Columbia University
OP-21: Hazardous Waste Management

Columbia University has implemented several processes to reduce waste volumes. Columbia University has a robust solvent recycling program for alcohol, xylene, acetone and ethanol at both the Morningside and Medical Center campuses. Electronics, batteries, scrap film are recycled. Mercury containing dental amalgam is filtered from the wastewater at Columbia University maintained faculty practices and clinics through the use of dental amalgam separators with a rate of over 99% efficiency. Silver halide is filtered from wastewater at all Columbia maintained dark rooms through silver recovery traps. Re-usable sharps collection containers are employed at most locations generating sharp waste. The containers are recycled up to 500 times thus reducing plastic in landfills. Chemically contaminated glassware is crushed prior to disposal as nonhazardous waste thus reducing the total volume. Additionally, EH&S organizes several working groups to review safety and waste practices including the Chemical Tracking System Committee and the Environmental Management System (EMS) Steering Committee.

Columbia University has a strict no drain disposal policy (see link below) which prohibits the discharge of hazardous, radioactive, mixed and nonhazardous waste down any drain on any campus. Additionally, the University only utilizes vendors that have gone through a rigorous preferred vendor process. This process includes a thorough regulatory compliance paperwork review, documentation archiving and in many cases an onsite audit. The University emphasizes disposal options that reduce our overall impact on the environment such as preferring: recycling, fuel blending or incineration to landfill disposal methods. Numerous training sessions are preformed throughout the year to advise researchers on how to properly manage their resulting waste streams. Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S ) also offers monthly safety classroom training sessions as required for laboratory personnel that includes proper disposal procedures.

Additional information about hazardous materials reduction and recycling is available at: Battery Recycling: http://ehs.columbia.edu/RecycleBattery.html Electronic Recycling: http://ehs.columbia.edu/RecycleElectronics.html Lab Glassware Recycling: http://ehs.columbia.edu/RecycleGlassware.html Lamp/Light Bulb Recycling: http://ehs.columbia.edu/RecycleLamp.html Mercury Recycling: http://ehs.columbia.edu/RecycleMercury.html Sharps Recycling: http://ehs.columbia.edu/bsSharpsContainers.html Silver Recovery: http://ehs.columbia.edu /RecycleSilverRecovery.html Solvent Recycling: http://ehs.columbia.edu/RecycleSolvent.html Radioactive Waste Management: http://www.ehs.columbia.edu/RadioactiveWasteMgt.html Hazardous Waste management by Campus: http://www.ehs.columbia.edu/5LAll.html Drain Disposal Policy: http://www.ehs.columbia.edu/draindisposal.html EH&S Safety Committee: http://www.ehs.columbia.edu/SafetyCommittee.html EH&S Safety Training Options: http://www.ehs.columbia.edu/TrainingSchedule.html Criteria