Princeton University
OP-20: Hazardous Waste Management

Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) manages hazardous and non-regulated chemical waste disposal, and University Building Services manages the disposal of universal waste, including fluorescent lamps, electronics, and rechargeable batteries. The University’s Purchasing Department manages a surplus equipment program that includes various types of electronics, including computers, monitors, etc. The surplus equipment program finds reuse opportunities for such items. Those items not fit for reuse are managed as universal waste.

EHS continuously pursues waste reduction techniques by working directly with lab research staff and through collaboration and benchmarking with environmental compliance staff at sister institutions. All laboratory workers are asked to consider pollution prevention opportunities for their operations.

Recently, the University established a Green Laboratory Recognition program. The program will champion best practices around waste, energy, and water by providing guidelines and recognizing innovation and sustainable behavior. The program will be piloted in spring 2025 using seed funding from the Office of the Executive Vice President.

Additionally, EHS considers the most environmentally beneficial treatment method for the hazardous and non-hazardous chemical waste generated. Spent flammable solvents, for example, are shipped for ‘fuel blending’ whenever possible. This program ensures that flammable liquid with high BTU value is burnt as industrial fuel rather than simply incinerated for waste destruction. Further, unused surplus chemical reagents are offered for reuse whenever possible to minimize chemical waste disposal. EHS encourages laboratories to install under-the-counter lab glass washers. This significantly reduces the use of solvents for cleaning, rinsing, and drying glassware.

For several years, the use of thermal distillation apparatus in laboratories for solvent purification has been virtually eliminated. The distillation-free Grubbs/Glass Contour solvent purification systems that replace these stills drastically reduce the amount of unusable waste solvent from thermal distillation and help to prolong the usable lifespan of certain reagents, saving us from several drums of solvent waste each year.

Laboratories are provided support to help prepare and manage empty reagent containers so that the empty containers can be directed into an appropriate recycling stream rather than be treated as landfillable glass waste or managed as hazardous waste. Empty reagent containers are also used to accumulate other chemical waste streams where appropriate. This reuse of waste containers further serves to reduce the waste generated for containers that are not candidates for recycling due to contamination, etc.

EHS encourages just-in-time delivery of chemicals in research laboratories to avoid stockpiling chemicals. Our Visual Arts department has eliminated the use of solvent-based thinners and metal-based paints.

For art studios within our residential colleges, EHS prohibits solvent-based thinners, metal-based paints, metal-based glazes for ceramics, and any other material that would generate hazardous waste.

Over the past several years, nearly all of the photo-developing labs have been eliminated and replaced by digital studios.

Universal wastes are minimized through purchasing standards that preclude the purchase of mercury-containing fluorescent lamps. The University has moved to replace all fluorescent lighting in University buildings with high-efficiency LED retrofits, and all new lighting fixtures are specified as LED.

Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) manages hazardous and non-regulated chemical waste disposal and has done so since the creation of the US EPA and the onset of disposal regulations. EHS maintains the chemical waste program, ensuring both hazardous and non-regulated chemicals are disposed of properly and in full compliance with Federal and State of New Jersey regulations. University Building Services manages the disposal of universal waste, including fluorescent lamps, electronics, and rechargeable batteries. The waste management programs are routinely inspected by the NJ Department of Environmental Protection and private environmental compliance consultants hired by the University.

EHS holds contracts with two environmental firms to safely and conscientiously dispose of our chemical wastes. EHS reviews the disposal methods and chooses the most environmentally sustainable method at treatment/disposal companies that have maintained a high level of compliance. EHS periodically audits these firms to ensure they meet our criteria.

EHS has established procedures for those who use chemicals to collect chemical waste. To ensure compliance, EHS periodically inspects all laboratories and other areas where such wastes are generated. Our environmental firms are onsite at least twice a month to collect hazardous waste.

Building Services and Purchasing administer contracts with firms for disposal of universal wastes. Before these firms are contracted, EHS arranges for an environmental consulting firm to conduct an audit of the company to ensure waste management in a manner consistent with our environmental goals and with environmental regulations.

University Purchasing also administers a contract with a battery supplier that arranges for recycling all lead-acid batteries (e.g., automobile, IT UPS, emergency lighting) generated across campus.

In May 2024, a protest group released red dye into the campus fountain on Scudder Plaza outside Robertson Hall. DPS and EHS evaluated the spill to determine if further testing was needed. After consultation with Facilities and Athletics (pool maintenance), the consensus was that the dye used was likely standard pool dye and did not require further testing. The contaminated water was released to the sanitary sewer after notification to the local sewage treatment authority, and the fountain was cleaned.

Also, in May 2024, a basement sump fed by basement lab waste lines was observed emitting vapor/steam and giving off a strong corrosive odor. The source of the reaction and resulting vapor and odor could not be determined. It is believed that some concentrated corrosive had entered the waste line and reacted with the sewer water, releasing smoke and a strong smell. After 2 hours, the reaction had ceased, and the smell dissipated; water was run via lab sinks to flush any remaining corrosive material through the acid neutralization system, which was neutralized before discharge to the sanitary sewer.

In May 2023, EHS was alerted to an overturned golf cart leaking fuel and engine oil on a paved surface. The golf cart was righted, and the spill was absorbed with spill pads and loose absorbent.

In November 2022, a small oil spill was reported along Elm Drive and within the 200 Elm parking lot. The release originated from a leak from an employee vehicle. The spill was confined to paved surfaces and absorbed with pads and loose absorbent.

In May 2022, DPS dispatch called in an accident at the west garage, where a vehicle was leaking antifreeze. The car was leaking antifreeze and oil. The mixture was underneath the car and in the drainage channel, going towards a drain. The spill was contained and later absorbed with spill pads and loose absorbent.

In October 2021, EHS was alerted to a spill of approximately 5 liters of sodium hydroxide from a failing caustic bath in Frick Chemistry. The tub was emptied of its contents and disposed of, and the spill was neutralized and absorbed.

EHS continues to adopt its campus-wide electronic chemical inventory management system. This system is designed to leverage a barcode and RFID tagging system to provide a more robust alternative to any locally run or ad hoc inventory management systems currently in use. It provides a framework that will enhance users’ awareness of the materials on campus and can be leveraged to support sharing small aliquots of material. This system prevents purchasing additional material stocks and promotes redistributing unneeded materials.

EHS encourages laboratories to report their surplus chemicals. It then posts the availability of usable chemicals on a listserv distributed to all principal investigators and lab managers.

The University's Resource Recovery Program utilizes an online surplus database where departments may enter information on electronic equipment. Once an item is entered into the system, the Resource Recovery Program will take possession of the item(s) and is responsible for advertising for reuse/sale, display, pickup, and ultimate disposal of the item(s).

Students can recycle their electronics at the campus student center's Wireless Alliance recycling bin. Items collected include all cell phones/smartphones, digital cameras, and iPods regardless of age or condition, as well as chargers and accessories and other rechargeable batteries. They are donated or recycled in an EPA-certified domestic facility.