| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 65.69 |
| Liaison | John Pumilio |
| Submission Date | July 23, 2014 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Colgate University
OP-25: Hazardous Waste Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.00 / 1.00 |
John
Pumilio Director of Sustainability Sustainability Office |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
None
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?:
Yes
None
A brief description of steps taken to reduce hazardous, special (e.g. coal ash), universal, and non-regulated chemical waste:
The Department of Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) provides safety and advisory services to the entire campus community. EHS is responsible for conducting environmental surveys, managing identified risks, advocating safe work practices, presenting quality educational programs, and ensuring compliance with university and regulatory standards.
Colgate University had a Resource Conservation Recovery Act (RCRA) inspection by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) this past fall, which included a regulatory compliance inspection of the University's hazardous waste management and universal waste management programs, and received no violations. The university substitutes non-hazardous chemicals for hazardous chemicals in experimentation whenever practicable. Colgate also sends its light-bulbs, batteries, and used oils to the county and/or commercial service providers for recycling. In addition, the university donates its wood-fueled boiler ash (as opposed to sending it out for disposal as non-regulated chemical waste) to local farmers to be used as fertizer for their crops. Parts cleaner sink systems have been been placed in the fine arts, performing arts, and facilities paint shops to minimize cleaning hazardous waste streams and recycle cleaning solvents.
None
A brief description of how the institution safely disposes of hazardous, universal, and non-regulated chemical waste:
Colgate's HAZMAT Contingency Plan provides a written plan of action for Colgate University in the event of a fire, explosion, or unplanned release of hazardous materials or hazardous waste that could pose a threat to human health and/or the environment.
The university follows all local, state, and federal waste regulations. These waste streams are collected at satellite accumulation areas (SAAs) and stored in a main accumulation area (MAA). Waste streams are segrated by compatibility, consolidated whenever possible, containerized, properly labeled, profiled, and then disposed of by various service providers (Clean Harbors Environmental, Stericycle, etc).
None
A brief description of any significant hazardous material release incidents during the previous three years, including volume, impact and response/remediation:
We haven't had any.
None
A brief description of any inventory system employed by the institution to facilitate the reuse or redistribution of laboratory chemicals:
Colgate's Environmental Health and Safety Office conducts routine chemical inventories within the sciences, shops and studios. Our program takes stock (unused) chemicals that are given to us and put them into a "surplus" inventory. Each faculty and staff member within the sciences has access to this list via Google Drive and can request those chemicals at no cost for their labs. We do not keep all unused stock chemicals because it is not safe to do so, for example we do not keep chemicals that are peroxide forming, expired, contaminated, etc.
None
Does the institution have or participate in a program to responsibly recycle, reuse, and/or refurbish all electronic waste generated by the institution?:
Yes
None
Does the institution have or participate in a program to responsibly recycle, reuse, and/or refurbish electronic waste generated by students?:
Yes
None
A brief description of the electronic waste recycling program(s):
Colgate has a salvage program where all Colgate-owned electronic waste (such as computers and peripheries, printers, televisions, etc.) are refurbished and re-sold or recycled properly through Regional Computer Recycling & Recovery (RCR&R) in Rochester, NY.
None
A brief description of steps taken to ensure that e-waste is recycled responsibly, workers’ basic safety is protected, and environmental standards are met:
Colgate's electronic waste recycling program uses Regional Computer Recycling & Recovery (RCR&R) out of Rochester, NY. RCR&R is certified for safety and proper recycling techniques/protocols. They are a zero waste facility. See their website for more information: http://www.ewaste.com/
None
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:
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