Overall Rating Gold
Overall Score 67.93
Liaison Emily Zabanah
Submission Date Feb. 1, 2024

STARS v2.2

Seneca Polytechnic
OP-20: Hazardous Waste Management

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.00 / 1.00 Courtney Hayes
Sustainability Specialist - Operations
Office of Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Part 1. Hazardous waste minimization and disposal

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?:
Yes

A brief description of steps taken to reduce hazardous, special (e.g. coal ash), universal, and non-regulated chemical waste:
Seneca works with certified recyclers to safely dispose of hazardous, universal and non-regulated chemical wastes; any waste that is able to be recycled is processed at the nearest available facility.

A brief description of how the institution safely disposes of hazardous, universal, and non-regulated chemical waste:
Seneca works with certified hazardous chemical waste transporters to safely dispose of hazardous, universal and non-regulated chemical wastes. Regular waste pickups are scheduled throughout the year.

Academic programs and service departments safely store hazardous waste in designated areas to await pickup by GFL, which typically happens three times per year. A record of hazardous waste disposal is kept by our lab technologists and OHS. Emergency pick-up can be scheduled if needed.

Waste generator sites (Seneca campuses) and waste classes are registered with the Ministry of Environment through the Resource Productivity and Recovery Authority (RPRA).

The different chemical waste disposals include:
1. chlorinated / non solvents/ paints/ oils/ glycols - process is recycled (primarily through fuel blending)
2. all corrosive materials - treatment/ neutralization
3. mercury - recycled (shipped out of country)
4. all other non-regulated material (L waste) - blended/ solidified/ landfill.

All containers from which waste is removed from are recycled as well.

A brief description of any significant hazardous material release incidents during the previous three years, including volume, impact and response/remediation:
VEHICLE FIRE AT NH CAMPUS
On June 21, 2021, a vehicle traveling along Finch Ave. E experienced mechanical difficulties and pulled into the short-term parking lot in front of the A building at Newnham campus where it proceeded to catch fire. The vehicle was consumed. TFS responded and extinguished the blaze. As a result, a mixture of fuel/oil /water/ fire suppression foam was released into the storm sewers in the parking lot. TFS notified the MOE and the City of Toronto of the release.

Seneca retained Anic Utility Services to pump out 3 catch basins in the area of the fire on June 22, 2021. Approximately 3500 L of liquid was removed from the catch basin system.

Seneca OHS liaised with the MOE and the City of Toronto regarding the issue and clean up response.

A brief description of any inventory system employed by the institution to facilitate the reuse or redistribution of laboratory chemicals:
Our Lab Safety Committee uses Google Sheets to share among admin, faculty, staff and applied researchers to help keep track of laboratory chemicals we have in stock, to try and avoid duplicate/over ordering. If there is supply overstock, outreach to other departments is done that could make use of reagents. This can be done through facilities, between Chairs or technologist to technologist.

Part 2. Electronic waste diversion

Does the institution have or participate in a program to responsibly recycle, reuse, and/or refurbish electronic waste generated by the institution?:
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:

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:
Seneca has a contract for electronic waste recycling with a company (MTC) that provides certification that the materials are in fact sent for recycling after sorting. A bill is provided with the quantity of each type of material (for example, CRT monitors, keyboards, desktop computers, shredding, etc.) so that Seneca can track specifically how much of each item is recycled. Seneca is provided with informational posters that describe what items are accepted for electronic recycling. Dedicated e-waste collection bins are strategically located at each campus for all of the community to utilize.

Is the institution’s electronic waste recycler certified under the e-Stewards and/or Responsible Recycling (R2) standards?:
Yes

Optional Fields 

Website URL where information about the institution’s hazardous waste program is available:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.