Get to know F&S: Aman Khan

Environmental Protection Technician Aman Khan's expertise on all things hazardous waste is keeping campus safe, clean and running smoothly.

After receiving his bachelor’s degree in chemistry, Aman Khan was initially set on a career in pharmaceuticals, but noticing that environmental issues were becoming more pertinent, he instead took an opportunity to work at an environmental company specializing in chemical waste management.  

He first joined University of Toronto as a Hazardous Waste Technician, a role that was then expanded into his current position as Environmental Protection Technician. “I haven’t looked back since I got here,” he says. 

Most of Khan’s workday takes place out around campus, collecting waste from labs, conducting lab closure walkthroughs, or testing and preparing waste for final disposal—all while being on call for emergency response to hazardous material-related accidents.  

While lab waste is often the first thing people think of when it comes to hazardous materials at a university, the scope of Khan’s work is extensive. As an Environmental Protection Technician his work includes the safe handling and disposal of radioactive waste, batteries and paint from art studios—on top of the waste from over 1,100 campus labs.  

What’s more, each type of waste needs to be disposed of in a different way: incinerated, autoclaved — that is, sterilized using pressurized steam — or packaged and shipped to contractors for final disposal. Khan and the Environmental Protection Team are always learning and researching new ways to dispose of waste as technology develops. Currently, his team is working on finding methods to deal with 3D printing resin.  

Khan’s job involves a wide range of roles and responsibilities, but he wouldn’t have it any other way. “What’s great about my role is the variety. I’m not just stuck in one place.” 

Khan’s dedication to his work hasn’t gone unnoticed. “Khan brings a wealth of positive energy to work everyday and is a joy to be around. He is a talented collaborator with both co-workers and clients and is always willing to go the extra mile to get things done,” says Environmental Protection Services Manager Gordon Petre. 

Having been with U of T for over 16 years, Khan feels proud to play an integral role in keeping the university’s groundbreaking research going, including cutting-edge innovations from the pharmacology department and the Faculty of Medicine. A memory that sticks out to Khan is during the early years of the COVID-19 pandemic, when he got to see the vaccine materials firsthand. “I would hear about the vaccines on the news, and then see them in the labs at work,” he recalls. “It’s just feels good to be a part of all the work U of T is doing.” 

After long days of handling hazardous material, Khan lets his green thumb shine, and has a passion for gardening, growing tomatoes, peppers, chilies and okra in his spare time. He also likes going on road trips with his family, with Manitoulin Island and Lake Placid as his favourites.