Improve Environmental Performance 

in Academic Laboratories

Managing Laboratory 

Hazardous Waste

An Introduction to the 

Academic Laboratories Rule

Subpart K
Alternative Generator Regulations 

for Managing Hazardous Waste 

in Academic Laboratories

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) added 40 CFR Part 262 

Subpart K to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) hazardous 

waste generator regulations in December 2008. Subpart K provides standards 

for managing hazardous waste in academic laboratories at eligible academic 

entities as an alternative to the satellite accumulation area generator regulations. 

Subpart K protects public health and the environment by presenting alternative 

generator requirements better suited to the specific circumstances of teaching 

and research laboratories. 

The provisions of Subpart K will bring about safer management of hazardous 

waste in academic laboratories by: 

•	 Requiring hazardous waste determinations to be made by trained 

professionals, rather than students

•	 Requiring hazardous waste to be removed from the laboratory 

every six months

•	 Allowing eligible academic entities the flexibility to decide when 

and where on-site hazardous waste determinations are made

•	 Offering incentives for removing from the laboratories old and expired 

chemicals that may pose risks

•	 Requiring the development of a Laboratory Management Plan, 

in which entities specify best waste management practices 
For Participating States and Eligible Academic Entities

Increased Laboratory Safety

•	 More accurate hazardous waste determinations by transferring the 

responsibility for making hazardous waste determinations to experts

•	 Requires training for students and laboratory workers

•	 Laboratory clean-out incentives promote reduction of stockpiles 

of potentially dangerous old chemicals stored in laboratories

•	 Time-driven removals ensure hazardous waste is removed from 

laboratories on a regular basis

•	 Required Laboratory Management Plan ensures safer laboratory 

practices and increased awareness of hazardous waste management

Subpart K’s Alternative Regulations 

Offer Significant Benefits
For Participating Eligible Academic Entities

More Flexibility

•	 Choice of when and where on-site to 

make hazardous waste determinations

•	 Performance-based container 

management standards ensure safe 

storage and prevent leaks, spills, and 

emissions into the air while allowing 

for the following appropriate closed 

container exceptions:

•	 Venting is allowed when 

necessary for proper 

operation of laboratory 

equipment such as HPLCs

•	 Venting is allowed to avoid 

dangerous situations such 

as build-up of pressure

•	 Working containers may 

remain open until the end 

of a shift or procedure, whichever is first 

Efficiencies and Cost Savings

•	 Laboratories not required to count unused hazardous wastes 

generated during once-a-year laboratory clean-out toward generator 

status, which reduces episodic generation and lowers costs

•	 Thirty days allowed for once-a-year laboratory clean-out and 

no volume limit for clean-out materials 

•	 On-site consolidation means less vendor time on-site and 

fewer partially full containers

•	 Increased laboratory safety leads to reduced liability and 

the potential for lower insurance rates

Subpart K’s Alternative Regulations 

Offer Significant Benefits
Eligible Academic Entities

•	 Colleges and universities

•	 Teaching hospitals owned by or 

formally affiliated with a college or 

university

•	 Non-profit research institutes 

owned by or formally affiliated 

with a college or university

Subpart K applies to teaching, research, 

and some diagnostic laboratories, art 

studios, chemical stockrooms, and other laboratories owned by eligible 

academic entities. It does not apply to non-laboratory areas at eligible 

academic entities.

Subpart K is an optional rule. States may choose 

whether to adopt Subpart K. Once a state adopts 

Subpart K, eligible academic entities in that state may 

opt into the Subpart K regulation or remain subject to 

the pre-existing generator standards (i.e., the satellite 

accumulation area regulations, 40 CFR 262.34(c)).

Tailored for the Academic 

Laboratory Environment

Subpart K is a new EPA generator regulation designed for the academic 

sector. It addresses the unique hazardous waste generation patterns of 

academic laboratories:

•	 Hundreds of different hazardous wastes that vary over time

•	 Small volumes of each waste

•	 Many points of generation

•	 Hazardous waste generated by students with high turnover, 

minimal training, and limited accountability
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery

Mail Code (5304P)

1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20460

www.epa.gov/waste/hazard/generation/labwaste

EPA 530-F-09-019

Take the next step toward improving 

environmental performance in your 

academic laboratories 

Visit www.epa.gov/waste/hazard/generation/labwaste to find the final 

rule titled, “Alternative Requirements for Hazardous Waste Determination 

and Accumulation of Unwanted Material for Laboratories Owned by Eligible 

Academic Entities” 

•	 Federal Register notice; December 1, 2008; 73 FR 72912

•	 Code of Federal Regulations; 40 CFR Part 262 Subpart K 

The EPA Web site above also provides tools and resources for states and 

eligible academic entities that want to adopt and opt in to Subpart K.

To learn if Subpart K is in effect in your state—and for assistance in 

implementing the new regulations in your academic laboratory—

contact your state agency or the EPA Labs Team: 

Jessica Biegelson Kristin Fitzgerald

biegelson.jessica@epa.gov fitzgerald.kristin@epa.gov

703.308.0026 703.308.8286