• Batteries, Lamps, and Electronic Waste

The HSRM Regulated Waste Division provides chemical waste pickup and disposal services at no cost to UMN departments. To have chemical waste removed from your location by HSRM staff, complete the online Chematix Chemical Waste Pickup Form. Detailed instructions regarding the waste form submission process are on the Chematix webpage linked above.

All chemical waste, regardless of where it is stored or how it is managed, must be properly labeled as soon as waste is added to a container. All chemical waste containers must be labeled and clearly marked with:

Most hazardous waste containers generated at the UMN are stored in satellite accumulation areas (SAAs). SAAs are used to manage hazardous waste in laboratories and other areas because doing so provides a safe and effective means to accumulate hazardous waste before removal by HSRM. Additionally, SAAs provide the least restrictive regulatory option for the accumulation and storage of hazardous waste containers. While identification of SAAs by signage is not required, it is recommended as a good practice.

Many common commercial products such as test kits, paints, cleaners, and pesticides have regulated constituents included in their chemical makeup.

Determining if a chemical waste meets the regulatory definition of a hazardous waste can be difficult and requires specific training. Therefore, it is the UMN policy that all staff assumes that all chemical wastes are hazardous and must be managed by HSRM for proper disposal unless told otherwise. Chemical wastes should never be thrown in the trash or poured down the drain without first seeking permission from HSRM.

This chapter was prepared in accordance with the requirements of the EPA’s Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations) and the Minnesota Administrative Rules (Chapter 7045) facilitated by the MPCA. The EPA’s Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) passed by the United States Congress in 1976, mandates the proper management of hazardous waste. In Minnesota, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) as well as county regulatory agencies administer the hazardous waste compliance program.