Hazardous Materials and Waste

Overview

The University of Alaska Anchorage manages hazardous materials to protect the health and safety of students, faculty, staff, and the environment. Environmental Health, Safety, and Risk Management provides guidance for the safe handling, storage, use, and disposal of hazardous materials located in laboratories, shops, studios, facilities operations, and other campus activities.

 

  • Hazardous Material

    A hazardous material is any substance that poses a risk to health, safety, or the environment due to its chemical, physical, or biological properties. Some examples include:

    • Biological materials (blood, animal carcasses, microorganisms, etc.)

    • Radioactive materials (isotopes, RIA kits, sealed sources, x-ray devices, etc.)

    • Hazardous chemicals (solvents, acids, heavy metals, etc.)

    • Certain consumer products (cleaning chemicals, aerosols, dry ice, camp stove fuel, etc.)

  • Hazardous Waste

    Hazardous waste is any waste material that meets one or more of the following criteria under federal or state environmental regulations:

    • Ignitable – capable of causing fire under standard conditions

    • Corrosive – able to corrode metal or destroy living tissue

    • Reactive – unstable, capable of violent chemical reactions, or capable of releasing toxic gases

    • Toxic – harmful or fatal when ingested or absorbed, or capable of leaching toxic chemicals into the environment

    These characteristics are defined in (40 CFR Part 261).

    In addition to characteristic wastes, the EPA maintains specific lists of hazardous wastes. If a waste appears on one of these lists, it is automatically regulated as hazardous.

    • F‑List (Wastes From Non‑Specific Sources) – covers wastes generated by common industrial and manufacturing processes. Examples: spent solvents, wastewater treatment sludges. (40 CFR 261.31)
    • K‑List (Wastes From Specific Sources) – applies to wastes from particular industries with well‑defined processes. Examples: petroleum refining, pesticide manufacturing, inorganic chemical production. (40 CFR 261.32)
    • P‑List (Acutely Hazardous Wastes) – includes acutely toxic discarded commercial chemical products, off‑specification chemicals, container residues, and spill residues. These pose severe health risks even in small quantities and have stricter handling and storage requirements. (40 CFR 261.33)
    • U‑List (Toxic Wastes) – covers toxic discarded commercial chemical products, off‑specification chemicals, container residues, and spill residues that are not acutely hazardous but still pose significant health and environmental risks. (40 CFR 261.33)

 

Categories of Hazardous Waste

  • Universal Waste

    Common hazardous waste items that are widely generated and managed under streamlined regulations, including:

    • Batteries
    • Fluorescent lamps
    • Aerosol cans
    • Mercury-containing equipment
    • Pesticides
  • Used Oil

    Oil that has been refined from crude oil or synthetic oil and has been used, such as:

    • Motor oil
    • Hydraulic oil
    • Vacuum pump oil
  • Academic Lab Waste

    Hazardous waste generated in academic instructional spaces such as:

    • Laboratories
    • Shops
    • Studios
    • Maker spaces
  • General Hazardous Waste

    Includes any other hazardous waste generated on campus that does not fall under Universal Waste, Used Oil, or Academic Lab Generated Waste. 

 

Storage Procedures

Hazardous materials must be stored appropriately per vendor/manufacturer's instructions or industry best practices. All containers must be labeled with the name of the contents, all hazards of the material, and any other information for the type of material per any pertinent regulations.

Chemicals: separate and segregate by physical state and hazards. Each category listed below must be stored separately from the others.

  • Corrosives - acids separate from bases/alkalis
  • Oxidizers - separate from everything
  • Flammables - solids separate from liquids
  • Toxic/Poisons - preferably in a secured location

Biological materials: leak-proof containers at appropriate temperature

Radioactive materials: secured in a restricted-access location, shielded appropriately for the type of emitted radiation.

 

Personal Protective Equipment

Personal protective equipment (PPE) should be worn when handling hazardous materials. Employees should work with their supervisor to select PPE based on the hazard(s) of the material and expected routes of exposure while handling the material. Typical PPE often includes eye protection (splash-proof goggles, safety glasses), lab coat or apron, disposable or reusable gloves, hearing protection (ear plugs, ear muffs), and respiratory protection (surgical masks, dust masks and filtering face pieces, respirators).

 

Purchasing Procedures

Chemical orders should be placed with a Purchase Order through UA Procurement and Contract Services. Anyone who needs chemicals or other hazardous materials can make a purchase request following procurement procedures. Chemicals, including biological and radioactive materials are Restricted Purchases on a ProCard without an approved waiver. See the UA ProCard Program for more information.

To purchase household or consumer products with your ProCard, check the ProCard Hazardous Materials List for waiver requirements and quantity limits per purchase. 

 

Departmental Hazardous Waste Responsibilities

Departments and personnel who generate hazardous materials are responsible for ensuring they are managed safely and in accordance with applicable regulations and university guidance. This includes properly labeling containers, maintaining safe storage practices, keeping containers closed when not actively adding or removing material, and coordinating with Environmental Health, Safety, and Risk Management for proper handling and disposal. Generators are expected to follow all applicable federal, state, and university requirements to help protect campus safety and the environment.

  • How To Label Waste Containers

    Universal Waste

    • Accumulation start date: when waste is first placed in the container
    • Contents: 'Used batteries (lithium-ion)', 'Waste pesticides', Used Aerosol Can', 'Waste Lamp'

    Used Oil

    • Accumulation start date: when waste is first placed in the container
    • Contents: 'Used oil' only. Do not use other adjectives for oil needing disposal

    Academic labs, including art studios, makerspaces, and other hands-on learning spaces:

    • 'Unwanted material'
    • Accumulation start date: when waste is first placed in the container
    • List contents: full chemical or product name, no abbreviation, shorthand,  or chemical formulae
    • May add chemical type or class
      • Examples:
        • Organic solvent
        • Oxidizer
    • Generator information: Responsible person/course/department, Course identifier, Building and Room number

    All other hazardous waste

    • 'Hazardous Waste'
    • Hazard indicator(s): 
      • Examples:
        • GHS pictograms
        • NFPA 704 Diamond
        • WHIMS
    • Accumulation start date: when waste is first placed in the container
    • List contents: full chemical or product name, no abbreviation, shorthand,  or chemical formulae
    • Generator information: Responsible person/course/department, Course identifier, Building and Room number

    Please direct any questions on hazardous waste labeling to Environmental Health, Safety, and Risk Management.

    Email questions to: uaa_ehsrms@alaska.edu

 

Hazardous Materials Disposal Request

Chemical Waste Disposal

https://uaa.campusoptics.com/hw/chemical-waste

 

 

For hazardous waste disposal, guidance, or training, contact Environmental Health, Safety, and Risk Management.

Email: uaa_ehsrm@alaska.edu

Phone: (907) 786-1300