Overall Rating Bronze - expired
Overall Score 44.86
Liaison Elisabeth Reed
Submission Date Feb. 25, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Illinois State University
OP-21: Hazardous Waste Management

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.00 / 1.00 Gig Supanichrattana
Administrative Associate
Facilities Management
"---" 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:
Waste minimization or prevention can be accomplished in many different ways. Generators are strongly encouraged to be alert for alternative procedures or products that will reduce or prevent waste generation. Departments should be familiar with the nature of the waste they generate, including composition and quantity. In so doing, goals or benchmarks should be identified with efforts focused on reaching them. Please call Environmental Health and Safety for help in determining and establishing goals and benchmarks.

A brief description of how the institution safely disposes of hazardous, universal, and non-regulated chemical waste:
The Office of Environmental Health and Safety will pick up properly documented and packaged wastes and will store them prior to their final disposition. Waste is disposed of by contract and is picked up from the University usually twice a year. The hierarchy of disposal methods used for the University's waste is reclamation and residual destruction, high temperature incineration, chemical/physical treatment, and secure land filling. Student Health Services has drop-off for unused medication and Administrative Technologies takes old batteries and electronics for recycling.

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:
Waste generated through scientific classroom instruction has additional reduction options available. These include converting to micro scale experiments and incorporating material neutralization or inactivation into experimental procedures. This promotes environmental and product stewardship and could be a valuable theme in course curriculum. Chemicals or other materials which have not been opened or are still in usable form can be saved from becoming waste by being offered for other University staff use. EHS will periodically distribute a list of "unwanted but still usable" materials. Staff wishing to obtain a material for use may contact EHS. EHS will pickup and deliver the material to the requester. Staff wishing to list materials should also contact EHS. Materials should continue to be stored by the listing Department until a user is found. If this is not possible, or if an appreciable amount of time has expired with no result, EHS can pick up the 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:
In addition to working with the Town of Normal to recycle e-waste, ISU has its own e-waste refurbishment program that takes old computers, fixes them up, and puts them back into the University for free. See more: https://news.illinoisstate.edu/2013/09/updated-erecycling-tech-program-boosts-sustainability-initiative/

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:
14.33 Metric tons

The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
http://ehs.illinoisstate.edu/services/environmental/hazardous-materials/waste-collection.shtml

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.