University of Minnesota, Duluth
OP-20: Hazardous Waste Management

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 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.
At UMD, Hazardous Waste is evaluated into three different categories, Disposal, Recycle, and Reuse. UMD EHS Specialist will evaluate all Hazardous waste entered in the CHEMATIX system by generators and divert the items to the three options. EHS works with laboratories and Facilities Management to use less toxic options in experiments and cleaning. UMD has a recycling program for all Universal Wastes: Fluorescent Lamps, Batteries, and Electronics. Campus FM is currently undergoing a LED retrofit project to eliminate fluorescent lamps. All batteries and electronics currently are recycled.https://ehso.d.umn.edu/hazardous-waste/chemical-general-waste

Hazardous Waste system called Chematix is used to inventory, evaluate, and dispose of all Hazardous Waste. Electronics, Batteries, and Fluorescent Lamps are recycled through state contractors in accordance with MPCA and EPA regulations.

There have been zero significant hazardous material releases in the prior three years. UMD is a Small Quantity Generator with a hazardous material training program to address proper handling of all hazardous materials required of all users of hazardous materials. UMD has a written contingency program, an Emergency Operations Plan, and an Illicit Discharge Monitoring program that is updated annually. UMD is part of the HSEM chemical security program through Tier II reporting.

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.

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 licensed recycler. Currently, our e-waste is sent to Dynamic Lifecycle Innovations in Wisconsin. **Students have access to the same recycling programming while living in on-campus housing and would contact EHS directly to arrange for recycling.

Dynamic Lifecycle Innovations is certified under R2 standards