10/30/2017 Waste Management and Disposal | UMN Policy

ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE

Waste Management and Disposal

Related Policy: Environmental Management

There are three steps necessary to properly manage waste:

Identify Wastes
Evaluate Waste
Manage Wastes

1. Identify Wastes
Members of the University community must be aware of the wastes that they produce and the appropriate University management
system for each type of waste. The diverse University of Minnesota community generates an equally diverse range of wastes that must
be properly managed. Individual community members are responsible for the proper management of their waste. The University
provides safe, effective and efficient waste management services to each student and staff for all types of waste.

Example: A University employee may produce ("generate") various types of waste and employ a few waste management mechanisms.
Unwanted office paper and newspaper go to the paper recycling bins. Candy wrappers and apple cores go into the solid waste trash
basket. Dead batteries go into the battery recycling bucket. The old personal computer contains lead and other toxins in its components
so it should be collected for electronics recycling by established collection systems.

For assistance in identifying wastes, consult the Resources for Managing Waste Materialslisted below.

Department of Environmental Health and Safety (612-626-6002) can also assist in identifying wastes.

2. Evaluate Waste
Members of the University community must evaluate their waste for its physical, chemical, and biological characteristics to determine
how it is to be properly managed. Mismanaged waste may endanger human health and the environment.

Consider reuse, recycling or composting as part of a waste minimization and pollution prevention strategy. Strategies also include
answering the following questions. Why is the waste being generated? Can the waste be eliminated? If the waste is hazardous, can it be
replaced by something non-hazardous or can the process generating the waste be modified to render the waste non-hazardous?

A waste may be:

1. Recyclable material (e.g., paper, soda cans)

2. Compostable organic waste (e.g. food, animal bedding, biodegradable plastics)
3. Non-hazardous solid waste
4. Hazardous Radioactive Waste: waste containing or contaminated with a radioactive isotope
5. Hazardous Biological Waste: waste containing or contaminated with an infectious or potentially infectious agent, a biological
toxin, an animal carcass, a genetically modified organism, recombinant DNA, etc.
6. Hazardous Chemical Waste: waste chemicals, products which are chemical in nature (cleaning agents, paint, motor oil, and
pharmaceutics), products that contain chemicals (fluorescent lamps, thermometers) or materials contaminated with
chemicals (contaminated soil or rags)
7. Otherwise Regulated Material (asbestos, car batteries, contaminated soil and construction debris)

3. Manage Wastes
Once the waste has been identified and evaluated, generators must manage their waste according to applicable University of Minnesota
waste management instructions. These waste management instructions have been developed to keep the University in compliance with
all applicable laws and regulations and to induce a safe and healthy workplace.

When managing wastes, refer to the Resources for Managing Waste Materials listed below for guidance, instructions and to ensure
compliance with University programs.

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10/30/2017 Waste Management and Disposal | UMN Policy
The generator must arrange for removal of the waste for proper disposal. The University provides waste management programs for
disposal of all types of waste.

Waste Management Programs:

Non-hazardous Waste (i.e., regular solid waste): contact Facilities Managementon each campus; in the Twin Cities, call FM
Waste Customer Service at 612-624-2900; in Duluth contact Waste Disposal and Recycling at 218-726-8144
ReUse and Redistribution: contact the ReUse Program Warehouse at 612-626-9152.
Hazardous Radioactive Waste: call DEHS Radiation Protection at 612-626-6002.
Hazardous Biological Waste: call DEHS Biosafety Program at 612-626-6002.
Hazardous Chemical Waste: call DEHS Chemical Waste Program at 612-626-6002.
Electronic Waste: in the Twin Cities, schedule a pick up through the Office of Information Technology or contact FM Recycling
Program at 612-624-8084; in Duluth contact Information Technology Systems and Services.
Otherwise Regulated Waste (e.g., asbestos, lead, construction debris): contact Facilities Management on each campus; in the
Twin Cities, call FM Waste Abatement Services at 612-624-2900.

Resources for Managing Waste Materials:

Radioactive Waste Management: http://www.dehs.umn.edu/rad_radwast.htm
Biological Waste Management: http://www.dehs.umn.edu/bio_pracprin_whp.htm
Hazardous Chemical Waste Management [Parts 2, 4 and 5 of the Chemical Waste Management
Guidebook]: http://www.dehs.umn.edu/hazwaste_chemwaste_umn_cwmgbk.htm
Otherwise Regulated Waste Management
Asbestos and lead: http://www.facm.umn.edu/about/central-services/hazmat/index.htm
Computer recycling: http://it.umn.edu/technology-recycling
Construction debris: http://www.facm.umn.edu/about/central-services/hazmat/standards/index.htm
Waste disposal options by category: http://www.facm.umn.edu/about/central-services/recycling/waste-guide/cat...

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