| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 72.18 |
| Liaison | Ryan Todd |
| Submission Date | May 9, 2016 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
California State University, Sacramento
OP-25: Hazardous Waste Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.00 / 1.00 |
Bob
Hitomi Environmental Specialist Risk Management Services |
Does the institution have strategies in place to safely dispose of all hazardous, special (e.g. coal ash), universal, and non-regulated chemical waste and seek to minimize the presence of these materials on campus?:
A brief description of steps taken to reduce hazardous, special (e.g. coal ash), universal, and non-regulated chemical waste:
At Sacramento State, the emphasis is on first recycling wherever possible and then reducing the volume/toxicity of any other hazardous waste generated. The University participates in the California PaintCare program for recycling both oil based and latex paint products, while also participating in the nationwide Call-to-Recycle program for recycling rechargeable batteries. On the academic side, the emphasis has been to transition many of the hazardous chemicals to less toxic alternatives. Examples in the College of Natural Sciences and Math are fixatives used with specimens and intercalating agents such as ethidium bromide. In chemistry, stockrooms have been purged of old chemicals so that only necessary chemicals are kept in stock. Only items currently in use will be kept in stock, reducing the amount of future waste generated.
A brief description of how the institution safely disposes of hazardous, universal, and non-regulated chemical waste:
For hazardous waste, there are designated personnel in each generating department who are responsible for the proper characterization, containerization, labeling and handling of hazardous waste. Their job is to work with faculty/students to ensure the proper protocols are followed, including the proper use of personal protective equipment (ppe).
For universal wastes, student interns have created an information pamphlet that is made available to campus departments and at campus events. These pamphlets emphasize the importance of recycling universal waste and options on/off campus. Campus recycling events provide an opportunity to educate the campus community and give them an opportunity to recycle their waste.
A brief description of any significant hazardous material release incidents during the previous three years, including volume, impact and response/remediation:
There have been no significant hazardous materials releases in the past three years.
A brief description of any inventory system employed by the institution to facilitate the reuse or redistribution of laboratory chemicals:
There is no formalized system for chemical reuse or redistribution, but unused chemicals that still have potency are kept for less stringent uses (e.g. art, design). Unused boiler treatment chemicals have been transferred to a local community college through a chemical supplier, reducing our hazardous waste generation.
Does the institution have or participate in a program to responsibly recycle, reuse, and/or refurbish all electronic waste generated by the institution?:
Does the institution have or participate in a program to responsibly recycle, reuse, and/or refurbish electronic waste generated by students?:
A brief description of the electronic waste recycling program(s):
The procedures to divert Sacramento State's electronic waste are a joint effort between several campus agencies. Depending on the stream and the condition of the units/materials involved, we employ several possibilities to ensure diversion:
1.University equipment in working order for reuse: This equipment is collected by our IRT department, graded as operational and conditioned to remove all memory from the unit. Our Property department takes posession and, if determined to still be useful for campus agencies, is housed and avaialable for university agencies to reuse.
2.University equipment in working order for public auction: This equipment is collected, graded and conditioned by IRT and then given to Property as before, however, these are materials deemed not to be useful for campus agencies. They are then sold at auction using the following website: publicsurplus.com
3.University equipment salvaged for parts: university equipment collected by IRT and determined to not be reusable maybe salvaged for parts which are then used to repair other equipment. The left-over components are then recycled as decribed in the next step.
4.Univerisity equipment determined by both IRT and Property to not be useful for campus needs and not suitable for public auction are conditioned to have all memory wiped, removed and destroyed, released from campus inventory and taken posssesion of by the Recycling department. All materials collected are then taken to local recycling agency California Electronic Asset Recovery (CEAR) for complete recycling.
5.During portions of the baseline period and during the entire reporting period, Sacramento State opened electronic waste recycling to its entire campus community. Students, faculty, and staff were encoraged to bring personal e-waste to a collection point located within the Facilities Management yard for collection and complete recycle by California Electronic Asset Recovery. Because the university is paid for these materials and after requiring participants to remove, wipe, or destroy all memory, the university encouraged recycling throughout its entire community by accepting e-waste for recycling purposes.
6.The University's Housing and Residential Life department also conducts semester long collections of personal e-waste as well as at special moving-out events. These materials are then turned over to the campus Recycling department for recycling with CEAR.
7.Again, to encourage recycling from the campus community, the Recycling department hosts two campus collection events each year--one in the spring which coincides with the campus Earth Day festivities and one on the Fall to coincide with America Recycles Day. Personal e-waste is collected at these events and recycled via the method mentioned above with the vendor CEAR.
A brief description of steps taken to ensure that e-waste is recycled responsibly, workers’ basic safety is protected, and environmental standards are met:
During both the baseline and reporting periods, Sacramento State has recycled its e-waste with the vendor California Electronic Asset Recovery (CEAR). The University has chosen to work with this vendor for several environmentally related reasons:
1. To discourage long-hauling and reduce carbon emissions, Sacramento State recycles its e-waste with CEAR which is located only 10.2 miles away.
2. CEAR is in complaince with all local and state laws regarding e-waste recycling.
3. CEAR has received numerous sustainable certifications including:
--The Basil Network E-standard certification
--QMI-SAI Global ISO 14001 Certified System
--QMI-SAI OHSAS 18001 Certified System
--R2 Certified
--CalRecycled Certified
The website URL where information about the institution’s hazardous and electronic-waste recycling programs is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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.