| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 62.69 |
| Liaison | Christina Olsen |
| Submission Date | Aug. 20, 2024 |
British Columbia Institute of Technology
OP-20: Hazardous Waste Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.00 / 1.00 |
Part 1. Hazardous waste minimization and disposal
A brief description of steps taken to reduce hazardous, special (e.g. coal ash), universal, and non-regulated chemical waste:
Schools and departments typically only purchase what they anticipate as needing for a term so this keeps the amount of hazardous material onsite relatively low.
An inventory system (CampusOptics) has been implemented to provide a better idea of what materials are present on campus which would also help with the creation of goals and further processes to reduce or limit hazardous materials. There is currently a 60-70% adoption rate of the inventory system so far.
The Hazardous Materials Information System (HMIS) provides detailed and up-to-date information on hazardous building materials present in any BCIT spaces. This is managed and maintained by Facilities Services with the support of a specialist contractor. It is an important part of the Institute’s commitment to a safe workplace in compliance with WorkSafe BC regulations.
Reproductive toxins, sensitizers and carcinogens can cause significant health risks to workers and students. WorkSafeBC has assigned special designations for these substances and requires that exposure to these subtances must be minimized. BCIT is committed to reducing the use of reproductive toxins, sensitizers, and carcinogens in the work place.
A brief description of how the institution safely disposes of hazardous, universal, and non-regulated chemical waste:
There are several considerations and requirements for storing hazardous products:
- Ensuring they are stored within a fire compartment (i.e. room with 4-walls; flammables cabinet) and not accessible to the public.
- Stored based on their chemical classification and properties (storing similar chemicals together).
- A group of similar chemicals are stored separated from other chemical classes (e.g. not storing incompatible chemicals together such as acids and bases, oxidizers and flammables, etc.).
- Chemicals are stored such that they can be container if spilled (contained from spilling onto floor, into drains, or such that they could impact containers of incompatible products).
- Chemicals are stored below eye-level.
BCIT’s Safety, Security & Emergency Management office provides several guides regarding chemical storage.
Departments must safely store their hazardous waste until they can arrange disposal. Hazardous waste has the same storage requirements as a hazardous product, however there are some key requirements that are often missed:
- Hazardous products cannot usually be thrown away through normal waste streams or poured down the sink.
- Waste containers must be appropriately labelled with a supplier or workplace label (in addition to being labelled as waste).
- Waste containers must be in good condition (clean, undamaged, etc.).
- Waste containers must be sealed.
- Waste must be stored as per its contents hazard classification and separated from incompatible products or waste.
- Empty waste containers are considered hazardous unless they have been flushed out correctly.
BCIT Logistics handles hazardous waste disposal (requests can be submitted online) and stores the products, including chemicals used in labs, in chemical storage bunkers in SW01. Every six months, a biohazardous and industrial waste treatment and disposal company called Sybertech Waste Reduction Ltd is retained to clear the bunker and any other identified areas. Sybertech may be retained more regularly as needed for specific disposal needs. Large (45-gallon) drums that have been used to hold waste solvents, oils, or other fluids are picked-up and held by Central Stores for disposal. Empty drums and tires are picked up for disposal once a few have been collected. There is a used tire holding area located between buildings NE18 & NE16.
https://www.bcit.ca/safety-security/health-safety/chemical-management/
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:
BCIT uses the Campus Optics and Hazardous Materials Information System (HMIS) to inventory laboratory chemicals. This facilitates the disposal of these materials and could potentially (in the future) be used for reuse.
https://www.bcit.ca/facilities/facilities-services/hazardous-materials-information-system/
https://www.bcit.ca/safety-security/health-safety/chemical-management/
Part 2. Electronic waste diversion
Does the institution have or participate in a program to responsibly recycle, reuse, and/or refurbish electronic waste generated by students?:
If yes to either of the above, provide:
Electronic equipment at BCIT is typically used right to the very end of life.
Some computers are returned to the leasing company for refurbishment after use. Other items are sold through British Columbia auctions to recover any costs, with proceeds going back to BCIT. If items cannot be returned or sold, they are taken to depots, such as eCycle Solutions and the Encorp Pacific Richmond Return-It Centre, for recycling (https://www.return-it.ca/electronics/). Examples of electronic waste recycled from the institution: computers, drivers ,wires, motherboards, and various tech equipment.
In addition to electronic waste that is generated by the Institution, staff, students and faculty are encouraged to bring their old equipment from home to be recycled. https://commons.bcit.ca/news/2019/05/rethinking-e-waste-how-bcit-diverted-6-5-tonnes-of-electronic-waste-from-the-landfill-in-just-one-summer/
Central Stores is responsible for the disposal of other hazardous and dangerous waste products, which includes the recycling / reclaiming of batteries and toner cartridges. Dry cell batteries are collected at the SE12 receiving dock or any Student Association The Stand store for later disposal by the City of Burnaby. Wet cell batteries are collected and held at the battery holding area located between buildings NE18 & NE16. Once there are a number of wet cell batteries, a private vendor picks up and disposes of them. Toner cartridges are held by Central Stores until returned for recycling. https://www.bcit.ca/supply/logistics/shipping/hazardous-waste-recyclables/
Is the institution’s electronic waste recycler certified under the e-Stewards and/or Responsible Recycling (R2) standards?:
Optional Fields
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
https://www.bcit.ca/supply/logistics/shipping/hazardous-waste-recyclables/
https://www.bcit.ca/safety-security/health-safety/safety-data-sheets/
https://www.bcit.ca/facilities/facilities-services/hazardous-materials-information-system/
https://www.bcit.ca/safety-security/health-safety/chemical-management/
https://www.bcit.ca/safety-security/health-safety/emergency-spill/
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.