Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 48.56
Liaison Alan Turnquist
Submission Date July 8, 2020
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Michigan Technological University
OP-21: Hazardous Waste Management

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 0.50 / 1.00 Jay Meldrum
Executive Director of Sustainability
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:
Currently there are no steps taken to reduce the amount of hazardous, special, universal, and non-regulated chemical waste.

A brief description of how the institution safely disposes of hazardous, universal, and non-regulated chemical waste:
Waste is generated from a number of waste streams. Michigan Tech's universal waste includes fluorescent bulbs, dry cell and recyclable batteries, mercury equipment, pesticides, and a small amount of pharmaceuticals. Michigan Tech has a small generator status, meaning we generate 1,000lbs of laboratory waste per month. These two types of wastes are hauled away by Drug & Lab Disposal Incorporated and Clean Harbors Waste Disposal Services. Other non-hazardous wastes, such as oil, brines, antifreeze, paints, other non RCRA, etc, are considered ecological hazards and are disposed of through alternative methods, rather then disposal into the landfill (i.e. oil waste hauler).

A brief description of any significant hazardous material release incidents during the previous three years, including volume, impact and response/remediation:
There have been no hazardous material release incidents that are considered reportable by EPA standards.

A brief description of any inventory system employed by the institution to facilitate the reuse or redistribution of laboratory chemicals:
Michigan Tech has a fairly up to date chemical inventory, but this is not considered formal by the institution. Other departments can make informal requests to other departments for materials, however most laboratories prefer to not reuse chemicals found in other laboratories.

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?:
No

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:
There is not a formal program, but steps are taken to recycle, reuse, and/or refurbish any electronic waste that is generated by the university. Michigan Tech has a small batteries recycling program on campus: https://www.mtu.edu/sustainability/recycling/

Is the institution’s electronic waste recycler certified under the e-Stewards and/or Responsible Recycling (R2) standards?:
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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:
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The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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.