| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 46.29 |
| Liaison | Thomas Frazer |
| Submission Date | March 4, 2022 |
University of South Florida
OP-20: Hazardous Waste Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
0.50 / 1.00 |
Suchi
Daniels Sustainability Manager Facilities Management |
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:
The University of South Florida maintains a waste minimization guide to provide the campus community with techniques and guidelines to reduce the generation of hazardous wastes. Methodologies include: source reduction, environmentally sound recycling, compliant treatment, efficient management (e.g. segregation, bulking, etc.), etc. The University utilizes HITS (Hazardous Inventory Tracking System), a web-based chemical inventory system, to track the purchase, storage, and disposal of chemicals and associated waste streams. The chemical inventory system assists laboratories with the reduction of waste generation via inventory control. In addition, via the lab closeout process laboratories/shops/studios can evaluate the redistribution of chemicals with inherent value for reuse. At the time of lab closeout notification, EH&S coordinates with the subject lab/studio/shop to evaluate the chemical inventory and subsequently coordinates the redistribution of useful chemicals to other campus entities for the purposes of reducing the total volume of hazardous waste disposed.
A brief description of how the institution safely disposes of hazardous, universal, and non-regulated chemical waste:
EH&S maintains dedicated staff to manage and coordinate the compliant storage and disposal of the hazardous, biomedical, and universal pharmaceutical wastes generated on campus. EH&S maintains contracts with properly licensed vendors for the transportation and disposal of these waste streams. EH&S provides routine training to subject faculty, staff, and students regarding regulatory compliant management, storage, and disposal of hazardous wastes as well as techniques and guidelines to reduce the generation of hazardous wastes. Further, EH&S completes lab safety inspections for all campus laboratories, studios, and shops, including compliant waste management activities, on a biannual basis. Facilities Management - Campus Services manages the University recycling and universal waste programs (e.g. fluorescent bulbs, ballasts, batteries, and electronic equipment). EH&S Haz Waste Specialists routinely inspect the universal waste storage areas to ensure compliant storage practices and release minimization measures are in place.
A brief description of any significant hazardous material release incidents during the previous three years, including volume, impact and response/remediation:
none
A brief description of any inventory system employed by the institution to facilitate the reuse or redistribution of laboratory chemicals:
The University utilizes HITS (Hazardous Inventory Tracking System), a web-based chemical inventory system, to track the purchase, storage, and disposal of chemicals and associated waste streams. The chemical inventory system assists laboratories with the reduction of waste generation via inventory control. In addition, via the lab closeout process laboratories/shops/studios can evaluate the redistribution of chemicals with inherent value for reuse. At the time of lab closeout notification, EH&S coordinates with the subject lab/studio/shop to evaluate the chemical inventory and subsequently coordinates the redistribution of useful chemicals to other campus entities for the purposes of reducing the total volume of hazardous waste disposed.
Does the institution have or participate in a program to responsibly recycle, reuse, and/or refurbish 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), including information about how electronic waste generated by the institution and/or students is recycled:
Removal of surplus electronic equipment for environmental recycling is provided by the University's IT staff. The University utilizes a third party vendor experienced in asset management and the recycling and/or reuse of end-of-life and obsolete computers, computer monitors, and other electronic equipment. The vendor is responsible for the design and management of highly efficient processes where retired assets can be properly dismantled, destroyed, and recycled.
Is the institution’s electronic waste recycler certified under the e-Stewards and/or Responsible Recycling (R2) standards?:
Website URL where information about the institution’s hazardous waste program is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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.