1. Preamble
Kalinga University recognizes that laboratories, workshops, maintenance activities, healthcare facilities, information-technology operations, construction and other campus activities may generate materials requiring special handling because of their hazardous, toxic, corrosive, flammable, reactive or otherwise harmful characteristics. Improper handling, storage, transport or disposal of such waste can pose risks to human health, soil, water, air quality and campus ecosystems.
The University is committed to ensuring that hazardous waste is managed in a safe, environmentally sound and legally compliant manner. The University shall follow a prevention and minimization approach and, where hazardous waste is generated, shall prioritize appropriate reuse, recycling, recovery, treatment and authorized disposal in accordance with the nature of the waste and applicable regulatory requirements.
This Policy establishes institutional procedures for identification, segregation, labeling, storage, collection, transportation, treatment, recycling, recovery and disposal of hazardous waste generated or handled on campus. It also provides a framework for training, emergency preparedness, documentation and monitoring. The Policy shall operate alongside specific legal requirements applicable to biomedical waste, e-waste, battery waste, chemical waste and other regulated waste streams, rather than treating all such wastes as a single category. The principal national framework for hazardous and other wastes is the Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016, as amended; CPCB guidance emphasizes safe and environmentally sound management and responsibilities of waste generators/occupiers.
2. Principles
The Policy is guided by the following principles:
- Prevention and Minimization – Avoid unnecessary generation of hazardous waste and minimize quantities at source.
- Hierarchy of Management – Prefer prevention, minimization, reuse, recycling, recovery and treatment before final disposal where technically and legally appropriate.
- Segregation at Source – Hazardous waste shall be kept separate from general, recyclable and biodegradable waste.
- Safe Handling – Hazardous materials and wastes shall be handled only by trained or appropriately supervised personnel.
- Traceability – Hazardous waste shall be identifiable, documented and traceable from generation to final handover or disposal.
- Legal Compliance – All applicable environmental, occupational-safety and waste-management requirements shall be followed.
- Polluter Responsibility – Waste generators and responsible campus units shall ensure appropriate management of hazardous waste under their control.
- Emergency Preparedness – The University shall maintain reasonable procedures for spills, leaks, exposure, fire and other hazardous-waste incidents.
- Environmental Protection – Hazardous waste shall not be discharged, buried, dumped or burned in ways that may contaminate the environment.
- Continuous Improvement – Procedures shall be periodically reviewed and strengthened based on audits, incidents, regulatory updates and good practice.
3. Objectives
The objectives of this Policy are to:
- Establish a safe and systematic framework for hazardous waste management and disposal on campus.
- Identify and segregate hazardous waste at the point of generation.
- Prevent contamination of soil, surface water, groundwater and air from hazardous waste.
- Ensure appropriate labeling, packaging, storage and internal handling of hazardous waste.
- Ensure that hazardous waste is transferred only through appropriate authorized channels, facilities or service providers as required.
- Promote reduction, reuse, recycling, recovery and environmentally sound treatment wherever feasible and permitted.
- Protect students, faculty, laboratory personnel, housekeeping staff, maintenance workers, contractors and visitors from hazardous-waste risks.
- Establish training, personal protective equipment and emergency-response requirements.
- Maintain appropriate records, manifests, handover documentation and regulatory reporting where applicable.
- Promote research and awareness on safer chemicals, waste minimization and environmentally responsible laboratory practices.
- Support the University's broader commitments to environmental sustainability, responsible consumption and pollution prevention.
4. Guidelines
4.1 Identification and Classification
- Departments and facilities generating potentially hazardous waste shall identify the type, source and relevant characteristics of the waste before storage or disposal.
- Chemical residues, contaminated laboratory materials, solvents, oils, paints, cleaning chemicals, certain maintenance wastes and other regulated hazardous materials shall be managed according to their applicable category.
- Biomedical waste, e-waste, waste batteries and other separately regulated waste streams shall be managed under their respective applicable rules and procedures.
- Where classification is uncertain, the responsible department shall seek guidance from the designated University authority before disposal.
4.2 Source Segregation
- Hazardous waste shall be segregated at the point of generation and shall not be mixed with municipal, biodegradable or ordinary recyclable waste.
- Incompatible hazardous wastes shall not be mixed.
- Sharps, chemical containers, contaminated materials and other distinct waste categories shall be placed in appropriate containers.
