| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 76.32 |
| Liaison | Karen Oberer |
| Submission Date | Dec. 11, 2020 |
McGill University
OP-20: Hazardous Waste Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.00 / 1.00 |
Christian
Bouchard Manager, Waste Management Program University Services |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Part 1. Hazardous waste minimization and disposal
Yes
A brief description of steps taken to reduce hazardous, special (e.g. coal ash), universal, and non-regulated chemical waste:
Hazardous Waste Management (HWM) conducts training sessions for researchers in regards to waste handling in addition to standard training from Environmental Health & safety (WHMIS, biosafety, and radiation course). All laboratories are inspected every 18 months to identify conformity to University safety standards.
McGill's HWM unit uses a "Delay and Decay" system to ensure "the removal from the waste stream of all radioisotopes that can readily and easily be decayed." Under this system, highly radioactive isotopes are properly stored and labeled until their radioactivity is minimal. They can then be disposed of as low-activity waste. Moreover, the lead pigs from the isotope vials are collected and recycled.
https://www.mcgill.ca/hwm/radioactive/delay-decay
Hazardous Waste Management also collects the following items for recycling, thus diverting them from the waste stream: cell phones, alkaline and rechargeable batteries, lead acid batteries, toner cartridges, and old electronics.
https://www.mcgill.ca/hwm/recycling
McGill's HWM unit uses a "Delay and Decay" system to ensure "the removal from the waste stream of all radioisotopes that can readily and easily be decayed." Under this system, highly radioactive isotopes are properly stored and labeled until their radioactivity is minimal. They can then be disposed of as low-activity waste. Moreover, the lead pigs from the isotope vials are collected and recycled.
https://www.mcgill.ca/hwm/radioactive/delay-decay
Hazardous Waste Management also collects the following items for recycling, thus diverting them from the waste stream: cell phones, alkaline and rechargeable batteries, lead acid batteries, toner cartridges, and old electronics.
https://www.mcgill.ca/hwm/recycling
A brief description of how the institution safely disposes of hazardous, universal, and non-regulated chemical waste:
Waste Disposal Guidelines:
"- All waste material must be completely and legibly labelled.
- Full containers should be stored in a single storage area in each building which is close to exit and/or transport facilities. The area should be safe from mishandling, should be kept locked and be reasonably fireproof. Most research buildings are equipped with a dedicated hazardous waste room, see our weekly pickup schedule for room locations.
- Hazardous waste rooms are emptied on a weekly basis.
- Collection of chemical waste at your laboratory is arranged by using the myLab software.
- An initial supply of empty containers may be arranged for by calling 5066.
- While records will be kept of the volumes produced by each department, charges will not be made against individual users within the University for wastes which is generated as part of normal teaching and research operation for which established disposal guidelines are followed.
- All hazardous material will be sent to a hazardous waste transfer center. They will mix the waste according to chemical compatibility and send it out for final disposal. Final disposal will be landfill, neutralization or incineration."
Source: https://www.mcgill.ca/hwm/guidelines
"- All waste material must be completely and legibly labelled.
- Full containers should be stored in a single storage area in each building which is close to exit and/or transport facilities. The area should be safe from mishandling, should be kept locked and be reasonably fireproof. Most research buildings are equipped with a dedicated hazardous waste room, see our weekly pickup schedule for room locations.
- Hazardous waste rooms are emptied on a weekly basis.
- Collection of chemical waste at your laboratory is arranged by using the myLab software.
- An initial supply of empty containers may be arranged for by calling 5066.
- While records will be kept of the volumes produced by each department, charges will not be made against individual users within the University for wastes which is generated as part of normal teaching and research operation for which established disposal guidelines are followed.
- All hazardous material will be sent to a hazardous waste transfer center. They will mix the waste according to chemical compatibility and send it out for final disposal. Final disposal will be landfill, neutralization or incineration."
Source: https://www.mcgill.ca/hwm/guidelines
A brief description of any significant hazardous material release incidents during the previous three years, including volume, impact and response/remediation:
No significant hazmat spills.
A brief description of any inventory system employed by the institution to facilitate the reuse or redistribution of laboratory chemicals:
All McGill laboratories are using the myLab system (formally called Hazardous Material Management System, HMMS) to track their chemical inventory. The system has a "share" option where other Principal Inventigators (PI) can see what other PI have in stock. Also, Environmental Health and Safety and HWM are responsible for laboratory decommissioning, and are promoting the relocation of abandoned/unused chemicals.
Part 2. Electronic waste diversion
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:
Procurement Services is responsible through the IT Asset Management Regulation Directive, for the disposal and/or reuse of unwanted IT equipment purchased with operating funds at McGill University.
If the IT Asset and IT Technical Stewards determine that the computer does not meet minimum standards for repurpose at McGill, the IT Technical Steward creates a Hazardous Waste Management Work Order to arrange pickup for the computer(s).
Hazardous Waste Management then determines whether the asset can be refurbished for use outside of McGill, or recycled. Before such disposal, all personal and University data on the computer's hard drive must be erased.
The items are collected, sorted, then shipped to be recycled by a service provider determined by a call for quotes. The service provider with the best quote gets audited by our EHS and HWM department for their environmental practices and gets the contract if the result is to our satisfaction.
Students are also able to drop off their used electronics to HWM. In the past, HWM has also worked with Reboot, a student group that refurbishes unwanted laptops and sends them out for reuse in the McGill community.
If the IT Asset and IT Technical Stewards determine that the computer does not meet minimum standards for repurpose at McGill, the IT Technical Steward creates a Hazardous Waste Management Work Order to arrange pickup for the computer(s).
Hazardous Waste Management then determines whether the asset can be refurbished for use outside of McGill, or recycled. Before such disposal, all personal and University data on the computer's hard drive must be erased.
The items are collected, sorted, then shipped to be recycled by a service provider determined by a call for quotes. The service provider with the best quote gets audited by our EHS and HWM department for their environmental practices and gets the contract if the result is to our satisfaction.
Students are also able to drop off their used electronics to HWM. In the past, HWM has also worked with Reboot, a student group that refurbishes unwanted laptops and sends them out for reuse in the McGill community.
Is the institution’s electronic waste recycler certified under the e-Stewards and/or Responsible Recycling (R2) standards?:
Yes
Optional Fields
Additional documentation to support the submission:
---
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Website of McGill's certified electronics recycler: https://www.ecyclesolutions.com/en/
eCycle Solutions facilities each hold the following certifications:
ISO 14001: Environmental management
OHSAS 18001: Occupational health & safety
R2: Responsible Recycling for electronics repair & recycling
RQO: Electronics Recycling Standard (ERS)
eCycle Solutions facilities each hold the following certifications:
ISO 14001: Environmental management
OHSAS 18001: Occupational health & safety
R2: Responsible Recycling for electronics repair & recycling
RQO: Electronics Recycling Standard (ERS)
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.