San Jose State University
OP-25: Hazardous Waste Management

Purchasing is limited to small quantities by the individual departments. Departments are not allowed to stockpile hazardous materials, but instead must purchase on an as needed basis. The EH&S departments Hazardous Material Specialist, closely monitors and inventories the waste disposal quantities. Limiting the amount of hazardous waste allowed prevents the departments from buying in excess and stockpiling waste. The College of Science (COS) uses about 90% of chemicals on campus. They keep a good inventory of chemicals and also accept chemicals from other departments for reuse. Before a chemical is disposed on campus, the SJSU EH&S Hazardous Materials Specialist always checks first with COS to see if they can re-use the chemical. Lab experiments are done in micro-scale rather than macro scale quantities, to reduce the use of chemicals and waste generation.

Hazardous, chemical, laboratory wastes and batteries are disposed inventoried, compiled, lab-packed, shipped to TSDF via qualified-certified-insured aka safely disposed. This occurs once a semester. In the interim, the chemicals are stored in one location which is managed by the Hazardous Materials Specialist on campus. Non-Regulated aka Non-RCRA hazardous wastes (such as used Oil used Antifreeze, used oil drained filters, oily water, etc.) gets recycled/ recovered/ reused via Safety Kleen. Universal Wastes (such as Spent Fluorescent tubes, lamps, Batteries - Alkaline, Nicad, Lithium , NimH, etc gets shipped/ transported to Veolia Environmental Services) for Hg recovery. Lead-Acid Automotive batteries + SJSU-Lead sealed batteries) gets recycled for no cost via Battery Systems at least 3 or 4 times/ year.

An abandoned UST - containing heating oil/ fuel that was discovered during the excavation for the CV- phase 2 construction project was properly removed and disposed through certified-qualified-insured Environmental Company (Clean Harbors), oversight from our local regulatory agency - County of Santa Clara. The fuel/ heating oil, contaminated soil, and the emptied UST were properly managed and disposed via Safety Kleen and Clean Harbors. 5 tons of oily water and rinsates from cleaning the tank (Non_RCRA Hazardous waste liquid) was recycled through Safety Kleen. 73 tons of Non-RCRA hazardous waste soil was disposed through Clean Harbors.

The SJSU Hazardous Materials Specialists collects all retrograde chemical waste from the various departments and keeps a detailed inventory. The College of Science (COS), who uses 90% of chemicals on campus, reviews this inventory for any possible chemical reuse.

E-waste pickups are scheduled through each building's building coordinator. E-waste can also be delivered at the campus' consolidation site at Washington Square Hall during open collection times and is open to all SJSU faculty, staff and students. All E-waste generated and collected at SJSU is picked up by Zak Enterprises, an e waste dismantling company, whose first priority is reuse of an item, followed by refurbishment and reuse if possible, and ultimately disposition through a pledged e-stewards recycler only if these initial two options are not available.

SJSU's vendor, Zak Enterprises, has been a leading provider of e-waste recycling services to the greater San Francisco Bay Area since 1993. They are also very concerned about, and their business depends upon, the proper, regulatory-compliant disposal of electronic equipment. All e-waste items are dismantled/torn down at Zak Enterprise’s Santa Clara facility. All of the dismantled e-waste material is disposed of through reputable, long standing vendors and their customers are assured that none of it ends up in a toxic landfill of some third world country. (see www.zakenterprises.com for complete information about their processes including worker information)