| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 64.13 |
| Liaison | Michael Kensler |
| Submission Date | Feb. 4, 2022 |
Auburn University
OP-20: Hazardous Waste Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
0.75 / 1.00 |
Thomas
Hodges Specialist Risk Management & Safety |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Part 1. Hazardous waste minimization and disposal
Yes
A brief description of steps taken to reduce hazardous, special (e.g. coal ash), universal, and non-regulated chemical waste:
Auburn University (AU) has established processes and procedures to minimize the volume and toxicity of hazardous, special, universal, and non-regulated chemical wastes generated through University operations. AU continuously seeks new opportunities to improve performance in this area. Following are some of the key waste minimization measures: • Microscale laboratory techniques are used whenever practical in laboratories to reduce the amount of chemicals consumed and the volume of waste generated. • Non-hazardous or less hazardous chemicals are used in chemical processes whenever practical. • Processes that use hazardous chemicals are reviewed and modified when possible to minimize the amount of chemicals used, and volume of waste generated including bench-scale treatment of laboratory waste. • Reverse distribution of pharmaceutical products occurs when possible. • Implementation of a chemical inventory management system to monitor chemical usage, minimize redundant purchases, reduce the amount of unused, outdated chemicals requiring disposal. • Implementation of a surplus chemical sharing and redistribution system available through the chemical inventory system. In addition, glass, plastic, and metal chemical waste containers are recycled after use. Universal waste is accumulated at the waste management facility prior to being transported for off-site recycling at a licensed facility. Waste types include: batteries (including alkaline), mercury-containing lamps, lamp ballasts, mercury-containing equipment and recalled or suspended pesticides.
A brief description of how the institution safely disposes of hazardous, universal, and non-regulated chemical waste:
Auburn University Risk Management & Safety (RMS) is responsible for managing all hazardous, universal, and non-regulated chemical waste generated by University operations. Auburn University Risk Management & Safety (RMS) is responsible for managing all hazardous, universal, and non-regulated chemical waste generated by University operations.
Hazardous chemical waste is collected from campus and accumulated at the AU Hazardous Materials 90-day storage facility prior to being transported for off-site disposal at a licensed treatment, storage, and disposal facility.
Non-empty aerosol cans are collected for processing at the waste management facility. The cans are punctured to drain and collect the contents for disposal as hazardous waste.
Non-hazardous chemical waste is disposed of through the sanitary sewer or municipal solid waste.
Universal waste is accumulated at the waste management facility prior to being transported for off-site recycling at a licensed facility. Waste types include mercury-containing batteries (including alkaline), mercury-containing lamps, lamp ballasts, mercury-containing equipment and recalled or suspended pesticides.
Biohazardous waste includes regulated medical waste (blood-contaminated articles, sharps, etc), infectious waste, and pathological waste and is managed as follows:
* Regulated medical waste is autoclaved when possible prior to disposal through a licensed waste handler or incinerated on-site at the permitted AU Pathological Waste Incinerator.
* Biological materials are autoclaved when possible prior to disposal as municipal trash.
* Pathological wastes are incinerated in the permitted AU Pathological Waste Incinerator.
* Radioactive wastes are managed based on the level of activity and half-life of the isotope. Short-lived materials are held for decay prior to disposal as sanitary sewage or municipal trash. Other radioactive materials are stored in secure facilities on-campus prior to being returned to the US Government, the original supplier, or disposal through a licensed waste handler. Hazardous chemical waste is collected from campus and accumulated at the AU Hazardous Materials 90-day storage facility prior to being transported for off-site disposal at a licensed treatment, storage, and disposal facility. Non-empty aerosol cans are collected for processing at the waste management facility. The cans are punctured to drain and collect the contents for disposal as hazardous waste. Non-hazardous chemical waste is disposed of through the sanitary sewer or municipal solid waste. Universal waste is accumulated at the waste management facility prior to being transported for off-site recycling at a licensed facility. Waste types include mercury-containing batteries (including alkaline), mercury-containing lamps, lamp ballasts, mercury-containing equipment and recalled or suspended pesticides. Biohazardous waste includes regulated medical waste (blood-contaminated articles, sharps, etc), infectious waste, and pathological waste and is managed as follows: * Regulated medical waste is autoclaved when possible prior to disposal through a licensed waste handler or incinerated on-site at the permitted AU Pathological Waste Incinerator. * Biological materials are autoclaved when possible prior to disposal as municipal trash. * Pathological wastes are incinerated in the permitted AU Pathological Waste Incinerator. * Radioactive wastes are managed based on the level of activity and half-life of the isotope. Short-lived materials are held for decay prior to disposal as sanitary sewage or municipal trash. Other radioactive materials are stored in secure facilities on-campus prior to being returned to the US Government, the original supplier, or disposal through a licensed waste handler.
Hazardous chemical waste is collected from campus and accumulated at the AU Hazardous Materials 90-day storage facility prior to being transported for off-site disposal at a licensed treatment, storage, and disposal facility.
Non-empty aerosol cans are collected for processing at the waste management facility. The cans are punctured to drain and collect the contents for disposal as hazardous waste.
