Berea College
OP-21: Hazardous Waste Management

Berea College has various programs/tools in place to minimize chemical waste generation. One of the key programs/tools is a comprehensive laboratory chemical inventory data base. The college uses a soft ware program called ChemSW to identify the storage and use of all laboratory chemicals. This inventory system allows the College to tract the amount of chemicals stored on site by location. This helps minimize over- ordering of the same chemical by different departments. We can also locate chemicals on campus that are not being used very often, so they can be relocated to areas that need the chemicals. This helps minimize the amount of old chemicals on site that have to be discarded. . We also have made a significant effort to remove all mercury containing equipment to avoid the potential for spills and the waste generated during spill clean-up.To help reduce cleaning chemical waste, the Facilities Department installed cleaning stations that contain four types of cleaning products in concentrated form. The products are dispensed in appropriate use concentration and very little if any waste is generated.

The responsibility for the proper disposal of hazardous, universal, and non-regulated chemical waste is covered by Berea College’s Department of Environmental Health and Safety. All chemical waste materials are evaluated to determine the best disposal and treatment method. Methods of evaluation can include laboratory analysis, Material Safety Data Sheet review, and regulatory reference information for specifically defined materials such as used fluorescent lamps and batteries. All hazardous waste and non-regulated chemical waste is collected and stored in designated secure areas on campus and is shipped to an EPA permitted treatment, storage and disposal facility (TSDF). College employees responsible for chemical waste management receive regular training addressing transportation, classification methods, and regulatory requirements. The company that now handles the chemical waste generated on campus is Clean Harbors Environmental Services. Clean Harbors owns and operates the TSFD facilities used to store and treat the College’s waste. An evaluation of services, operating history and EPA permits was made prior to using Clean Harbors as primary TSDF.Universal waste materials (fluorescent lamps and batteries) are collected and stored in a central location on campus and are managed by the material recycling group located in the College’s Department of Facilities Management. Universal waste is recycled by USA Lamp & Ballast Recycling inc. EPA # OHR000109810.