Overall Rating Bronze - expired
Overall Score 37.45
Liaison Cody Friend
Submission Date May 10, 2014
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

University of Nebraska at Omaha
OP-25: Hazardous Waste Management

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 0.75 / 1.00 Patrick Wheeler
Environmental Advocate/Sustainability Champion
EHS
"---" 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:

Waste minimization is taught when people begin working in labs and with hazardous wastes/materials and is revisited during laboratory and department audits.


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

All of these items are disposed via a Hazardous Waste broker. Veolia environmental services does hazardous and non-reg chem waste. Retrofit recycling does all of our mercury and other lighting universal waste. Batteries are recycled using Interstate Battery in Omaha.


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

No significant releases to the environment during that time.


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

Chemistry maintains a db of materials and ensures faculty consider available chemicals prior to ordering any. When lab cleanouts are performed, redistribution is coordinated with the department chairs to ensure what should be disposed is and what has good useful life and purpose is redistributed.


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?:
No

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

UNO participates in a Dell takeback program. Otherwise, excess items are disposed locally through an electronics recycler.


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

All of our hard drives are either wiped and disposed by us or handled by a vendor equipped and monitored to safely remove any electronic information. That vendor is also audited to ensure waste is being properly disposed/recycled under safe and environmentally responsible conditions.


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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