| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 50.94 |
| Liaison | Corey Peterson |
| Submission Date | July 15, 2020 |
University of Tasmania
OP-20: Hazardous Waste Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
0.00 / 1.00 |
Sustainability
Team UTAS Infrastructure Services and Development |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Part 1. Hazardous waste minimization and disposal
No
A brief description of steps taken to reduce hazardous, special (e.g. coal ash), universal, and non-regulated chemical waste:
The University's Chemical Management Procedure indicates that "hazardous chemical risks are to be managed with reference to the hierarchy of risk control", where the first option is "where reasonably practicable, the hazardous chemicals is to be eliminated" (i.e., avoiding the use of a hazardous chemical)
Pesticides: alternative treatment measures are always first considered before any chemical application, i.e. removal or cut back of plants, removal of waste or cleaning of area, pesticide is then applied if no other measures are practical as per the product label. Grounds maintenance contractors do not buy or store bulk chemicals; they only purchase the amount needed in the short term. As a result, they seldom have any excess pesticide to dispose of.
Pesticides: alternative treatment measures are always first considered before any chemical application, i.e. removal or cut back of plants, removal of waste or cleaning of area, pesticide is then applied if no other measures are practical as per the product label. Grounds maintenance contractors do not buy or store bulk chemicals; they only purchase the amount needed in the short term. As a result, they seldom have any excess pesticide to dispose of.
A brief description of how the institution safely disposes of hazardous, universal, and non-regulated chemical waste:
The University's Chemical Management Procedure's objectives are to support the identification, assessment and control of risk associated with hazardous chemicals and to ensure that applicable licences and permits are held and renewed by the University in accordance with legislative requirementsfor chemicals. All waste chemicals must be stored using the correct chemical segregation system. The storage and disposal of these chemicals is to be coordinated by the Hazardous Chemical Co-ordinator. In most cases the services of a licensed contractor will be required to comply with hazardous chemical waste disposal requirements. A schedule of chemical waste collection is managed by the WHS Unit.
Pesticides: no pesticides are disposed of on campus, only applications to infested areas as required. Pesticide containers that are empty are triple rinsed with liquid from cleaning repurposed into chemical tanks for next application and then triple punctured and disposed of via general waste collection. Grounds maintenance contractors dispose of pesticides in a legally and environmentally responsible manner through a company called ChemClear that visits Tasmania from Victoria on a regular basis. Their empty Chemical containers are disposed of via the official Drum Muster scheme.
There are no formal strategies for others, and no central approach for all types included in this credit.
Pesticides: no pesticides are disposed of on campus, only applications to infested areas as required. Pesticide containers that are empty are triple rinsed with liquid from cleaning repurposed into chemical tanks for next application and then triple punctured and disposed of via general waste collection. Grounds maintenance contractors dispose of pesticides in a legally and environmentally responsible manner through a company called ChemClear that visits Tasmania from Victoria on a regular basis. Their empty Chemical containers are disposed of via the official Drum Muster scheme.
There are no formal strategies for others, and no central approach for all types included in this credit.
A brief description of any significant hazardous material release incidents during the previous three years, including volume, impact and response/remediation:
Only one incided recorded that would require EPA or local government notifications during the previous three years.
- 24/01/2019: Cooking oil spill in the car park adjacent to Stone Building and Theatre Annex (Inveresk Campus) from MOFO Festival vendors, then cleaned with Caustic "Hunters INVADE" 20l agent. Agent applied using pressure cleaner and oil and caustic cleaner allowed to run-off down drains (direct drain to local river - Tamar River). Chemicals used were biodegradable and soluble and pressure cleaning applied for force reducing quantity required and increasing dilution. Sufficiently demonstrated no breach of Launceston City Council or EPA requirements for discharge to stormwater.
- 24/01/2019: Cooking oil spill in the car park adjacent to Stone Building and Theatre Annex (Inveresk Campus) from MOFO Festival vendors, then cleaned with Caustic "Hunters INVADE" 20l agent. Agent applied using pressure cleaner and oil and caustic cleaner allowed to run-off down drains (direct drain to local river - Tamar River). Chemicals used were biodegradable and soluble and pressure cleaning applied for force reducing quantity required and increasing dilution. Sufficiently demonstrated no breach of Launceston City Council or EPA requirements for discharge to stormwater.
A brief description of any inventory system employed by the institution to facilitate the reuse or redistribution of laboratory chemicals:
There is no formal system in place, however laboratory managers usually reach to each other to facilitate the redistribution of chemicals.
Part 2. Electronic waste diversion
Yes
Does the institution have or participate in a program to responsibly recycle, reuse, and/or refurbish electronic waste generated by students?:
No
If yes to either of the above, provide:
The IT Standard Operating Environment Policy 2017-2020 applies to all University staff and includes three methods for disposing of computer equipment: donation to not-for-profit organisations, sale via internal or external processes (both aiming for reuse), and e-waste collection by UTAS vendor for recycling. A disposal Procedure is currently being updated and is targeting zero tolerance of any items going to landfill.
UTAS has created a process where students can assist in the preparation of computer equipment for donation to increase the ability to donate more equipment to more organisations. This process is being implemented commencing 2020.
Any equipment that is not able to be reused is recycled by an e-waste provider.
UTAS has created a process where students can assist in the preparation of computer equipment for donation to increase the ability to donate more equipment to more organisations. This process is being implemented commencing 2020.
Any equipment that is not able to be reused is recycled by an e-waste provider.
Is the institution’s electronic waste recycler certified under the e-Stewards and/or Responsible Recycling (R2) standards?:
No
Optional Fields
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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