California State University, Fullerton
OP-25: Hazardous Waste Management

CSUF has been aggressive in trying to protect human health and the environment by reducing the use of hazardous materials. EHS has formed a strategic relationship with academics to consult on chemical usage and find ways to use less hazardous chemicals in teaching and research labs. EHS routinely contacts research labs and trades to rid the campus of old and expired chemicals and wastes to lessen our chemical inventory and provide a safer environment. We are working on building a new chemical inventory barcoding system to help keep accurate up to date chemical inventories for all chemical users to help prevent entities from over purchasing chemicals. EHS has been proactive in working with Campus Trades to replace more toxic, air polluting chemicals and paints with less toxic alternatives.

CSUF EHS has implemented a proactive hazardous waste management program of properly characterizing of spec, spent hazardous chemicals, excludable recyclable material, regulated and non-regulated hazardous materials according to their DOT hazard class and chemical compatibility. CSUF has also implemented a practice of consolidating DOT/EPA and chemically compatible materials for disposal. Consolidating compatible hazardous materials has dramatically lowered the over poundage disposed of CSUF over the past 8 years. Other practices implemented include installation of a bulk oil recycling tank and oil filter crusher. Crushed oil filters are sold as scrap metals and the oil is placed into the recycling tank and picked up by a certified oil recycler. Batteries are separated into rechargeable and non-rechargeable varieties. The rechargeable batteries are recycled at no cost to CSUF. Non-rechargeable batteries are sent for disposal at an approved facility. Light bulbs and ballasts are also recycled at an approved disposal facility. Small gas cylinders and aerosols are recycled using approved machinery to remove remaining gas, filter the gas and leave the metal cylinders and housing to be recycled. EHS has also developed an online hazardous waste form to insure that hazardous wastes on campus are picked up in a timely manner. This also gives staff/faculty a quick and easy way to request that their hazardous waste be removed.

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CSUF does not have an inventory system to redistribute used laboratory chemicals due to the risks involved. These risks include unknown contamination of the used chemical, degradation of the chemical due to exposure to air or light, as well as the time and effort needed to supply such services. Instead CSUF is working harder at developing a barcoding chemical inventory system to help reduce chemical use and waste.

Departments notify Facilities Management of the equipment to be recycled. This includes old phones, televisions, audiovisual equipment, etc. Once Facilities Management picks up the E-waste, it is deposited into designated E-waste containers. The E-waste contractor is notified when the containers are ready to be picked up.

Disposing of e-waste in landfills has the potential to cause severe human and environmental health impacts. To avoid these risks, California’s Electronic Waste Recycling Act (Senate Bill 50) was signed into law in 2004. California State University, Fullerton is complaint with Senate Bill 50. Due to ongoing technological advancement, many of electronic products become obsolete within a very short period of time, creating a large surplus of unwanted electronic products, or “e-waste.” CSUF partners with vendors like ECS Refining, Recycle International, and Ewaste Center, Inc to ensure proper disposal and recycling of electronic waste on campus.