| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 75.01 |
| Liaison | Jen Crothers |
| Submission Date | Aug. 4, 2015 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of British Columbia
OP-25: Hazardous Waste Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.00 / 1.00 |
Noga
Levit Senior Advisor (Environment & Chemical Safety) Risk Management Services |
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?:
A brief description of steps taken to reduce hazardous, special (e.g. coal ash), universal, and non-regulated chemical waste:
UBC has a comprehensive hazardous waste management program including:
• Detailed Hazardous Waste Management Manual
• Training of responsible persons
• Environmental Services Facility, a Ministry of Environment (MOE) approved hazardous waste disposal facility
• Comprehensive treatment, recycling and reuse programs for dedicated waste streams (biohazard wastes, solvents, chemicals, paint, oil, batteries, photographic wastes)
In 2013, hazardous waste minimization efforts resulted in a 40% reduction in hazardous waste generation compared to 2006, achieved largely at the waste source. Active participation in available recycling programs resulted in an additional hazardous waste reduction of approximately 22 tonnes.
More information about UBC’s hazardous waste policies, programs, and disposal and recycling information is published online at: http://riskmanagement.ubc.ca/environment/hazardous-waste-management.
Hazardous waste minimization is also promoted through UBC’s Green Labs Program (http://riskmanagement.ubc.ca/environment/green-labs-program), which provides researchers with tools, education and processes to reduce the environmental impact of research activities through quarterly e-newsletters, Lunch and Learn training events, online tools, Green Labs Fund, and Sustainability Coordinator program.
A brief description of how the institution safely disposes of hazardous, universal, and non-regulated chemical waste:
Hazardous materials management and disposal is governed by UBC Policy #9: Hazardous Materials Management (http://riskmanagement.ubc.ca/environment) and the University’s hazardous waste disposal manual which includes detailed disposal procedures for each waste stream.
UBC’s Risk Management Services (RMS) department provides the University with hazardous waste disposal, treatment and recycling services through the Environmental Services Facility (ESF), a MOE approved hazardous waste disposal facility.
To ensure environmentally responsible practices:
• Each laboratory or shop which generates hazardous waste receives a dedicated generator ID
• All hazardous materials users receive hazardous waste management training as part of new employees training
• All wastes are assessed and approved to be received by the facility prior to pick up
• Each waste packaged is tracked in the hazardous waste facility through a dedicated barcode/tracking number, and logged in the facility’s hazardous waste inventory
• Hazardous waste collection areas and practices are audited through RMS environmental and safety audit
• The Environmental Services Facility is audited on an annual basis by a 3rd party consulting firm, and provides reports to the MOE on an annual basis , per its approved operation plan
• All Principal investigators of hazardous waste generating laboratories and department heads/shop managers receives annual reports of waste generated by their group
A brief description of any significant hazardous material release incidents during the previous three years, including volume, impact and response/remediation:
The only significant hazardous materials spill in the past 3 years was a diesel spill (400 L)
• The diesel fuel was spilled by a truck owned by Femo Construction
• The location of the incident was Binning Rd & Birney Ave on south campus
• Incident date: January 23rd 2013
• First responder: Vancouver Fire Department (the hazmat first responder for the University)
• BC MOE, Environmental Emergency Program officer, John Kervel, took over the direction of the cleanup activities (as well as agency notification)
• Harold Riedler, Senior Emergency Response Officer Coastal Region - Surrey Office Environmental Emergency Program BC Ministry of Environment, initiated and coordinated the cleanup with ICBC which contracted Keystone Environmental, to guide the remediation activities starting the evening of January 23, 2013
• Transport Canada was notified by Femo Construction
• Run-off of diesel from the spill site was accumulated in the storm water collection pond at south campus
• Remediation activities by Keystone Environmental Consulting firm, focused on the spill site and the storm water collection pond. The pond remediation continued until February 28, 2013
• Monitoring continued until July 25, 2013
A brief description of any inventory system employed by the institution to facilitate the reuse or redistribution of laboratory chemicals:
The UBC Environmental Services facility maintains a University wide chemical exchange program. The Chemical Exchange Program was developed to identify chemicals on campus that are no longer of use to the original user and divert them from disposal. These chemicals are tracked and marketed to other potential users on campus and a list of available chemicals is posted online at http://riskmanagement.ubc.ca/environment/hazardous-waste-management/chemical-exchange-program. The Chemical Exchange Program is a free service provided to the campus and not only reduces purchasing costs, but also reduces disposal costs.
Does the institution have or participate in a program to responsibly recycle, reuse, and/or refurbish all electronic waste generated by the institution?:
Does the institution have or participate in a program to responsibly recycle, reuse, and/or refurbish electronic waste generated by students?:
A brief description of the electronic waste recycling program(s):
UBC Waste Management operates UBC’s E-waste program, available to staff, faculty, students and departments across campus: http://www.buildingoperations.ubc.ca/sustainability/e-waste/.
UBC accepts the following items as e-waste:
Stewardship program approved items:
• desktop, laptop, all in one computers
• monitors (LCD and CRT)
• televisions
• computer peripherals (mice, keyboards, cables)
• desktop/countertop printing products and multifunction products
• fax machines
• floor model copiers and printers
• medical and monitoring devices
• battery powered ride-on toys/e-toys
• IT or telecom devices
• audio video and gaming products
• electronic musical instruments
All personal electronic waste Stewardship Program Approved items are accepted FREE OF CHARGE from staff, faculty and students. A list of e-waste recycling fees outlines any potential charges that may apply.
UBC Waste Management will accept non-Stewardship Program items from UBC departments only, but e-waste recycling fees may apply. Please note additional charges may apply in large volume requests.
UBC Waste Management accepts e-waste from 7.30 am to 3.30 pm, Monday to Friday. You can find us at the back of the University Services Building at the first loading dock on Agronomy Road at Lower Mall outside the back of Room 0150. Anyone from the UBC community (staff, faculty and students) can drop off their personal electronic waste, in small quantities.
A brief description of steps taken to ensure that e-waste is recycled responsibly, workers’ basic safety is protected, and environmental standards are met:
UBC Waste Management takes campus e-waste to FCM Recycling (http://fcmrecycling.com/) for recycling of ‘Stewardship Program items’. FCM Recycling works under the Electronic Products Recycling Association British Columbia (EPRA) (http://www.recyclemyelectronics.ca/bc/) to process e-waste to reclaim raw materials such as glass, metals, and plastics, with all recycling operations taking place in North America.
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:
Hazardous Waste management is managed through UBC’s Risk Management Services department. More information is available online at http://riskmanagement.ubc.ca/environment/hazardous-waste-management.
Electronic Waste management is managed through UBC’s Waste Management department. More information is available online at: http://www.buildingoperations.ubc.ca/sustainability/e-waste/.
Hazardous Waste management is managed through UBC’s Risk Management Services department. More information is available online at http://riskmanagement.ubc.ca/environment/hazardous-waste-management.
Electronic Waste management is managed through UBC’s Waste Management department. More information is available online at: http://www.buildingoperations.ubc.ca/sustainability/e-waste/.
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.