University of Minnesota, Duluth
OP-20: Electronic Waste Recycling Program

Hazardous Chemical Waste Management

The University of Minnesota is committed to manage hazardous wastes (from cradle to grave) in a safe and environmentally sound manner. Therefore to reduce the burden of compliance and the cost of management of laboratory waste associated with research Chemical Waste Disposal is free of charge to all University Departments who follow basic waste management as required under:

Federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), enacted in 1976, established the cradle-to-grave management system for hazardous waste (40 CFR Part 260-265 and 266-282), primarily to protect human health and the environment from indiscriminant hazardous waste management practices.
State (Minnesota Hazardous waste Rules, Chapter 7045),
Local (Western Lake Superior Sanitary District:WLSSD), and
University (Hazardous Waste Management Guidebook) regulations.

As generators of hazardous chemical waste, UMD departments are responsible for ensuring that their employees follow University of Minnesota guidelines regarding the proper management and disposal of hazardous chemical waste within their laboratories, shops or service areas.

Proper disposition of all hazardous materials used in laboratories is, in the first instance the responsibility of the principal investigator or researcher to whom a laboratory is assigned. Ultimate responsibility for hazardous materials management lies with each department.

The Chemical Waste Management Guidebook could be obtained free of charge from the UMD Environmental Health and Safety Office by calling 726-7139, or accessed on line at: http://www.d.umn.edu/ehso/waste_management/gb.html

To dispose of your chemical waste follow our: Step by step Chemical Waste Disposal Guide

Additional Questions regarding waste disposal may be directed to:

Mahjoub Labyad, or Andrew Kimball
UMD-Environmental Health and Safety Office
Phone: 218-726-7139
Email: ehso@d.umn.edu

Electronic Equipment

Most electronic equipment and appliances contain a variety of hazardous substances and toxic metals such as lead, nickel, mercury, cadmium, polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) oils, freons, Radioactive materials, and more.

The existence of such materials in electronic equipment, render it hazardous waste by federal and state regulations. Therefore, prohibited from being disposed in the solid waste (trash), and must be managed appropriately.

Before you dispose of electronic equipment, and if the equipment still functions properly, put a piece of tape on the equipment and write on the tape the word "Works," otherwise mark the tape with the words "Does Not Work."contact other University departments to see if they can use the equipment. If other departments can use the equipment, notify University Inventory Services of the transfer. If no University department can use the equipment, contact University Inventory Services to have them delete the equipment from the inventory system. The equipment should then be collected by Facilities Management department for shipment to a state licensed recycler.

At the moment, the University sends its electronic waste to Asset Recovery Corp.

If you have large amounts of electronic equipment, it should be collected/ packaged in Gaylord boxes,

To request a pick up or a Gaylord box, call:
Environmental Health and Safety Office at 6764, or 7139

Questions about electronic waste, call:
Environmental Health and Safety Office at: 7273

Note: No hazardous chemicals should be sent or given to a recycler, or included with electronic equipment.

Smaller electronic waste (cell phones, e-readers, iPods) can be dropped off at the Information Technology Systems and Services Help Desk (conveniently located in Kirby Student Center.) In Housing, electronic waste is collected at the Lake Superior Hall Office. In addition, we offer e-waste collections on campus during fairs and other events on campus (Example: In April 2011, MPIRG collected 780 lbs of e-waste during the Spring Sustainability Fair.)