Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 61.14
Liaison Jeff Spoelstra
Submission Date Feb. 28, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Western Michigan University
OP-21: Hazardous Waste Management

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.00 / 1.00 Mark Weiss
Director of Environmental Health and Safety
Environmental Health and Safety
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Part 1 

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:
WMU hires a licensed hazardous waste contractor to remove all of the hazardous waste & non-regulated waste that is collected for offsite management every 90 days. Universal waste is also managed by a licensed contractor for recycling. Hazardous waste minimization is provided via on-going training to students, facility and staff. Hazardous waste training is provided annually which covers waste minimization, waste segregation of hazardous and non-hazardous wastes, to reduce the quantity of ordering new chemicals to only what is needed, and if possible, to try to use less toxic chemicals.

A brief description of how the institution safely disposes of hazardous, universal, and non-regulated chemical waste:
WMU safely disposes of hazardous, universal, and non-regulated chemical waste by utilizing only State and/or Federal licensed waste haulers.

A brief description of any significant hazardous material release incidents during the previous three years, including volume, impact and response/remediation:
None.

A brief description of any inventory system employed by the institution to facilitate the reuse or redistribution of laboratory chemicals:
None.

Part 2 

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?:
Yes

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:
Electronic waste is collected by Logistical Services for resale back to the university or public at Surplus Sales. If the electronic device is broken or obsolete, the item will be dismantled according to recyclable materials and taken to a reputable recycler. Students have the option to utilize Logistical Services/Surplus Sales through out the year. At the end of the year collection of electronic waste and hazardous waste is conducted during student move out.

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

Optional Fields 

Electronic waste recycled or otherwise diverted from the landfill or incinerator during the most recent year for which data is available during the previous three years:
---

The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
http://www.esem.wmich.edu/

Additional documentation to support the submission:
---

Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
---

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.