University of Minnesota, Duluth
OP-21: Hazardous Waste Management

Safety Training presentations include many references to using the least-hazardous chemical possible to complete the job/research project. Training videos and materials are available at: http://www.d.umn.edu/environmental-health-safety-office/training In addition, the Hazardous Chemical Waste Management webpage reminds departments that they are ultimately responsible for all waste they generate. The University of Minnesota is committed to managing 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 indiscriminate 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.

Hazardous Waste Management Training is given to designated employees that manage hazardous waste within each unit, laboratory or service area. Other employees who do not manage hazardous waste must at least be made familiar with the labeling, storage, requirements and how to respond to emergency situations involving hazardous materials. Each material requires a different procedure for safe disposal. On the Environmental Health & Safety Office website>Hazardous Waste page (http://www.d.umn.edu/environmental-health-safety-office/hazardous-waste) there are details on how to properly dispose of each type of waste (chemical & general, radioactive, biohazard, and specialty wastes).

None have occurred.

An informal inventory is kept by EHS staff and staff are actively involved in reuse/redistribution of laboratory chemicals when they are no longer needed by a particular lab, when a researcher leaves the university, or when research focuses change.

Electronic Equipment REUSE: Before disposing of electronic equipment, and if the equipment still functions properly, contact other University departments to see if they can use the equipment (via free2depts listserv). If other departments can use the equipment, notify University Inventory Services of the transfer. RECYCLE: If no University department can use the equipment (or the equipment no longer works), contact University Inventory Services to have them delete the equipment from the inventory system. A work order is then placed with Facilities Management to collect the equipment for shipment to a state licensed recycler. At the moment, the University sends its electronic waste to Asset Recovery Corp. **Students have access to the same recycling programming while living in on-campus housing and would contact EHS directly to arrange for recycling.

Data is cataloged by the EHS Office and kept by Andy Kimball. Data is for the calendar year 2018.