Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 74.59
Liaison Chris Adam
Submission Date Sept. 7, 2020
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Dawson College
OP-21: Hazardous Waste Management

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.00 / 1.00 Chris Adam
Coordinator
Sustainability Office
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Part 1 

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

A brief description of steps taken to reduce hazardous, special (e.g. coal ash), universal, and non-regulated chemical waste:
Coolers - we follow provincial regulated standards and have replaced noncompliant chemicals Paints - ecological (eco-source paints) paints are chosen to reduce off-gassing or equivalent low VOC products. Safety protocol - Department & laboratory responsibilities: Every department or laboratory in the College where any kind of chemicals or hazardous materials are used, or where operated machinery, which can produce any toxic emission; should have the following in a readily accessible location. An updated list of the chemicals or hazardous materials used in the area. A computer printout from the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) on all of the chemicals or hazardous materials used in the area, indicating action and treatment in the event of a spill or harmful exposure to the chemical. Any equipment or first aid supplies necessary for dealing with a spill or harmful exposure and for proper clean-up of the affected area. First aid supplies are available through Security and standard protocols in place for any equipment and supplies necessary for handling and disposing of the chemicals or hazardous materials. Stationery chemical detection devices are located in all chemistry labs or equivalent use spaces.

A brief description of how the institution safely disposes of hazardous, universal, and non-regulated chemical waste:
Hazardous waste is stored in special lab facilities according to WHMIS regulations with modified air flow and are disposed of with certified hazardous waste pick-up companies each semester. Fluorescent bulbs are collected and sent to a recycling facility: certificate attached.

A brief description of any significant hazardous material release incidents during the previous three years, including volume, impact and response/remediation:
No incidents.

A brief description of any inventory system employed by the institution to facilitate the reuse or redistribution of laboratory chemicals:
Inventories of chemicals are kept by departments with every effort made to reuse material.

Part 2 

Does the institution have or participate in a program to responsibly recycle, reuse, and/or refurbish electronic waste generated by the institution?:
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:

A brief description of the electronic waste recycling program(s), including information about how electronic waste generated by the institution and/or students is recycled:
Non-functioning and repairable electronic waste is picked up by GEEP Inc. that refurbishes computers and recycles materials responsibly.

Is the institution’s electronic waste recycler certified under the e-Stewards and/or Responsible Recycling (R2) standards?:
Yes

Optional Fields 

Electronic waste recycled or otherwise diverted from the landfill or incinerator during the most recent year for which data is available during the previous three years:
---

The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
---

Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Dawson hazardous spill protocol: https://www.dawsoncollege.qc.ca/plant-and-facilities/emergency-procedures/toxic-chemical-or-gas-spill/

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.