| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 79.55 |
| Liaison | Lindsey Kalkbrenner |
| Submission Date | Feb. 27, 2020 |
Santa Clara University
OP-20: Hazardous Waste Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.00 / 1.00 |
Sean
Collins Senior Director, Environment, Health & Safety and Sustainability University Operations |
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indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Part 1. Hazardous waste minimization and disposal
Yes
A brief description of steps taken to reduce hazardous, special (e.g. coal ash), universal, and non-regulated chemical waste:
SCU’s Environment, Health & Safety Department (EHS) provides training on waste minimization activities in their Laboratory trainings.
Students and employees are encouraged to minimize waste, including universal waste, through annual messaging from the Center for Sustainability. Universal waste recycling towers are located in every residence hall lobby and the Learning Commons to accept batteries, light bulbs, ink cartridges, cords, etc.
Students and employees are encouraged to minimize waste, including universal waste, through annual messaging from the Center for Sustainability. Universal waste recycling towers are located in every residence hall lobby and the Learning Commons to accept batteries, light bulbs, ink cartridges, cords, etc.
A brief description of how the institution safely disposes of hazardous, universal, and non-regulated chemical waste:
Depending on the waste stream, wastes are collected by EHS or the Department Lab Manager, segregated and stored appropriately for quarterly pickup. SCU uses a third-party hazardous waste vendor to consolidate, transport and dispose of hazardous and non-hazardous waste streams appropriately.
SCU now diverts a significant amount of its laboratory waste which previously was incinerated to both fuels blending and waste to energy solutions. Fuels blending waste streams include - aerosols, non-recyclable paints, mixed organic solvents, RCRA regulated lab debris. The most outstanding waste redirection has been to a Waste to Energy program for the non-RCRA regulated lab debris. This material is sorted/checked at the time of packing for transportation/disposal, but the Waste to Energy option is made feasible from a waste collection process/program already executed by the science departments at SCU because of the way we segregate our waste in the labs. Much of this waste is contaminated gloves and PPE, which was previously offered for incineration. It is the single largest waste stream generated by the laboratories at Santa Clara University.
SCU now diverts a significant amount of its laboratory waste which previously was incinerated to both fuels blending and waste to energy solutions. Fuels blending waste streams include - aerosols, non-recyclable paints, mixed organic solvents, RCRA regulated lab debris. The most outstanding waste redirection has been to a Waste to Energy program for the non-RCRA regulated lab debris. This material is sorted/checked at the time of packing for transportation/disposal, but the Waste to Energy option is made feasible from a waste collection process/program already executed by the science departments at SCU because of the way we segregate our waste in the labs. Much of this waste is contaminated gloves and PPE, which was previously offered for incineration. It is the single largest waste stream generated by the laboratories at Santa Clara University.
A brief description of any significant hazardous material release incidents during the previous three years, including volume, impact and response/remediation:
None to report.
A brief description of any inventory system employed by the institution to facilitate the reuse or redistribution of laboratory chemicals:
SCU has an online chemical management system that utilizes barcoded chemical containers which allow faculty to verify existing chemical inventory prior to ordering new chemicals. All faculty have access to our inventory system. Users include faculty researchers, lab managers and EHS. Users are trained annually to utilize the system to track their inventories and search the campus for existing chemicals they can borrow prior to ordering new stock in an effort to minimize the total volume of chemicals purchased and stored.
Part 2. Electronic waste diversion
Yes
Does the institution have or participate in a program to responsibly recycle, reuse, and/or refurbish electronic waste generated by students?:
Yes
If yes to either of the above, provide:
Students can bring E-Waste & Universal Waste items to receptacles in their residence halls.
Faculty and Staff can submit an online E-Waste pickup request to the Facilities department.
7 tons of electronic waste was recycled in fiscal year 2019.
Also, Information Technology operates the PC Replacement Program that donates roughly 600 computers to local non-profit organizations each year. Recipients are incentivized to dispose properly because the disposal fees are prepaid, and they have agreed to do so as part of the donation agreement.
Faculty and Staff can submit an online E-Waste pickup request to the Facilities department.
7 tons of electronic waste was recycled in fiscal year 2019.
Also, Information Technology operates the PC Replacement Program that donates roughly 600 computers to local non-profit organizations each year. Recipients are incentivized to dispose properly because the disposal fees are prepaid, and they have agreed to do so as part of the donation agreement.
Is the institution’s electronic waste recycler certified under the e-Stewards and/or Responsible Recycling (R2) standards?:
Yes
Optional Fields
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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