Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 68.43
Liaison Jim Simon
Submission Date Sept. 23, 2020

STARS v2.2

Gonzaga University
OP-20: Hazardous Waste Management

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.00 / 1.00 Tomson Spink
Maintenance Director
Plant Services
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

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:

Reduction of chemical product is important in reducing chemical waste. As stated in Gonzaga’s Chemical Hygiene Plan: “it is Gonzaga University's policy that all chemical purchases be of minimum amount needed for the immediate needs and discourages stock piling of chemicals for the sake of better prices.” Gonzaga makes efforts to reduce the use of products with hazardous materials by actively looking for safer, green alternatives. This includes purchasing biodegradable, phosphate-free cleaning solvents, paint with little or no VOC's, and lead and mercury-free equipment whenever possible.
Gonzaga also understands that it costs 3 to 4 times more to dispose of a chemical as to purchase it. This is discussed during training of Gonzaga staff members who work in Labs.

Hazardous Materials Management and Contingency Program:
https://www.gonzaga.edu/campus-resources/offices-and-services-a-z/Human-resources/HAZMatManagementContingencyPlan2014003.pdf


A brief description of how the institution safely disposes of hazardous, universal, and non-regulated chemical waste:

Gonzaga's chemical waste consists of a few satellite accumulations areas and one main collection area for hazardous waste. Staff members are trained according to the chemical hygiene plan on proper disposal techniques, including labeling, and logging waste quantities and types. Gonzaga’s Safety Programs Manager schedules routine waste pickups with outside vendors in accordance with pertinent state and/or county regulations. Safety Programs Manager also conducts routine inspections of the chemical waste holding area.


A brief description of any significant hazardous material release incidents during the previous three years, including volume, impact and response/remediation:

N/A.


A brief description of any inventory system employed by the institution to facilitate the reuse or redistribution of laboratory chemicals:

Gonzaga science labs currently have a bar code tracking system used for all chemicals that allows efficient use and re-distribution of chemicals and timely re-ordering. Every chemical purchased is tagged with a bar code and is tracked until product is used up. The bar code system is managed by staff who also log chemical waste inventory and who notify safety manager when materials need disposed.


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

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:

Gonzaga participates in the E-Cycle Washington program. E-Cycle Washington is a free program that provides responsible recycling of computers (including laptop and “tablet” PCs), monitors, TVs and e-readers in our state. Recycling is provided free of charge to households, small businesses, school districts, small governments and charities at authorized collection sites. Students are able to drop off their old or broken electronics at IT Services to be recycled through this program as well.


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

Website URL where information about the institution’s hazardous waste program is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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