| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 61.60 |
| Liaison | Megan Curtis-Murphy |
| Submission Date | Feb. 28, 2023 |
Northeastern University
OP-20: Hazardous Waste Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.00 / 1.00 |
Megan
Curtis-Murphy Director of Campus Sustainability & Engagement Climate Justice & Sustainability Hub |
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?:
A brief description of steps taken to reduce hazardous, special (e.g. coal ash), universal, and non-regulated chemical waste:
The University hosts several research laboratories throughout the Boston Campus that are the primary generator of hazardous waste. Faculty, Staff, and Students are educated on best practices to reduce, reuse, and recycle hazardous materials within these laboratories. As a Large Quantity Generator of Hazardous Waste, it is required per Resource Conservation & Recovery Act (RCRA) that a waste minimization plan exists for this campus. The University has taken the following steps to reduce our hazardous waste:
Swapped out mercury thermometers and devices with safer alternatives; Chemical recycling; Battering Recycling; Updated equipment to remove or reduce waste streams like silver; Microscale and Green chemistry practices in teaching labs; ensure appropriate storage of chemical and waste materials to eliminate the risk of leaks; utilize virtual demonstrations over wet laboratory experiments when possible; evaluate safer substitutions for hazardous materials before purchase; and incorporate waste minimization practices into all hazardous waste training.
In 2013, the University was one of the first ten signatories to the Green Chemistry Commitments, with a number of goals including reducing hazardous chemical waste in teaching labs, and inculcating students with waste reduction education and awareness. Northeastern regularly engages students in green chemistry foundations within the Chemistry and BioChemistry Programs, which supports the University's steps to reduce the chemical waste it produces in its teaching and research operations.
A brief description of how the institution safely disposes of hazardous, universal, and non-regulated chemical waste:
A Chemical Recycling Guide produced by Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) is provided to the University Research community. All research and teaching labs utilize BioRAFT, the EHS software that manages chemical inventories and hazardous waste pickups. All hazardous waste shipments are managed with the help of outside contractors for safe and adequate disposal in compliance with RCRA and the Code of Federal Regulations for Large Quantity Generators of Hazardous Waste.
The University continues to investigate options for recycling various laboratory materials. Most recently, the University started a Lab Plastics recycling program working with GreenLabs Recycling in Concord, MA. The program helped recycle 2,592 pounds (1.3 tons) of animal cages, pipette tip boxes, and other lab plastics in the first eight months!
https://facilities.northeastern.edu/northeastern-lab-plastics-recycling-program/
A brief description of any significant hazardous material release incidents during the previous three years, including volume, impact and response/remediation:
The University has not had any release incidents in the past three years.
A brief description of any inventory system employed by the institution to facilitate the reuse or redistribution of laboratory chemicals:
Northeastern University utilizes a platform called BioRaft to maintain an up to date chemical and hazardous waste inventory on campus. BioRaft has a ChemTracker tool that allows users to mark chemicals as “Surplus”. This categorization is a way for other users to see if certain chemicals are currently available for use on campus, rather than purchasing new chemicals.
Does the institution have or participate in a program to responsibly recycle, reuse, and/or refurbish electronic waste generated by the institution?:
Does the institution have or participate in a program to responsibly recycle, reuse, and/or refurbish electronic waste generated by students?:
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:
The university requires all assets to go through the asset disposition process even if the items are not capital assets. This includes computers, monitors, laptops, tablets, phones, printers, scanners, fax machines, audio/visual equipment, and lab equipment. After the review process, items are collected for recycling by 4THBIN, an electronics recycling company out of New York City. They wipe all data-bearing items and provide evidence to the University documenting the data destruction and recycling process.
Recently, the university expanded its battery recycling program placing 18 bins in strategic locations around campus. The bins provide easy battery recycling solutions for students, faculty and staff.
Is the institution’s electronic waste recycler certified under the e-Stewards and/or Responsible Recycling (R2) standards?:
Website URL where information about the institution’s hazardous waste program is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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.