Northern Arizona University
OP-25: Hazardous Waste Management

TThe EH&S department at Northern Arizona University was formed in 2006 to coordinate the oversight of all matters of Biological, Chemical, Radiation, and Environmental Compliance. The EH&S department provides leadership in working with the campus community to ensure a safe and healthful working and learning environment. EH&S endeavors to reduce hazardous waste through training, education, and chemical inventory practices. The practices of waste minimization are encouraged from the very basic training that students, staff, and faculty receive at the beginning of their time with NAU. The sharing of chemicals between laboratories and departments is encouraged to avoid the purchase of excessive amounts of chemicals resulting in an increase in waste. Unused chemicals offered for disposal are shared with other laboratories or facilities on campus in order to minimize waste.

Hazardous and non-regulated chemical waste that has been generated on campus is managed by EH&S in a manner compliant with EPA and other federal regulations prior to being shipped off-campus for recycling or treatment prior to disposal. Whenever possible materials are recycled or recovered, when this is not possible these materials are then treated and disposed of in a responsible and compliant manner. Universal waste is managed by the facilities department at NAU with oversight from EH&S. Following similar practices, all materials are recycled or reclaimed when possible or treated and disposed of properly if neither of the former options exists.

NAU has not had any significant hazardous materials releases in the three years prior to this report.

EH&S has recently developed a new chemical inventory system for the purpose of tracking hazardous chemicals on campus. This system provides reliable accountability of chemical storage and usage for regulatory purposes. In addition, faculty and select staff are allowed (with permission) to view other inventories to allow for more efficient sharing of chemicals prior to ordering new materials. This encourages the reuse or redistribution of chemicals that would otherwise be destined for hazardous waste disposal.

The electronic waste program at NAU comprises a couple of steps. Unwanted electronics are first sent to NAU Property Surplus. There are collection points for electronic waste materials located in the dormitories on campus. At the end of each year when the dormitories are vacated, any unwanted and unclaimed materials are turned over to NAU surplus property. Surplus then determines if items are sellable to the public as surplus property or not. If it is determined that the equipment cannot be sold through surplus it is sent to an E-scrap pile housed in the NAU surplus facility (all computers must be wiped before selling or scrapping). The e-scrap is then placed on a pallet, once enough pallets have been collected, an E-Scrap auction is held for individuals that are interested in buying pallets of electronic components; scrap computers, etc. by the lot. If there are no buyers for the scrap pallets, they are then sent to a recycling company.

The recycling company that is utilized is certified by R2:2008; ISO 14001:2004 and RIOS. This ensures that the material is handled in a way that protects worker safety and that all e-waste is recycled in a responsible manner. This also gives the university confidence that all environmental standards are met with these materials.