| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 50.71 |
| Liaison | Tsuneo Yabusaki |
| Submission Date | June 22, 2018 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Soka University of America
OP-21: Hazardous Waste Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.00 / 1.00 |
Chintan
Amin Director of Environmental Health & Safety Environmental Health & Safety |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Part 1
Yes
A brief description of steps taken to reduce hazardous, special (e.g. coal ash), universal, and non-regulated chemical waste:
Soka University of America accumulates hazardous waste for 180 days and then ships off to permitted treatment, storage, disposal facilities (TSDF). A portion of last shipment was reclaimed for reuse at a permitted treatment, storage, disposal facility.
Researchers working in wet labs do not have to discard non-contaminated items in dry chemical waste stream. Instead, non-contaminated items (e.g., gloves, paper towels, weighing papers, cuvettes, and other items) can be thrown in regular trash. Additionally, our hazardous waste transporter sends flammable liquid waste to a destination where it gets recycled/reclaimed for further usage.
Electronic waste is shipped off to an R2 (responsible recycler) certified facility.
A brief description of how the institution safely disposes of hazardous, universal, and non-regulated chemical waste:
In order to dispose of hazardous, universal, and non-regulated chemical waste, the Director of Environmental Health and Safety selects only licensed transporters. Hazardous waste and non-regulated chemical waste are packed by trained, licensed transporters in Department of Transportation (DOT) approved containers in accordance with DOT regulations. The transporters then deliver hazardous wastes and non-regulated chemical wastes to permitted treatment, storage, disposal facilities (TSDF).
Universal waste is coordinated by the Facilities Department with a company named AERC Recycling Solutions which managed by the University's outsourced service provider, the International Environmental Alliance responsible for coordinating waste disposal and recycling.
Hazardous waste is picked up by a service provider named Enviropol Environmental Services.
A brief description of any significant hazardous material release incidents during the previous three years, including volume, impact and response/remediation:
No incident of hazardous material release has been reported in last three years.
A brief description of any inventory system employed by the institution to facilitate the reuse or redistribution of laboratory chemicals:
An inventory of laboratory chemicals is updated annually which is shared with the Science faculty. The inventory includes location and quantities of all chemicals. Additionally, general laboratory chemicals are stored in support areas which are accessible to faculty. This process significantly reduces the purchase and storage of excess chemicals on campus.
Part 2
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:
University's Information Technology (IT) Department manages electronic waste (E-Waste). When E-Waste is ready to be picked up, the Director of Environmental Health and Safety screens for recyclers who are ISO and R2 (Responsible Recycling) certified. Additionally, selected recyclers are requested to provide necessary licenses, permits, and certificates before picking up and transporting University's E-Waste. Currently, the IT works with TechWaste Recycling to manage its electronic waste.
https://www.techwasterecycling.com/
Is the institution’s electronic waste recycler certified under the e-Stewards and/or Responsible Recycling (R2) standards?:
Yes
Optional Fields
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The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Additionally, a PDF of program called Hazard Communication (HAZCOM) has been attached. It covers general safety with chemical handling, labeling, and storage on-campus. A sample downstream vendor audit form used for every pick up just to ensure that the transporter/waste packer is adequately licensed and insured has been attached.
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.