The unit is a scientific facility hosted by the Faculty of Science and funded by the Research Department.  NUERS is equipped with a wide range of advanced devices found in various scientific fields including spectroscopy, chromatography, and the analysis of elements and minerals.  It also has organic material extraction and chromatography separation devices to study different types of samples, such as soil, water, plants, and bio-tissues.
The unit provides infrastructure and research facilities to serve researchers and graduate students at Kuwait University in addition to enhancing research cooperation and implementing joint environmental research with local, regional, and international research bodies.
The unit provides advice to environmental authorities, planners, and decision-makers working in the field of training and qualifies national workers in the field of chemical and environmental analyses.  The unit also provides environmental services and analysis to the authorities concerned with environmental affairs for specific financial fees that cover, at least, the costs of operation.
NUERS has been in operation under the umbrella of the Faculty of Science and Research Sector and Kuwait University since 1 August 2013.  Before this time, the unit was operating under the name of the Central Environmental Laboratory (CEL) with an ISO certified department under the supervision of an American company, which annexed it to Kuwait University in 2012.