Overall Rating Silver
Overall Score 55.56
Liaison Casey Romero
Submission Date Aug. 25, 2021

STARS v2.2

Oklahoma State University
OP-20: Hazardous Waste Management

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.00 / 1.00 Kristeena Blaser
Sustainability Coordinator
Energy Services
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

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:

OSU has developed a waste separation method that reduces containerization. This method is employed during waste generation and utilizes chemical compatibilities. An important method of waste reduction is our chemical process review, where alternative methods for reducing generated waste can be explored. OSU uses a certified disposal company that applies recycling and recovery processes to hazardous, universal, and non-regulated chemical waste streams. Processing and neutralization strategies are also used to provide the ability to release through common waste streams when possible.


A brief description of how the institution safely disposes of hazardous, universal, and non-regulated chemical waste:

The majority of hazardous waste and non-regulated chemical waste is disposed through our waste contractor, Tradebe. For veterinarian carcass waste, caustic digestion with subsequent neutralization is used. When possible, neutralization strategies are used to provide a safe effluent for disposal through common routes. The majority of universal waste is routed through our contractor that specializes in recycling.


A brief description of any significant hazardous material release incidents during the previous three years, including volume, impact and response/remediation:

No significant incident involving hazardous waste with volumes over 4 L. All incidents were handled onsite with no materials released outside controlled areas.


A brief description of any inventory system employed by the institution to facilitate the reuse or redistribution of laboratory chemicals:

OSU has an integrated Chemical Inventory and Hazardous Waste System where viable chemicals are identified and information shared with researchers that may need/use those specific chemicals.


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?:
Yes

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:

Institution-generated e-waste is sold at auction and unsold items are scraped with a responsible e-waste recycler in Oklahoma such as Natural Evolution, Inc. or Goodwill Industries. Students may take personal handheld devices to Orange Tech in the student bookstore and are encouraged to take larger items to Best Buy in town for recycling. At the end of the school year, the student-run Real Pokes Pass It On program also retrieves discarded electronics from campus residents.


Is the institution’s electronic waste recycler certified under the e-Stewards and/or Responsible Recycling (R2) standards?:
Yes

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.