| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 45.35 |
| Liaison | Wesley Enterline |
| Submission Date | April 22, 2015 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
OP-25: Hazardous Waste Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
0.75 / 1.00 |
Wesley
Enterline Sustainability Coordinator Facilities Planning and Management |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
None
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
None
A brief description of steps taken to reduce hazardous, special (e.g. coal ash), universal, and non-regulated chemical waste:
Hazardous substances and chemicals are purchased in amounts commensurate with normal consumption rates. No university institution or employee is to accept donated hazardous substances or chemicals from outside sources without notification to the Hazardous Waste Coordinator and development of a written plan exists for the use of the entire quantity within six months of its receipt. No university institution or employee shall be permitted accept hazardous wastes from a person or organization external to the University.
None
A brief description of how the institution safely disposes of hazardous, universal, and non-regulated chemical waste:
The Hazardous Waste Management Policy is established to aid the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in achieving and maintaining compliance with the hazardous waste regulation, NR 661 of the Wisconsin Administrative Code. The NR 661 requirements include locating the waste sources on campus, evaluating the waste characteristics and controlling the substance from generation to final treatment and disposal.
All hazardous waste is to be disposed of using only the contracts and contractors that have been approved by UW System Administration. Contracts currently in place are for waste incineration, landfill, management of highly reactive/explosive materials, and analytical testing. All waste shipments and contractor scheduling are coordinated with UW System Administration to reduce costs and maximize scheduling. Waste will be treated or disposed of only using facilities and sites that have been approved by UW System Environmental Health and Safety staff.
The Hazardous Waste Mini-Guide is provided online so the necessary information is provided to employees to properly process and dispose of all hazardous chemical wastes. Information is provided on how to segregate, package, and label waste for pick-up and transportation to the campus Hazardous Waste Storage Building.
None
A brief description of any significant hazardous material release incidents during the previous three years, including volume, impact and response/remediation:
No significant incidents.
None
A brief description of any inventory system employed by the institution to facilitate the reuse or redistribution of laboratory chemicals:
The Environmental Health, Risk Management, Safety, and Loss Control Department manages an inventory system and public listing of chemicals available for redistribution on campus.
None
Does the institution have or participate in a program to responsibly recycle, reuse, and/or refurbish all electronic waste generated by the institution?:
Yes
None
Does the institution have or participate in a program to responsibly recycle, reuse, and/or refurbish electronic waste generated by students?:
No
None
A brief description of the electronic waste recycling program(s):
The institution follows the Campus Computer Repurposing & Surplus Process Policy. Surplus Equipment Processing is the service for removing unwanted technology equipment from campus offices, labs and classrooms. Once removed, ICIT serves as a clearinghouse for the equipment, which is evaluated, and either kept for potential redeployment or recycled as part of the TREE (Technology Repurposing & Electronic E-cycling) program. Asset inventory is tracked and records are updated. Before computers are removed from campus, hard drives are cleaned and data are destroyed based on an industry-approved reformatting process; non-functioning hard drives are physically disassembled and destroyed. The intent of the surplus process is to ensure that computer equipment is not removed from campus while still having a useful purpose, and can be redeployed or put to use on campus for temporary needs or special projects.
At this time, the TREE program focuses on institutional e-waste only. However, our recycling contractor has expressed interest in our campus hosting an e-recycling event for campus/community. Since the contractor charges a pick up fee, the program has mainly been geared towards institutional e-waste at this time.
Along with this, the institution participates in battery and light bulb recycling.
The battery recycling program covers lead-acid batteries used on campus. They are recycled in accordance with a state-approved recycling vendor.
The light bulb recycling program covers fluorescent, low-pressure sodium, high-intensity discharge such as metal halide and mercury vapor, and incandescent bulbs.
None
A brief description of steps taken to ensure that e-waste is recycled responsibly, workers’ basic safety is protected, and environmental standards are met:
Electronic waste is processed by Universal Recycling Technologies, which is a recycler certified under the e-Stewards standards, among several other certifications that verify their ethical and responsible operation.
None
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:
http://www.whitewater-wi.gov/residents/services/refuse-a-recycling/2235-free-electronics-recycling-2
http://www.whitewater-wi.gov/images/stories/public_works/recycling/Southeaster_WI_Electronic_Waste_2010.pdf
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.