| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 60.17 |
| Liaison | Mark Klapatch-Mathias |
| Submission Date | Feb. 27, 2015 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of Wisconsin-River Falls
OP-25: Hazardous Waste Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.00 / 1.00 |
Connie
Smith Risk Manager VCAF |
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:
Basic waste minimization options include:
- Waste stream segregation - keep hazardous and non-hazardous wastes clearly separated
- Good housekeeping - prevent contamination of good material, control spillage, etc.
- Inventory control - keep track of materials to prevent duplicate orders, and generating outdated material
- Order chemicals in smaller containers and quantities
- Material substitution - where possible use a non-hazardous chemical
- Using smaller scale demonstrations
- Modifying specific experiments - use a non-hazardous metal in place of mercury, lead, cadmium, etc.
- In the case of coal ash, the campus burns a limited amount of each coal annually compared to years past (500 tons in recent years compared to 4500 tons in previous). We work with a local vendor, Dick Godden, on reuse of current coal ash supply.
A brief description of how the institution safely disposes of hazardous, universal, and non-regulated chemical waste:
Various departments across campus produce different types of waste. The Hazardous Waste Program has specific protocol and methods for disposal for each department depending on the type of waste produced.
A brief description of any significant hazardous material release incidents during the previous three years, including volume, impact and response/remediation:
Not available due to no incidents.
A brief description of any inventory system employed by the institution to facilitate the reuse or redistribution of laboratory chemicals:
UWRF has a barcoding system to track chemical inventory.
MSDS Online is the web-based system that is used to track chemical inventory by location.
Lab Managers in the Chemistry, Biology, and Plant and Earth Science Departments have been given administrator rights to the system so they can view and update information as it pertains to their inventory.
The campus is currently performing a 100% inventory of chemicals in order to comply with labeling requirements related to the new Globally Harmonized System of Classification of Chemicals as required by CFR 1910.1200.
Does the institution have or participate in a program to responsibly recycle, reuse, and/or refurbish all 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):
First, our IT and Facilities Department work together to refurbish any electronics that can be sold through our surplus property program. The surplus property program offers items for sale on a monthly basis. Any electronic waste that is sent away for recycling is first wiped of all data as applicable, then sent to 5R Processors, LTD, who perform a second round of data removal if needed. 5R refurbishes, re-purposes, or recycles the waste free of charge to the University. http://5rprocessors.com/
A brief description of steps taken to ensure that e-waste is recycled responsibly, workers’ basic safety is protected, and environmental standards are met:
Since 1998, UWRF has had a program in place to recycle/refurbish all faculty, staff, lab, and department computer components and peripherals, televisions, and fax machines. Electronic waste is first wiped of all data, and then either sold through the surplus property program or sent to 5R, who perform a second round of data removal if needed. 5R refurbishes, re-purposes, or recycles the waste free of charge to the University.
The website URL where information about the institution’s hazardous and electronic-waste recycling programs is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
We are a very small quantity generator of hazardous waste so our “issues” are minimal.
We have had no hazardous spill releases during the past year.
We are a very small quantity generator of hazardous waste so our “issues” are minimal.
We have had no hazardous spill releases during the past year.
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.