both on main campus and at our satellite campuses for over 50 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 or recycling.

Yes there were two reported, both refrigerant releases: On February 26, 2019, more than 10kg of R-22, an ozone depleting substance, was released from an air conditioning unit in the General Services Building (GSB) Data Centre. The unit was shut down and the remaining R-22 was recovered. The unit was repaired and recharged with RS-44 a non ozone depleting refrigeration. On April 24, 2020, more than 10 kg of R-410A was released from a chiller unit located on the Book Repository at South Campus. The unit was shut down and the remaining R-410A was recovered. The unit was repaired and recharged. R-410A is not considered ozone depleting but was reported anyway.

RECYCLE CHEMICAL PROGRAM Recycling of chemicals within the University is currently managed by individual departments. 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. The solvent recycler was down due to operational issues for approximately one year, but was restored to working order in September 2019. Since its purchase, approximately 1,444 litres of acetone have been recovered saving approximately $1,140.76 in chemical disposal costs.

UALBERTA ELECTRONICS RECYCLING 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 by a local, government-approved recycler. The recycler is certified by the Government of Alberta and has met all the required safety and environmental standards within the province of Alberta. The local recycler processes the equipment responsibly and provides SMS with a record of destruction. ELECTRONICS ROUND-UP EVENTS 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 our government-approved electronics recycler.

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBLE PARTIES: Shannon Leblanc Program Team Lead Energy Management and Sustainable Operations Facilities & Operations Kris Urbanczyk Associate Director, Distribution Services Supply Management Services