| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 65.58 |
| Liaison | Jim Walker |
| Submission Date | March 2, 2020 |
University of Texas at Austin
OP-20: Hazardous Waste Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.00 / 1.00 |
John
Salsman Director Environmental Health & Safety |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Part 1. Hazardous waste minimization and disposal
Yes
A brief description of steps taken to reduce hazardous, special (e.g. coal ash), universal, and non-regulated chemical waste:
UT Austin has a robust and well established Hazardous Waste Management program with an emphasis on waste minimization. The office of Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) has five specialists working in the Hazardous Materials Program. This staff is dedicated to the proper management and disposal of all the hazardous waste (chemical and biological) and universal waste generated by the University including Main Campus in Austin and all off-site locations owned by UT Austin. There is an online training program in place for the proper handling and disposal of hazardous waste which includes promoting waste minimization.
EHS has a written Waste Minimization Plan and the university is pursuing a variety of initiatives including:
• Green labs
• Small-scale recycling in labs
• Chemical exchange programs
• Chemical container recycling
• Mercury thermometer exchange
• Glove recycling
Last calendar year (2019) UT-Austin’s volume of hazardous (RCRA) waste saw a 7.8% from the previous year 2018. This is due to overall growth in the university's campus.
EHS has a written Waste Minimization Plan and the university is pursuing a variety of initiatives including:
• Green labs
• Small-scale recycling in labs
• Chemical exchange programs
• Chemical container recycling
• Mercury thermometer exchange
• Glove recycling
Last calendar year (2019) UT-Austin’s volume of hazardous (RCRA) waste saw a 7.8% from the previous year 2018. This is due to overall growth in the university's campus.
A brief description of how the institution safely disposes of hazardous, universal, and non-regulated chemical waste:
Sharps and biological waste are picked up throughout campus, following receipt of a Biological Waste and Sharps Form. Supplies, such as sharp containers and cardboard bio boxes, are delivered as they are needed.
An extended description of chemical waste handling procedures is online at:
https://ehs.utexas.edu/programs/hazardouswaste/chp2-chemical-waste-disposal.php/
Training program:
https://ehs.utexas.edu/training/lab-training-requirements.php/
Training program:
http://www.utexas.edu/safety/ehs/train/
The website URL where information about hazardous materials management is available:
http://www.utexas.edu/safety/ehs/disposal/
EHS recycles rechargeable batteries through it hazardous waste vendor.
An extended description of chemical waste handling procedures is online at:
https://ehs.utexas.edu/programs/hazardouswaste/chp2-chemical-waste-disposal.php/
Training program:
https://ehs.utexas.edu/training/lab-training-requirements.php/
Training program:
http://www.utexas.edu/safety/ehs/train/
The website URL where information about hazardous materials management is available:
http://www.utexas.edu/safety/ehs/disposal/
EHS recycles rechargeable batteries through it hazardous waste vendor.
A brief description of any significant hazardous material release incidents during the previous three years, including volume, impact and response/remediation:
N/A
A brief description of any inventory system employed by the institution to facilitate the reuse or redistribution of laboratory chemicals:
The EHS Assistant database allows researchers to share their lab chemical inventories to encourage reuse and redistribution.
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?:
Yes
If yes to either of the above, provide:
University Surplus gathers all institution-generated e-waste and disburses it through allowed disposal channels (no landfill): Texas educational institutions, Surplus auctions, and Texas Correctional Industries.
Prior to Surplus, we offer a hard drive destruction service for staff and faculty that includes the extraction of recyclable materials. This service is available through Information Technology Services (ITS).
Prior to Surplus, we offer a hard drive destruction service for staff and faculty that includes the extraction of recyclable materials. This service is available through Information Technology Services (ITS).
Is the institution’s electronic waste recycler certified under the e-Stewards and/or Responsible Recycling (R2) standards?:
Yes
Optional Fields
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.