Laura Carter is driven by her love for the environment and dedication to educating others on sustainable practices.
As a safety compliance specialist with UGA’s Environmental Safety Division (ESD), she helps laboratories across campus adopt simple but impactful actions — such as proper chemical storage and disposal — to create a safer, healthier community.
Carter’s dedication to the environmental began early.
“I’ve always really cared about trying to do what I can to help make where we live a better place,” she said. “Being a good steward of the environment and keeping everybody safe has always been something I’ve been super interested in.”
Carter began her journey with ESD through an internship while pursuing her bachelor’s degree in environmental science at Georgia College. As an undergraduate student, she gained a deeper understanding of the impacts of human activity on natural systems, and her passion soon became her profession.
Although she hadn’t originally planned to work with chemicals, Carter was drawn to the role during her internship. After graduating in 2021, she joined ESD full time, where she was responsible for hazardous waste pickups from labs across the university. A year and a half later, she transitioned to her current specialist position, taking on training responsibilities.
“I want to make a difference and try to help other people understand their impact on the environment,” she said. “Every chemical has to go somewhere; they don’t just disappear. Taking care of things safely is a lot more important than just getting rid of them quickly.”
Laura Carter shows a hazardous waste container her team uses to handle chemicals. (Photo by Dorothy Kozlowski/UGA)
Carter’s team provides hazardous waste management for the entire university, which involves conducting lab inspections, coordinating waste pickups, and ensuring compliance with Environmental Protection Agency regulations. Every chemical — from common items like acetone (nail polish remover) to specialized lab substances — must be categorized, stored and disposed of according to EPA guidelines.
In a typical week, Carter performs multiple inspections across campus, ensuring that both small and large chemical generators meet compliance standards. She has come to appreciate how even small actions, such as properly disposing of hand sanitizer, can have far-reaching impacts. Her team works closely with groups like the Facilities Management Division to handle items needing special disposal, such as batteries, lightbulbs and other everyday materials.
Training is also a central part of her role, and she takes pride in teaching new lab staff about UGA’s safety protocols. She works with principal investigators and students to provide the tools and knowledge needed for safe chemical storage and disposal.
“I love the education side of it,” she said. “I love talking to people and teaching them all the different aspects of what we do. Learning about their work in the lab is really interesting, too.”
Carter hopes to focus more on the educational side of her work as her career progresses. She is currently pursuing her master’s degree in environmental education through the Tuition Assistance Program.
Beyond the technical aspects, one of Carter’s favorite parts of her job is the connection she shares with her team.
“They are some of my best friends,” she said. “We’ve all become really close, and it’s a lot more exciting to come to work when you love the people you work with.”
For Carter, her team’s work is about more than just compliance; it’s about ensuring the safety and well-being of UGA’s campus community and beyond.
“The overall goal is keeping everyone safe,” she said. “It might take a little extra work to go through the disposal process, but in the end, it ensures everyone is safe, happy and healthy.”