- Departments shall ensure that waste containers remain closed or secured when not in active use.
4.3 Labeling, Packaging and Storage
- Hazardous-waste containers shall be compatible with their contents, leak-resistant and maintained in good condition.
- Containers shall be appropriately labeled with the waste type, relevant hazard information, date of accumulation and responsible department or laboratory, as appropriate.
- Hazardous waste shall be stored in a designated, secure and controlled area with restricted access.
- Storage areas shall have suitable ventilation, spill-control arrangements and protection from rain, flooding, heat and unauthorized access, as appropriate to the waste.
- Incompatible materials shall be physically separated to prevent dangerous reactions.
- Accumulated waste shall be removed through appropriate authorized channels within applicable storage limits.
4.4 Internal Handling and Transportation
- Only trained or appropriately instructed personnel shall handle hazardous waste.
- Internal movement shall use suitable containers, carts or other safe methods appropriate to the waste.
- Manual handling shall be minimized where it creates unnecessary exposure or spill risk.
- Routes and procedures for internal transfer shall be planned to minimize risk to people and campus activities.
- Spill kits and appropriate emergency materials shall be available in areas where hazardous waste is handled or stored.
4.5 Authorized Treatment, Recycling and Disposal
- Hazardous waste shall not be disposed of in ordinary waste bins, drains, toilets, soil, open areas or water bodies.
- Open burning of hazardous waste is prohibited.
- Where recycling, recovery or treatment is feasible and legally permitted, it shall be preferred to final disposal.
- Final disposal shall be undertaken only through appropriate authorized facilities or service providers, as required by applicable rules.
- Where applicable, the University shall use authorized hazardous-waste treatment, storage and disposal facilities (TSDFs) or other legally approved channels.
- The University shall retain appropriate handover, transport, treatment or disposal documentation.
4.6 Laboratory Chemical Waste
- Laboratories shall maintain inventories of chemicals and minimize procurement of quantities likely to become obsolete or expired.
- Expired, surplus or unwanted chemicals shall not be poured into sinks or drains unless specifically permitted by an applicable procedure.
- Chemical waste shall be segregated according to compatibility and hazard characteristics.
- Laboratory personnel shall follow approved procedures for neutralization or treatment only where technically justified, safe and legally permitted.
- Unknown or unlabeled chemical containers shall not be opened, mixed or disposed of without appropriate assessment.
4.7 Biomedical, E-Waste and Battery Interfaces
- Where the University generates biomedical waste through health facilities, laboratories or related activities, such waste shall be segregated and managed under the applicable Biomedical Waste Management framework and authorized treatment arrangements.
- E-waste shall be managed separately through applicable e-waste requirements and authorized recyclers or other permitted channels.
- Used batteries shall be segregated and managed through the applicable battery-waste framework and appropriate collection or recycling channels.
- These waste streams shall not be mixed with hazardous chemical waste unless specifically required by an applicable waste-management procedure.
4.8 Personal Protective Equipment and Occupational Safety
- Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) shall be provided and used according to the hazards involved.
- Personnel shall receive training on chemical hazards, labeling, safe handling, spill response and emergency procedures.
- Food, drinking, smoking and other activities that could increase exposure shall be prohibited in hazardous-waste handling and storage areas.
- Safety Data Sheets (SDS) or equivalent hazard information shall be accessible for relevant chemicals and materials.
- Exposure, injury, spill or other hazardous incidents shall be reported promptly through the University's incident-reporting mechanism.
4.9 Emergency Preparedness and Spill Response
- The University shall maintain procedures for responding to hazardous-waste spills, leaks, fires, accidental exposure and other emergencies.
- Spills shall be isolated and managed using appropriate spill-control materials and procedures.
- Personnel shall not attempt cleanup beyond their training, competence or available protective equipment.
- Emergency contact information and basic response instructions shall be displayed in relevant laboratories, storage areas and workshops.
- Incidents shall be documented and reviewed to identify corrective and preventive measures.
4.10 Procurement and Waste Minimization
- Departments shall consider waste generation and hazard characteristics when procuring chemicals, laboratory materials, paints, oils and other potentially hazardous products.
- Where technically feasible, less hazardous or lower-toxicity alternatives should be considered.
- Purchases shall be planned to reduce unnecessary expiry and accumulation of chemicals and other hazardous materials.
- Reusable systems and recovery options should be considered where safe and appropriate.
