1. Program Description
2. Scope
3. Definitions
4. Responsibilities and Program Components
5. Reporting Requirements
6. Information References
7. External References

1. Program Description

The UC Irvine Universal Waste Management Program (UWMP) provides cost-effective universal waste management programs to assure compliance with all Federal, State and local regulations.

The goals of the UC Irvine UWMP are to:

1.1 Develop an operational strategy for managing universal wastes generated in teaching laboratories, research laboratories, facilities maintenance, construction operations, and all other organizations within UC Irvine that will:

1.1.1 Establish consensus for procedures that are practical to carry out, efficient, and cost-effective.
1.1.2 Promote excellence in environmental stewardship among students, laboratory employees and other workers, scientists and academic leaders.

1.2 Promote cooperation, understanding, and mutual respect between environmental protection agencies, academic institutions, and the scientific research community.

1.3 Develop a plan for implementing procedures for managing universal wastes.

2. Scope

This program applies to all students, staff, and faculty who in the course of their job duties, generate, accumulate, store, or handle universal waste within UC Irvine including the contiguous campus, North Campus, and the Research Park.

3. Definitions

CUPA – Certified Unified Program Agency.
DTSC – Department of Toxic Substances Control.
EPA - Environmental Protection Agency.
RCRA - Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.

4. Responsibilities And Specific Program Components

4.1 Lab personnel and other UCI staff

4.1.1 Have general knowledge of universal waste.
4.1.2 Be able to identify unusual characteristics.
4.1.3 Identification of universal waste for subsequent handling.
4.1.4 Participate in training programs in order to gain the necessary skills and knowledge from a safety and health perspective.
4.1.5 Follow procedures.

4.2 P.I./Lab manager

4.2.1 Convey importance of UWMP.
4.2.2 Monitor performance and make corrections.
4.2.3 Responsible for day-to-day training, or oversee day-to-day training.
4.2.4 Responsible for lab personnel getting proper training and following procedures.
4.2.5 Follow-up on audit findings.

4.3 Department Chairs/Dean

4.3.1 Responsible for ensuring that P.I.s/group are meeting the intent under this UWMP.

4.4 EH&S

4.4.1 Handle material safely after taking possession from labs, and facilities, until final disposition.
4.4.2 Recycle/reuse as appropriate.
4.4.3 Manage regulatory compliance and internal finances for waste disposition.
4.4.4 Provide program framework for labs.
4.4.5 Provide training resources/consultative services.
4.4.6 Obtaining and maintaining an EPA identification number.
4.4.7 Universal waste manifesting.
4.4.8 Manage off-site universal waste transportation requirements.
4.4.9 Recordkeeping of the types and amounts of universal wastes generated.
4.4.10 Regulatory reporting to DTSC and CUPA.
4.4.11 Provide spill cleanup and incident mitigation services.

5. Reporting requirements

Universal waste regulations have streamlined hazardous waste management standards for the federal and state universal wastes including: batteries, mercury thermostats, consumer electronic devices, cathode ray tubes, and lamps. The regulations govern the collection and management of these widely generated wastes. This facilitates the environmentally sound collection and increases the proper recycling or treatment of the universal wastes mentioned above.

Universal waste regulations also ease the regulatory burden on generators of these wastes. In addition, they also facilitate programs developed to reduce the quantity of these wastes going to municipal solid waste landfills or incinerators. It also assures that the wastes subject to these regulations will go to appropriate treatment or recycling facilities pursuant to the full hazardous waste regulatory controls.

UC Irvine is a large quantity generator (LQG) of universal waste. The universal waste regulations impose a number of requirements on LQGs of universal waste including:

5.1 Universal waste disposal request

5.1.1 EH&S provides universal waste pick up service.

Request Universal Waste Pickup Service via the Internet at http://www.ehs.uci.edu/apps/waste/crtcollect.jsp

EH&S will pickup your waste within 1-3 days.

5.2 Storage time limits

5.2.1 Labs and other areas within UC Irvine that generate universal waste must follow the quantity and accumulation time limits for universal waste.

For more information please visit: http://www.ehs.uci.edu/programs/enviro/
Review the Universal Waste Guildelines.

5.3 Storage area security and signs

5.3.1 Requires sufficient security to prevent unauthorized entry into universal waste storage areas.

5.4 Universal waste labeling

5.4.1 All universal waste must be appropriately labeled upon the start of accumulation.

For more information please visit: http://www.ehs.uci.edu/programs/enviro/
Review the Universal Waste Guildelines.

5.5 Response to releases

5.5.1 Emergency planning must be conducted and documented for any universal waste storage.

For more information please visit:
http://www.ehs.uci.edu/labres.html
Click on: “Laboratory Safety Guidelines”, then “Spill Clean-up Procedures”.

5.6 Training requirements for universal waste handlers

5.6.1 Employees who handle universal waste in any capacity must be trained at a level equal with their duties.

For more information please visit: http://www.ehs.uci.edu/train.html
Click on: “ Laboratory Safety & Chemical Hygiene Plan Workshop”.

6. Information references

6.1 Notification to the DTSC.

6.2 Submission of applicable CUPA unified program forms relevant to hazardous waste management.

7. External references

Laws and Regulations on Universal Waste Management

State Laws

Federal Laws

State Regulations

Document Initiator: Kirk Matin
Rev.: 5/08