Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 56.90
Liaison Cody Friend
Submission Date March 19, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of Nebraska at Omaha
OP-21: Hazardous Waste Management

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.00 / 1.00 Sarah Burke
Sustainability Coordinator
Student Affairs
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Part 1 

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 items are disposed via a Hazardous Waste broker. Veolia ES Technical Solutions packages and disposes hazardous and non-regulated chemical waste. The Retrofit Companies (TRC) processes universal waste lamps and electronics. 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:
The Chemistry Department maintains a database of materials and ensures faculty members consider available chemicals prior to ordering new materials. When lab cleanouts are performed, redistribution is coordinated with the department chairs to ensure what should be disposed and what still has a good useful life and purpose is redistributed.

Part 2 

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:
UNO uses a local vendor, American Recycling. All of University generated electronic waste is taken to them. http://www.americanrecyclingne.com/ Electronic collection from students only occurs during special events. In the fiscal year of 2017/2018, UNO recycled 7,005 pounds of electronic waste material including all items that potentially contain any stored data that could be compromised. This includes all computers, copy machines, laptops, phones or loose hard drives. Also included are cables, monitors, peripheral items and just about anything with a power cord.

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

Optional Fields 

Electronic waste recycled or otherwise diverted from the landfill or incinerator during the most recent year for which data is available during the previous three years:
5.55 Tons

The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
http://www.unomaha.edu/business-and-finance/support-services/environmental-health-and-safety/chemical-safety.php

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.