| Overall Rating | Bronze - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 34.71 |
| Liaison | Kristina Bryan |
| Submission Date | March 2, 2018 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Saint Louis University
OP-21: Hazardous Waste Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.00 / 1.00 |
Renee
Knoll Chemical Hygiene Officer Environmental Health and Safety |
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:
Saint Louis University's Environmental Health and Safety (OEHS) has taken steps to reduce hazardous waste in research and teaching laboratories. OEHS implemented a program to reduce the amount of solvent chemical waste produced at the Medical Center. Most xylene, ethanol and some HPLC used materials are now part of a solvent recovery program for reuse. The Environmental Health and Safety website continues to provide users of ethidium bromide various options to neutralize and/or filter ethidium bromide for drain disposal. The chemistry teaching laboratories continue to work towards micro scale use of chemicals versus the previous macro scale use. OEHS implemented a mercury thermometer trade-in program which has led to the removal of over 200 mercury thermometers on campus.
The Saint Louis University Facilities Management Department has switched all fluorescent lighting ballast to electronic ballast. We use digital electronic thermostats instead of mercury-containing thermostats. SLU uses rechargeable batteries whenever possible and have replaced old EXIT light luminaries with LED units with compact battery units as opposed to lead-acid units. The Facilities Management Department has increased the use of LED, fluorescent and compact fluorescent lamps all over campus to reduce the number of lamps going to universal waste each year.
A brief description of how the institution safely disposes of hazardous, universal, and non-regulated chemical waste:
Saint Louis University Office of Environmental Health and Safety collects and packages hazardous and non-hazardous chemical waste from research and teaching laboratories for proper disposal per EPA and Missouri DNR regulations. This chemical waste is transported to and disposed of by licensed chemical waste treatment and disposal facilities.
Universal waste generated by the Saint Louis University Facilities Management Department is collected, handled, stored and shipped in accordance with EPA guidelines. MRC-Midwest Recycling Center is our preferred vendor for handling of all Universal waste generated by Facilities Management.
A brief description of any significant hazardous material release incidents during the previous three years, including volume, impact and response/remediation:
No significant hazardous material releases or incidents have occurred in the previous three years. Only small, controlled incidental spills requiring minimal clean-up have occurred within laboratory spaces. Due to the reduction of mercury thermometers on campus, the emergency response request has declined.
A brief description of any inventory system employed by the institution to facilitate the reuse or redistribution of laboratory chemicals:
The University operates a small chemical redistribution program to reduce chemical waste on campus. The surplus consists of any unwanted, but usable chemicals that can be redistributed to other research, teaching and clinical laboratories.
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:
Saint Louis University is dedicated to keeping hazardous materials from entering landfills. To do so, Facilities Services has developed a partnership with Midwest Recycling Center (MRC), a nationally certified electronics recycling hauler. Collections occur year round in order to efficiently collect and dispose of e-waste materials. A space is provided at Earhart Hall for the storage of larger recyclable items. In addition, Facilities Services offers an ""anything with a cord"" annual recycling drive that is open to the entire campus and St. Louis community to dispose of broken/unwanted electronics, appliances, etc. in a more environmentally friendly manner.
MRC provides Saint Louis University with a Certificate of Proper Recycling, which documents what materials transferred ownership at each pickup.
https://www.slu.edu/facilities-services-home/sustainability/campus-operations/recycling-and-waste-reduction/electronics-recycling
Is the institution’s electronic waste recycler certified under the e-Stewards and/or Responsible Recycling (R2) standards?:
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:
The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Recommendations and options to minimize initial generation of hazardous waste are noted in section 14 of the University Chemical Hygiene Plan and are reviewed as needed during training sessions and routine laboratory inspections.
http://oess.slu.edu/uploads/Chemical%20Safety/Chemical_Hygiene_Plan.pdf
Facilities Services has a partnership with a nationally certified electronics recycling vendor to provide as needed removal of electronic waste and conducts at least one annual recycling drive on campus annually. Electronic waste information is posted on the Facilities Services website listed below:
Recommendations and options to minimize initial generation of hazardous waste are noted in section 14 of the University Chemical Hygiene Plan and are reviewed as needed during training sessions and routine laboratory inspections.
http://oess.slu.edu/uploads/Chemical%20Safety/Chemical_Hygiene_Plan.pdf
Facilities Services has a partnership with a nationally certified electronics recycling vendor to provide as needed removal of electronic waste and conducts at least one annual recycling drive on campus annually. Electronic waste information is posted on the Facilities Services website listed below:
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.