San Jose State University
OP-20: 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 department Hazardous Material Specialist closely monitors and inventories the waste disposal quantities. Limiting the amount of hazardous materials allowed prevents the departments from buying in excess and stockpiling hazmat that will later become waste.

The College of Science (COS) uses about 90% of the 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 first checks 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. EH&S also notifies other user groups when products that are still usable are identified in order to promote re-use of the materials and reduce disposal quantities.

All wastes are managed, tracked, inventoried, properly packaged, then shipped to TSDFs using only qualified-certified-insured disposal companies to ensure safe and compliant recycling or disposal. Manifests and tracking forms are closely monitored and proof of delivery then recycling/destruction are obtained from TSDFs. Each waste stream has designated storage locations on campus that are inspected and managed by EH&S and other support staff.

Hazardous wastes that cannot be recycled are labpacked and sent for thermal destruction by by Clean Harbors. If they cannot be incinerated, they are sent to an appropriately certified landfill.

Non-Regulated Chemical Waste (e.g. Non-RCRA hazardous waste here in CA) such as used Oil, used Antifreeze, and Oily Water are sent for recycling, recovery, then reuse by Safety-Kleen.

Universal Wastes, such as light bulbs, batteries (alkaline, Nicad, lithium metal and ion, NiMetal Hydride, Carbon zinc, etc.) are shipped/transported by Veolia Environmental Services for recycling, recovery, and reuse.

Lead-Acid Automotive batteries + SJSU-Lead sealed batteries are picked up and recycled by Battery Systems several times per year.

There have been no significant hazardous materials release incidents on campus over the last 3 years.

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

All E-waste generated by SJSU Faculty and Staff is collected throughout campus by support staff from several departments and consolidated in the E Waste designated storage area. E Waste is then 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.