| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 48.73 |
| Liaison | Claire Rodgers |
| Submission Date | March 4, 2022 |
Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering
OP-20: 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:
Olin College firmly believes that the best way to reduce hazardous waste is by trying to minimize the use of hazardous chemicals. Efforts have been made to reduce the ordering and need of hazardous chemicals so that the waste streams can be reduced. This has been done in various areas such as tailoring laboratory experiments to use different chemicals that are less hazardous or that require less quantities, thus reducing the risk. To reduce its universal waste, Olin has been transitioning to LED lightbulbs in classrooms as the fluorescent lights break.
A brief description of how the institution safely disposes of hazardous, universal, and non-regulated chemical waste:
The campus utilizes Triumvirate Environmental (TEI) for EH&S related services. Through these efforts, a system has been implemented that segregates waste streams such as Hazardous Waste, Universal Waste, and Unregulated Waste. Periodic inspections are performed per MA DEP and RCRA requirements. Triumvirate Environmental manages the hazardous waste streams by taking it to one of its approved Transport Storage and Disposal Facilities. All of these facilities are audited before initial use and on an as needed basis moving forward. Triumvirate’s waste management team reviews each waste stream’s disposal options using the following hierarchy for managing the waste: Recycling/Reuse, Thermal Destruction, Treatment and lastly landfill. The waste is tracked through our waste management system from cradle to grave.
Waste streams in laboratories are demarcated and grouped into Satellite Accumulation Areas which are inspected weekly. The Satellite Accumulation Areas have secondary containment and are located in chemical storage cabinets or fume hoods. The waste is then brought to the Main Accumulation Area within 3 days of being full or 3 days from when the waste stream is no longer needed. Having the SAA’s minimizes the foot traffic into the MAA and thus reduces the risk associated with a possible exposure or release.
A brief description of any significant hazardous material release incidents during the previous three years, including volume, impact and response/remediation:
No incident related to a release of a significant hazardous material has occurred.
A brief description of any inventory system employed by the institution to facilitate the reuse or redistribution of laboratory chemicals:
Chemicals are ordered by Olin Staff and all chemicals on site have an SDS associated that is stored in a binder. An annual review of the chemical inventory is performed.
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:
Olin currently recycles electronic waste that is collected from the institution and during student move out in May. The electronics go to a local electronics recycling company, Earthworm Recycling. The company attempts to find a reuse home for working equipment, recycles scrap metals from equipment and everything else is sent to an R2 certified recycling facility.
Is the institution’s electronic waste recycler certified under the e-Stewards and/or Responsible Recycling (R2) standards?:
Website URL where information about the institution’s hazardous waste program is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Triumvirate Environmental Representative
Facilities
Triumvirate Environmental Representative
Facilities
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.