Overall Rating Silver
Overall Score 49.59
Liaison Lily Strehlow
Submission Date Feb. 2, 2024

STARS v2.2

University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
OP-20: Hazardous Waste Management

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 0.75 / 1.00 Lily Strehlow
Sustainability Specialist
Risk Management, Safety, and Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Part 1. Hazardous waste minimization and disposal

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:
Hazardous waste collection is coordinated through the Risk Management department. Veolia is the vendor through the State of Wisconsin for Hazardous Waste Services. Risk Management coordinates with Veolia for pickup and disposal of waste.

The University tries to purchase chemicals in small quantities to minimize any waste. The University tries to use less potent and less toxic chemicals and materials. The University attempts to dispose of excess chemicals or send them to another campus to use instead of storing the excess and unneeded stock.

A brief description of how the institution safely disposes of hazardous, universal, and non-regulated chemical waste:
Hazardous waste collection is coordinated through the Risk Management department. Hazardous waste is stored in central stores until Veolia can be contacted for a pickup. Hazardous waste is picked up every 180 days. Risk Management maintains a paper record of waste collected and inventoried. Risk Management provides the list to Veolia so they can bring the appropriate containers. Veolia picks up and inventories the waste. Veolia then invoices the University. Risk Management manages the process from beginning to end including the paper records of waste collection and disposal through Veolia.

A brief description of any significant hazardous material release incidents during the previous three years, including volume, impact and response/remediation:
There have been no significant hazardous material release incidents during the previous three years

A brief description of any inventory system employed by the institution to facilitate the reuse or redistribution of laboratory chemicals:
The University has a chemical stockroom for some chemicals where chemicals can be checked out and returned when a department is done. For chemicals ordered and managed by departments there is not currently a process for reuse or redistribution.

Part 2. Electronic waste diversion

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?:
No

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:
Surplus electronics are sent to the surplus store in Facilities. If electronics are to be recycled they are collected and picked up by First Choice Recycling. Visit their website to find more details on the recycling process.

https://firstchoicerecycling.com/

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

Optional Fields 

Website URL where information about the institution’s hazardous waste program is available:
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.