University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
OP-T2-41: Chemical Reuse Inventory

•UWSP has a chemical database log for all MSDS arriving on campus that resides in our department. We do not yet have an electronic inventory system available campus wide. Departments that are involved in the storage, use and disposal of chemicals manage them locally through best practices and as outlined in our Chemical Hygiene Plan: http://www4.uwsp.edu/ehs/policy_downloads/Chemical_Hygiene_Plan_Final_20110725.pdf. (A campus wide system from my understanding has been discussed extensively in recent years but is a project currently beyond the scope of any particular department). We do however understand that departments are particularly aware of their internal responsibilities and they are audited and must demonstrate that they are practicing good industrial hygiene.

• We have a Chemical Hygiene Committee, which is made up of a diverse set of departments and disciplines across campus that work toward implementing standard practices.

• We have an Emergency Response Plan for hazardous materials, here under Buildings and Grounds: http://www4.uwsp.edu/ehs/emp/

• Part of our hazardous materials handling requirements is to follow EPA Waste Minimization protocol. These are innovative and effective approaches to waste minimization. The EPA has broad powers to enforce waste minimization based on the Hazardous Solid Waste Amendments of 1984. As a large quantity generator, our campus so certifies that we have made a good faith effort to minimize waste generation each time a manifest is signed.

• In practice, is important that all persons and departments generating hazardous waste consider how they can continue to contribute to the waste minimization effort. The goal is to either prevent the formation or production of pollutants at the source or reduce the amount of hazardous waste that is generated. EHS encourages UWSP baseline waste minimization options which include:

1. Waste stream segregation
2. Good housekeeping
3. Inventory control/ordering chemicals in smaller containers
4. Material substitution
5. Using smaller scale projects
6. Modifying specific experiments

We at UWSP discuss and work toward practicing all of the above options.

• UWSP handles all hazardous materials through EHS in cooperation with departments and personnel on campus. We actively make a best practice and grassroots efforts to use up, recycle or more closely stated, re-purpose materials by channeling unwanted items to another department our outlet that could use the material. For example, such as alcohols and cleansers, to those that can use them; furnishing to Surplus viable for-sale items (e.g., thinners, paints); or combining unused material with other similar items for end-use (e.g., mixtures of fuel). Unfortunately we’re not always able to find a home for unwanted materials, but many times materials are outdated before re-use. We are constantly exploring the literature to uncover new ways to work with this issue.

Our chemical hygiene officer, Kevin Czerwinski, has made the recommendation that we review this article in respect to this topic: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1871553211000235