Overall Rating Reporter - expired
Overall Score
Liaison Ryan Buchholdt
Submission Date Aug. 12, 2015
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

University of Alaska Anchorage
OP-25: Hazardous Waste Management

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete Reporter Doug Markussen
Director/ Risk Manager
Facilities & Campus Services
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

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:

The University is required to comply with federal standards promulgated under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and other regulations. These regulations require documentation of transfer of hazardous materials from point of generation to final disposal. UAA's Hazardous Material Mangement Policy and Procedure Statement 2. found in the EHS Policies and Procedures, outlines the university's hazardous waste management practices that employ a vigorous program of waste minimization that include: 1. Strict procurement and inventory control, 2. Interdepartmental exchanges of surplus materials and departmental disposal of acidic and or basic wastes by neutralization. Experimental design also incorporates waste minimization as part of the research process. At this time UAA is classified as a conditionally exempt small quantity hazardous waste generator. With proper management the Anchorage campus can retain this classification and ability to economically dispose of wastes at the Municipality of Anchorage Hiland Road Hazardous Waste Facility. Hazardous waste is shipped out of state. The University actively supports the use of green chemistry, reuse/redistribution of chemicals, and recycling.


A brief description of how the institution safely disposes of hazardous, universal, and non-regulated chemical waste:

epartment heads and principal investigators identify the hazardous wastes generated in their areas and prepare shipment with the assistance of laboratory support services staff. The institution's Chemical Hygiene Officer provides assistance to the department heads and PIs to ensure appropriate identification, packaging and storage takes place prior to shipment to the municipal Hazardous Waste Center. UAA EHS also assists the 5 extended campuses with disposal of the modest quantities of hazardous waste generated in accordance with all federal and state regulations. The Chemical Hygiene Officer is available for assistance and has traveled to all the extended campuses to provide support. Facilities disposes of TSCA wastes through appropriate vendors. Substitution of products are sought to further reduce waste.


A brief description of any significant hazardous material release incidents during the previous three years, including volume, impact and response/remediation:

N/A


A brief description of any inventory system employed by the institution to facilitate the reuse or redistribution of laboratory chemicals:

Yes, UAA does conduct a program for reuse of chemicals in UAA laboratory and research facilities. It is accomplished by coordinating with the chemical hygiene officer who tracks chemical use campus-wide.
All pertinent information about laboratory materials is listed in the following website:

http://ehsrms.uaa.alaska.edu/CMS/Laboratory/Laboratory%20Hazardous%20Waste%20Policies.pdf


Does the institution have or participate in a program to responsibly recycle, reuse, and/or refurbish all 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

A brief description of the electronic waste recycling program(s):

General Support Services (GSS) takes the items and, if they are still functioning, has IT scrub any memory on the device. It is then offered for sale to the public at our surplus sales. If the item does not sell, we pay a local business, Total Reclaim, to recycle the items. Total Reclaim has received recognition for assuring that electronics are responsibly recycled. Also the University holds several e-recycle events on campus throughout the year:

1. America Recycles Day is an event held on November 15th each year to promote proper e-recycling on campus.
2. Earth Day E-Recycle event
3. GSS


A brief description of steps taken to ensure that e-waste is recycled responsibly, workers’ basic safety is protected, and environmental standards are met:

Our janitorial staff is instructed not to allow electronic waste to be placed in waste bins. It is taken out and left with the department disposing of it with a note that the department must contact General Support Services (GSS).


The website URL where information about the institution’s hazardous and electronic-waste recycling programs is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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