4.11 Training and Awareness
- The University shall organize periodic training for laboratory staff, housekeeping personnel, maintenance teams, security personnel and other relevant stakeholders.
- Students working in laboratories or workshops shall receive appropriate safety instructions before handling hazardous materials.
- Awareness programmes shall cover segregation, labeling, storage, PPE, spill response and prohibited disposal practices.
- Contractors and vendors handling hazardous materials or waste shall be briefed on applicable University requirements.
4.12 Documentation and Record Keeping
- Relevant departments shall maintain records of hazardous waste generated, stored, transferred, treated, recycled or disposed of, as applicable.
- Records may include waste type, quantity, date of generation, storage location, transporter/service provider, receiving facility and disposal or treatment details.
- Where legally required, manifests, authorizations, returns and other regulatory documents shall be maintained and submitted.
- Records shall be retained for the period required by applicable law or University procedure and made available for audits.
4.13 Research and Academic Integration
- Faculty and students shall be encouraged to undertake research on hazardous-waste minimization, safer laboratory practices, green chemistry, recycling, treatment technologies and environmental risk reduction.
- Relevant topics may be integrated into laboratory courses, dissertations, projects and interdisciplinary activities.
- Research involving hazardous materials shall follow applicable institutional safety and regulatory requirements.
- Research findings may inform improvements in university hazardous-waste practices.
5. Teacher–Student Participation
Faculty members shall:
- Ensure that students receive appropriate safety instructions before laboratory or field activities involving hazardous substances.
- Encourage waste minimization and safe segregation practices in teaching and research laboratories.
- Supervise student research involving hazardous materials in accordance with applicable safety procedures.
- Report and address unsafe hazardous-waste practices promptly.
Students shall:
- Follow laboratory and hazardous-waste safety instructions at all times.
- Segregate hazardous waste in designated containers and never dispose of chemicals in sinks, ordinary bins or open areas unless specifically authorized by procedure.
- Use prescribed PPE and report spills, exposure, damaged containers or unsafe conditions immediately.
- Participate in awareness, audits and research initiatives related to hazardous-waste management.
6. Monitoring and Review
- Conduct periodic inspections of laboratories, workshops, maintenance areas and hazardous-waste storage locations.
- Review segregation, labeling, storage, internal handling and final handover practices.
- Verify, where applicable, the authorization status and documentation of external waste handlers or facilities.
- Monitor quantities and categories of hazardous waste to identify opportunities for reduction.
- Record and investigate significant spills, exposures, non-compliances and corrective actions.
- Maintain appropriate records for environmental audits, institutional reporting and regulatory compliance.
- Review this Policy every three years or earlier if required by changes in legislation, University operations or identified risks.
7. Accountability and Transparency
- The Estate Office, Laboratory/Research administration, Environmental Committee, Green Campus Committee, Procurement/Administration and relevant academic departments shall jointly support implementation.
- Heads of laboratories, workshops and other waste-generating units shall be responsible for ensuring safe segregation, storage and handover within their areas.
- External waste-management service providers shall comply with applicable authorization, safety and documentation requirements.
- Relevant hazardous-waste records, training records and disposal documentation shall be maintained in appropriate institutional form.
- Significant incidents and corrective actions shall be documented and reviewed by the designated University authority.
- The University may make this Policy and appropriate evidence of implementation publicly accessible through its sustainability or institutional reporting platforms.
- Intentional dumping, unauthorized discharge, open burning or other serious violations may invite corrective or disciplinary action in accordance with university rules and applicable law.
8. Approval and Implementation
This Policy on Hazardous Waste Disposal shall come into effect from the date of approval by the competent authority of Kalinga University, Naya Raipur, Chhattisgarh. The Policy shall apply to all students, faculty members, researchers, laboratory personnel, staff, contractors, vendors, service providers and other stakeholders who generate, handle, store, transport or manage hazardous waste on university premises.
The Policy shall be implemented through the University's laboratory safety, estate management, procurement, environmental sustainability and waste-management mechanisms. It shall be read together with applicable Indian environmental and occupational-safety requirements, including the Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016, as amended, and separate regulatory frameworks applicable to biomedical waste, e-waste, battery waste and other regulated streams. CPCB guidance states that hazardous-waste management includes safe storage, packaging, transportation, recycling, utilization, treatment and disposal, and that occupiers have responsibilities for environmentally sound management and applicable records/authorization.
