Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 74.94
Liaison Yumiko Jakobcic
Submission Date March 5, 2021

STARS v2.2

Grand Valley State University
OP-20: Hazardous Waste Management

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.00 / 1.00 Yumiko Jakobcic
Campus Sustainability Coordinator
Office of Sustainability Practices
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Part 1. Hazardous waste minimization and disposal

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:
GVSU has a Mercury Reduction Program. The university's goal is to replace mercury containing equipment and devices with non-mercury materials and limit disposal. For example, fluorescent lamps are collect and recycled by Valley City Environmental Service. contact customer service if you have mercury devices that require disposal.

A brief description of how the institution safely disposes of hazardous, universal, and non-regulated chemical waste:
Waste is stored in designated areas on campus. Disposal of waste is scheduled on a regular basis with Drug and Laboratory Disposal, Inc., Valley City or other licensed disposal companies. GVSU generates and disposes of RCRA hazardous waste, universal waste, and other waste including medical waste, state of MI regulated industrial waste, DOT-Regulated and Non-Regulated Solids. Designated locations currently maintain its status as a conditionally exempt small quality generator (CESQG).

A brief description of any significant hazardous material release incidents during the previous three years, including volume, impact and response/remediation:
None

A brief description of any inventory system employed by the institution to facilitate the reuse or redistribution of laboratory chemicals:
We have a database that has every chemical bottle inventoried along with health and safety information. Among the main objectives of the system is to facilitate the sharing of chemicals. I have already seen instances of old chemicals being used that nobody knew were available. It also keeps track of lab equipment to avoid duplication.

Part 2. Electronic waste diversion

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:
Our Information Technology Department calls us when they need a pickup. Other ewaste is called in to Customer Service to be picked up by our Utility Staff. The Ewaste is brought to the warehouse and stored until the next Comprenew pickup is scheduled (https://comprenew.org/).

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

Optional Fields 

Website URL where information about the institution’s hazardous waste program is available:
http://www.gvsu.edu/facilitiesservices/

Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.