Luther College
OP-25: Hazardous Waste Management

Micro experiments techniques are used in lab whenever possible. This means that the smallest amount of each chemical possible is used when performing a lab. Luther also has kept a log of the hazardous waste generated by the college for past five years.

Luther College contracts with Safety-Kleen Systems Inc., to safely dispose of hazardous, universal, and non-regulated waste. Safety-Kleen regularly completes a part-washer of all machines on campus, using a water-based cleaner to safely break down chemicals accumulated on the machines. There is also an annual hazardous material lab pack, during which Safety-Kleen collects all Luther's hazardous chemicals from various faculty, staff, and labs and properly disposes of it. Luther also keeps all Material Safety Data Sheets, which are obtained when purchasing products containing hazardous chemicals. These data sheets provide a record of every chemical used on campus, describe each chemical, its properties, all the effects it can have on the body, and how to properly dispose of it.

None

There is no formal system at present, but the chemistry and biology departments repeat the same or very similar experiments each year, and thus often coordinate so that the waste product produced in one lab can be recycled and utilized in another lab experiment.

Luther’s institutional computer recycling program is not open to individuals, functioning solely as the recycler of institutional electronic equipment. To supplement the recycling program, Luther LIS created an online auction site (http://lisauction.luther.edu). Items such as computers, monitors, printers and keyboards that are obsolete for Luther’s purposes but still in too good of condition to be recycled are sold on the site and sent away for reuse. Midwest Electronic Recovery and other recycling programs pick up a truckload of recyclable items ranging from CRT computer monitors, overheads, circulation desk check-out dorm switches,to slide projectors. Cell phones are recycled through Wireless Alliance. Light bulbs are picked up by Retrofit Recycling. Batteries and printer cartridges are also recycled.

Luther LIS addresses the issue of outdated technology hardware and runs a computer recycling and waste reduction program for environmentally friendly disposal of obsolete technology equipment. “All electronic devices should be recycled appropriately, as they can contain materials which, if placed in a landfill or disposed of in other standard ways, could result in environmental pollution,” said Chris Barth, executive director of Luther’s LIS. Old computing equipment is sent to agencies that ensure it is recycled responsibly. It was sent to Winneshiek County Recycling. Equipment that must be recycled is properly stored until enough is collected to send to a recycling center. Reusable items are sold on the LIS Used Technology Equipment Auction. From time to time LIS also recycles LIS-owned equipment through other vendors. Most recently we worked with Midwest Electronic Recovery, because our local county facility will no longer take Electronics from commercial businesses.