| Overall Rating | Bronze - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 39.47 |
| Liaison | Kirk Hemphill |
| Submission Date | March 1, 2017 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Florida Institute of Technology
OP-21: Hazardous Waste Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.00 / 1.00 |
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:
Containers previously holding hazardous waste and chemicals are routinely cleaned, serviced, and reused as a best management practice to help offset costs and wasteful disposal. Research professors in all of the Science Departments often share or donate extra or unwanted chemicals to one another in an effort to reduce disposal needs and costs.
A brief description of how the institution safely disposes of hazardous, universal, and non-regulated chemical waste:
The Office of Environmental and Regulatory Compliance enforces a strict “no-drain-disposal” policy which extends to all chemicals including non-regulated varieties. Satellite accumulation areas (SAA) are setup in every lab which generates hazardous waste. The SAA’s are inspected on a weekly basis for fullness and potential non-compliance issues. All full waste containers, unwanted chemicals, or universal waste is safely transported within secondary containment to the central accumulation area (CAA) for temporary storage; chemicals are segregated by compatibility to prevent unwanted reactions in the case of unforeseen container failure. The CAA’s contents are tendered to a licensed disposal company every 90 days as required by our large quantity generator status. Universal waste is segregated by battery type and mercury containing lamps are over-packed in ridged fiber drums.
A brief description of any significant hazardous material release incidents during the previous three years, including volume, impact and response/remediation:
Fiscal year 2016, the University experienced a small release of gasoline caused by a faulty valve on one of the above ground storage tanks. The release was absorbed as quickly as possible but some entered a storm water drain. Luckily the water level was low in the drain which prevented any gasoline from escaping into the campus drainage ponds. Florida Tech contacted the emergency response company which promptly dispatched a crew to clean the asphalt, remove contaminated materials, and pump-out the storm water drain. The appropriate state agencies were contacted during and post cleanup.
A brief description of any inventory system employed by the institution to facilitate the reuse or redistribution of laboratory chemicals:
Florida Institute of Technology does not currently have an official inventory system to redistribute or reuse laboratory chemicals; current practices is done by word-of mouth.
Does the institution have or participate in a program to responsibly recycle, reuse, and/or refurbish 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), including information about how electronic waste generated by the institution and/or students is recycled:
Students/ faculty/ and staff can drop off old electronics (phones, computers cords, batteries, etc.), at the Evans Library and the Shipping and Receiving center throughout the year, as well as various residence halls during the end of the academic year during move-outs. Florida Tech Property Administration, in partnership with Tech Support, has a program that allows for sustainable disposal of almost any electronic item.
Is the institution’s electronic waste recycler certified under the e-Stewards and/or Responsible Recycling (R2) standards?:
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:
Data sourced from the Office of Environmental and Regulatory Compliance, Property Administration, and the campus Sustainability Office.
Data sourced from the Office of Environmental and Regulatory Compliance, Property Administration, and the campus Sustainability Office.
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.