University of North Carolina, Wilmington
OP-20: Hazardous Waste Management

Hazardous, universal, and non-regulated chemical wastes generated by UNCW are managed by the Department of Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S). The campus does not generate special waste. Environmental Health & Safety is responsible for the implementation and monitoring of all safety and environmental programs, including the Chemical Hygiene Plan. EH&S will assist with and monitor compliance with the CHP. EH&S will review the CHP annually, update if necessary, and notify departments of any changes. In addition, EH&S will inspect fume hoods, drench showers and eyewashes, perform exposure and hazard assessments, provide general laboratory training and chemical specific user awareness training.

The biggest reduction of hazardous waste for UNCW is the recycling of solvents in the organic chemistry and biochemistry labs. Many of the processes, which are used to isolate chemical compounds, use solvents, but then the solvents are evaporated out and collected through condensation tubes which then can be reused. This process set forth by the EH&S reduces solvent waste down to 1/3 or ¼ of what it would be. It is used over and over until purity is questionable. The Universal Waste guidelines are followed based on EPA regulations. Light bulbs are treated as Universal Waste and sent to a bulb recycling company while batteries are recycled through the UNCW Recycling program. Defective batteries are pulled out and sent as hazardous waste. This has created a profit stream to the university and keeps these items out of the Universal waste stream. Another habit the university and EH&S has instilled is to not purchase chemicals in hopes of using them one day (only buy if you know you need it now) or buying large quantities to save money. Often, money saved in the purchasing of bulk chemicals, becomes lost in the excessive cost of hazardous disposal. Therefore, this understanding creates less waste overall. Faculty is aware of these practices and follows this habit extremely well. Additionally, UNCW has a Mercury recycling system in place on-campus. One of our professors studies Mercury and because of this he is able to collect it and ship it to a vendor for purification. When he purchases Mercury for his experiments, the credit for the turned in mercury is applied to the purchase of new, saving the University money.

Here at UNCW the philosophy of nothing goes down the drain or the trash is highly observed by all students, faculty, and staff. That one statement does more than anything else the EH&S does as all hazardous material goes directly to EH&S. Any waste created or found is given to the EH&S and it is their job to dispose of the material in a proper and safe manor. Diluted acid is about the only thing we allow down the drain because the science buildings have neutralization tanks underground which accommodate this acid mixture. Once in the possession of EH&S, the substances are reviewed, tested and sorted accordingly. The EH&S never throws anything in the trash which we might even suspect may have a hazardous component. All hazardous, nonhazardous, and universal waste goes to a reputable vendor for disposal. Much of the waste is incinerated and scrubbed at the stack as a fuel blending process to fuel a concrete kiln. Some are just simply incinerated and scrubbed, but not as a fuel process. Other wastes go through Neutralization processing for disposal at the vendors facility. Our vendors are vetted through the State bidding process and nominees are evaluated to be sure they have no EPA violations and have good reputations in the industry. With regard to universal waste, items such as fluorescent lighting and batteries are sent for recycling rather than waste disposal. The waste materials that are collected for disposal or recycling are sent only to permitted and registered facilities for processing.

We have not had any hazardous waste releases here at UNCW in the past three years. We are a Small Quantity Generating facility. This low volume of handling makes it difficult to have releases. We practice double containment whenever possible and any leaking containers we might have had were simply caught by the secondary containment. We also handle small amounts of chemicals. So, even if there was a catastrophic failure of a container, it most likely would not meet the capacity required to be a reportable quantity.

As part of UNCW's voluntary waste minimization plan we have an inventory and a holding area for chemicals which individuals sent to EH&S for surplus. These chemicals are still in good condition, but the professors either no longer needed them or perhaps they retired. These chemicals are available to the other faculty members who could use them. After three months of no takers wanting the chemicals, then they would be entered into EH&S hazardous waste stream for disposal. These process still exist as a protocol at UNCW, but retirements and cleanouts are far and few between, so volume is low and redistribution of good chemicals has become a single individual offering them to people who have previously accepted. This program sometimes spurs questions of purity and individuals are hesitant to accept the redistributed chemicals as it could tamper with the validity of their processes, however, these chemicals are still offered when available.

UNCW's electronic waste program accepts electronics of all types. Considered anything with a cord, that charges, or takes batteries; e-waste can be dropped off in the Warehouse lot at 5179 Lionfish Drive during normal business hours which is Monday through Friday 7:30 am to 4:30 pm. Additionally, batteries and printer ink cartridges are considered E-Waste with batteries only accepted from UNCW sources. Electronic recycling is available to all students, faculty, staff and even the community. The program is promoted on recycling bins, during campus events, and through social media. Participants are advised to remove all batteries from electronics and to not stow other wastes in small appliances and electronics. UNCW also participants annually in a Campus Race 2 Zero Waste which is an electronics competition held which encourages recycling old, unwanted electronics. The drop-off points remain the same and is extended to special Saturday collection events on March 2nd, 9th, 16th, and 23rd, from 10 am to 2 pm. On March 2nd and 16th, you can drop off items at the Public Recycling Depot (5195 Lionfish Dr.), on the 9th at DC Virgo Preparatory School (813 Nixon St.), and on the 23rd at UNCW’s Center for Marine Science (Marvin K Moss Ln.).

Additionally, all UNCW electronic equipment that is no longer wanted (including non-working equipment) is sent to UNCW Surplus for resale or electronic recycling. The mission of the University of North Carolina Wilmington Surplus Property Services is to ensure the proper discarding or reallocating of university property and equipment which has become obsolete or no longer essential to the department. Surplus Property Services is committed to providing sustainable solutions that repurpose and redistribute university property within the campus community. This commitment to recycle, reuse, and repurpose strengthens sustainable communities, reduces the amount of waste in our landfills, and helps the university meet its environmental responsibility objectives.

Personal Communication with Jason Souza via Email on 02/19/2024 (attached above).

https://uncw.edu/myuncw/seahawk-life/services/campus-support/warehouse/surplus-property/

https://uncw.edu/seahawk-life/services/sustainability/recycling/

https://uncw.edu/myuncw/about/university-administration/business-affairs/environmental-health-safety/safety-health-programs/waste

https://uncw.edu/about/university-administration/business-affairs/environmental-health-safety/staff

https://uncw.edu/seahawk-life/services/sustainability/recycling/