| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 58.37 |
| Liaison | Sohair Fahmy |
| Submission Date | Sept. 10, 2024 |
Cairo University
OP-20: Hazardous Waste Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.00 / 1.00 |
Sohair
Fahmy Sustainability office coordinator Faculty of science |
"---"
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:
1- Efforts in the Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, to hand over to the Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital a set of medical supplies and tools necessary to implement the integrated management plan for healthcare waste in the hospital, which is one of the healthcare facilities on which the Medical and Electronic Waste Management Project of the Ministry of Environment and funded by United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and Global Environment Facility (GEF). An incineration unit for dead bodies and environmentally polluting waste was established for the Faculty of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine - Cairo University, by decision of the President of the Supreme Council of Universities No. (75) at 7/7/2008 As a unit with a special nature that aims to preserve the environment at the highest level. The faculty and the surrounding area by safely disposing of dead animal bodies and biological waste using an environmentally friendly incinerator that runs on natural gas.
A brief description of how the institution safely disposes of hazardous, universal, and non-regulated chemical waste:
Sharps Waste
Sharps are items capable of puncturing, cutting, or abrading the skin, e.g., needles, scalpels, blades, slides, and cover slips. Sharps are deactivated by autoclaving. Place sharps in a red, rigid, puncture-resistant, leak-proofcontainer labeled with the biohazard symbol.
A. Autoclave your sharps container for a minimum of 30 minutes at 121°C
and 15psi.
B. Label the sharps container with the words “autoclaved”
C. Deface any biohazard symbols.
D. Dispose of the container to the person concerned with its disposal.
Solid Waste
Solid biological waste, e.g., plastic wear, flasks, and multiple well plates, is typically deactivated by autoclaving.
A. Collect solid biological waste directly into autoclavable bags.
B. Tie a knot using the upper third of the bag and affix heat-sensitive indicator
tape near the knot.
C. Use a secondary container for all autoclave bags until disposal
D. Ensure the autoclave operates for 30 minutes at 121°C and 15psi.
E. Deposit the bag in the red-lidded totes designated for laboratory waste
Sharps are items capable of puncturing, cutting, or abrading the skin, e.g., needles, scalpels, blades, slides, and cover slips. Sharps are deactivated by autoclaving. Place sharps in a red, rigid, puncture-resistant, leak-proofcontainer labeled with the biohazard symbol.
A. Autoclave your sharps container for a minimum of 30 minutes at 121°C
and 15psi.
B. Label the sharps container with the words “autoclaved”
C. Deface any biohazard symbols.
D. Dispose of the container to the person concerned with its disposal.
Solid Waste
Solid biological waste, e.g., plastic wear, flasks, and multiple well plates, is typically deactivated by autoclaving.
A. Collect solid biological waste directly into autoclavable bags.
B. Tie a knot using the upper third of the bag and affix heat-sensitive indicator
tape near the knot.
C. Use a secondary container for all autoclave bags until disposal
D. Ensure the autoclave operates for 30 minutes at 121°C and 15psi.
E. Deposit the bag in the red-lidded totes designated for laboratory waste
A brief description of any significant hazardous material release incidents during the previous three years, including volume, impact and response/remediation:
1- Efforts in the Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, to hand over to the Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital a set of medical supplies and tools necessary to implement the integrated management plan for healthcare waste in the hospital, which is one of the healthcare facilities on which the Medical and Electronic Waste Management Project of the Ministry of Environment and funded by United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and Global Environment Facility (GEF). An incineration unit for dead bodies and environmentally polluting waste was established for the Faculty of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine - Cairo University, by decision of the President of the Supreme Council of Universities No. (75) at 7/7/2008 As a unit with a special nature that aims to preserve the environment at the highest level. The faculty and the surrounding area by safely disposing of dead animal bodies and biological waste using an environmentally friendly incinerator that runs on natural gas.
A brief description of any inventory system employed by the institution to facilitate the reuse or redistribution of laboratory chemicals:
Liquid waste
Liquid wastes, e.g., cell culture media and serum, are deactivated by
autoclaving or chemical disinfection. Most liquid wastes can be deactivated
with bleach.
A. Chemically disinfect with a 1:10 final dilution (vol/vol) of household
bleach.
B. Swirl flask contents and allow a contact time of 30 minutes.
C. Pour down a sink drain connected to the campus sewage system and flush
the plumbing with excess water.
Alternatively, liquid waste may be autoclaved for 30 minutes at 121°C and
15psi.
Liquid wastes, e.g., cell culture media and serum, are deactivated by
autoclaving or chemical disinfection. Most liquid wastes can be deactivated
with bleach.
A. Chemically disinfect with a 1:10 final dilution (vol/vol) of household
bleach.
B. Swirl flask contents and allow a contact time of 30 minutes.
C. Pour down a sink drain connected to the campus sewage system and flush
the plumbing with excess water.
Alternatively, liquid waste may be autoclaved for 30 minutes at 121°C and
15psi.
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?:
Yes
If yes to either of the above, provide:
Cooperation between Cairo University and many companies working on e-wastes management and recycling such as Techno-Tadweer, E-Tadweer.
Also, some initiatives to sort electronic wastes have been done by some volunteers as well as experts.
3- Many workshops are organized by Basel Convention Regional Center for Training and Technology Transfer for The Arab State (BCRC-Egypt) which is now hosted by Cairo University. This center follows Basel agreement which is regarded one of the greatest international agreements involved in hazardous materials. Basel includes fourteen centers at the international level.
4- Project number: EGY/SGP/OP6/Y4/POPs/2020/37 (E-waste in Cairo University and Zaytoun Area). More information at the following link https://sgp.undp.org/spacial-itemid-projects-landing-page/spacial-itemid-project-search-results.html?view=allprojects
Also, some initiatives to sort electronic wastes have been done by some volunteers as well as experts.
3- Many workshops are organized by Basel Convention Regional Center for Training and Technology Transfer for The Arab State (BCRC-Egypt) which is now hosted by Cairo University. This center follows Basel agreement which is regarded one of the greatest international agreements involved in hazardous materials. Basel includes fourteen centers at the international level.
4- Project number: EGY/SGP/OP6/Y4/POPs/2020/37 (E-waste in Cairo University and Zaytoun Area). More information at the following link https://sgp.undp.org/spacial-itemid-projects-landing-page/spacial-itemid-project-search-results.html?view=allprojects
Is the institution’s electronic waste recycler certified under the e-Stewards and/or Responsible Recycling (R2) standards?:
Yes
Optional Fields
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Data source is from green office at different faculties and sustainability office-Cairo university
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