Non-hazardous chemical waste is disposed of through the sanitary sewer or municipal solid waste.
Universal waste is accumulated at the waste management facility prior to being transported for off-site recycling at a licensed facility. Waste types include mercury-containing batteries (including alkaline), mercury-containing lamps, lamp ballasts, mercury-containing equipment and recalled or suspended pesticides.
Biohazardous waste includes regulated medical waste (blood-contaminated articles, sharps, etc), infectious waste, and pathological waste and is managed as follows:
* Regulated medical waste is autoclaved when possible prior to disposal through a licensed waste handler or incinerated on-site at the permitted AU Pathological Waste Incinerator.
* Biological materials are autoclaved when possible prior to disposal as municipal trash.
* Pathological wastes are incinerated in the permitted AU Pathological Waste Incinerator.
* Radioactive wastes are managed based on the level of activity and half-life of the isotope. Short-lived materials are held for decay prior to disposal as sanitary sewage or municipal trash. Other radioactive materials are stored in secure facilities on-campus prior to being returned to the US Government, the original supplier, or disposal through a licensed waste handler. Hazardous chemical waste is collected from campus and accumulated at the AU Hazardous Materials 90-day storage facility prior to being transported for off-site disposal at a licensed treatment, storage, and disposal facility. Non-empty aerosol cans are collected for processing at the waste management facility. The cans are punctured to drain and collect the contents for disposal as hazardous waste. Non-hazardous chemical waste is disposed of through the sanitary sewer or municipal solid waste. Universal waste is accumulated at the waste management facility prior to being transported for off-site recycling at a licensed facility. Waste types include mercury-containing batteries (including alkaline), mercury-containing lamps, lamp ballasts, mercury-containing equipment and recalled or suspended pesticides. Biohazardous waste includes regulated medical waste (blood-contaminated articles, sharps, etc), infectious waste, and pathological waste and is managed as follows: * Regulated medical waste is autoclaved when possible prior to disposal through a licensed waste handler or incinerated on-site at the permitted AU Pathological Waste Incinerator. * Biological materials are autoclaved when possible prior to disposal as municipal trash. * Pathological wastes are incinerated in the permitted AU Pathological Waste Incinerator. * Radioactive wastes are managed based on the level of activity and half-life of the isotope. Short-lived materials are held for decay prior to disposal as sanitary sewage or municipal trash. Other radioactive materials are stored in secure facilities on-campus prior to being returned to the US Government, the original supplier, or disposal through a licensed waste handler.
A brief description of any significant hazardous material release incidents during the previous three years, including volume, impact and response/remediation:
N/A
A brief description of any inventory system employed by the institution to facilitate the reuse or redistribution of laboratory chemicals:
AU uses the CHEMATIX Chemical Inventory Management System (CIMS) for laboratory chemical management. Laboratory staff can designate chemicals in their inventory as available for redistribution. Chemicals available for redistribution can be viewed and acquired by other laboratories by submitting a request through the CHEMATIX system.
In addition, during lab clean-outs chemicals which are in good condition are made available to other labs for redistribution.
In addition, during lab clean-outs chemicals which are in good condition are made available to other labs for redistribution.
Part 2. Electronic waste diversion
Yes
Does the institution have or participate in a program to responsibly recycle, reuse, and/or refurbish electronic waste generated by students?:
No
If yes to either of the above, provide:
When no longer needed, computers and other electronic equipment on Auburn University's campus are sent to Surplus Property, where they are sorted into what can be reused and what cannot. Surplus Properties first attempts to sell or donate the usable electronics to public schools in Alabama, other departments on campus, or Alabama state-funded agencies. If no one wants them, or if they are unusable, the electronics are marked for recycling.
Used fluorescent lamps and ballasts as well as other mercury-containing devices are collected from maintenance and operations as well as construction/renovation projects. These materials are recycled through Veolia North America.
AU uses the following vendors for electronics recycling:
- ViaTek Solutions, Atlanta, GA, - E-waste and lithium batteries.
- Call-2-Recycle, Atlanta, GA - most batteries managed by the University.
- Electronic Recyclers International (ERI)- computers, monitors, printers, and all other types of used electronics and some batteries
- Veolia North America - fluorescent lamps, ballasts, and other mercury-containing devices.
Used fluorescent lamps and ballasts as well as other mercury-containing devices are collected from maintenance and operations as well as construction/renovation projects. These materials are recycled through Veolia North America.
AU uses the following vendors for electronics recycling:
- ViaTek Solutions, Atlanta, GA, - E-waste and lithium batteries.
- Call-2-Recycle, Atlanta, GA - most batteries managed by the University.
- Electronic Recyclers International (ERI)- computers, monitors, printers, and all other types of used electronics and some batteries
- Veolia North America - fluorescent lamps, ballasts, and other mercury-containing devices.
Is the institution’s electronic waste recycler certified under the e-Stewards and/or Responsible Recycling (R2) standards?:
Yes
Optional Fields
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Support for e-waste management is also provided by Waste Reduction & Recycling (https://www.auburn.edu/administration/facilities/organization/operations/campus-services/recycling/) and Surplus Property (http://www.auburn.edu/administration/business-finance/surplus-property/).
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.