Wilfrid Laurier University
OP-25: Hazardous Waste Management

In keeping with environmental responsibility, Laurier recognizes the importance of minimizing waste generation. The following principles are encouraged in labs, are included on the website, and have a section of the Lab Safety Manual dedicated to them: -Buy only what you need. -Miniaturize experiments. -Choose non-hazardous substances over hazardous substances (e.g. use digital or ethanol-based thermometers over mercury-based thermometers). -Return unused material to the supplier if possible (e.g. gas cylinders). -Redistribute usable materials. -Recycle/recover materials when this can be accomplished efficiently, effectively and safely. SHERM (Safety, Health, Environment & Risk management) provides WHMIS and laboratory safety training for hazardous materials to all staff members which emphasizes these guidelines.

Hazardous waste is disposed of according to Ministry of Environment laws and regulations. Laurier uses a ministry approved contractor to handle and dispose of the waste in a way that meets all of the Ministry of Environment requirements. SHERM (Safety, Health, Environment & Risk management) is responsible for ensuring that Laurier is in compliance with the disposal requirements. Hazardous waste is collected from various areas on campus. They include labs, boiler rooms, and storage rooms. All hazardous waste is brought to the lock up in the Science Research Building. RPR Environmental from Stoney Creek picks up the waste each month from the lock up. Brantford Campus: Hazardous waste is collected from various areas on campus and brought to the Carnegie Building storage closet. RPR Environmental from Stoney Creek picks up the waste upon request.

There have been no incidents recorded.

Laurier's e-waste is disposed of through Greentec, who has a 100% waste diversion rate and zero landfill policies are in place. Individual faculty and staff are responsible for contacting Physical Resources to recycle electronic waste. When requested, Physical Resources picks up institution generated electronic waste and stores it in a central collection facility. Once a substantial amount of electronic waste has been collected, Physical Resources takes the material to the nearby Recycling Depot. For larger collections of electronic waste, Greentec drops off metal cages for Physical Resources staff to sort the e-waste in and when complete, Greentec returns to retrieve the cages.

Once evaluated at the processing facility, the items are: 1. Inspected and Weighed – At the consolidation facility, the items are inspected and weighed. 2. Safely Dismantled and Separated – Greentec associates carefully dismantle the items and separate them into individual components by commodity, such as metal, glass and plastics. It is this process in which Greentec excels: proper dismantling is critical to ensure potentially harmful components such as batteries, mercury, lead, inks and toners are safely separated and kept out of landfill. Greentec is an ISO 14001 registered; Ministry of the Environment approved processors based in Cambridge, Ontario and operates under safe and controlled working conditions governed by strict OES standards. 3. Shredded and Smelted – Once the components are safely dismantled and separated, valuable commodities such as steel, aluminum, copper, glass and plastic are shredded, smelted or processed as raw materials for future production. Clean recycled materials are reutilized world wide in the production of new goods. Any materials that could be considered hazardous stay in OECD countries for responsible handling and appropriate disposal - never being shipped to developing counties. Greentec values ecological sustainability first and foremost and strives to provide the most environmentally responsible electronics recycling solutions available. Greentec has invested considerable resources into perfecting its processes and improving its technologies, becoming an industry leading recovery and recycling solutions provider. Greentec is committed to continuous improvements in environmental performance, and ensure a zero landfill policy.

http://www.wlu.ca/documents/44391/LAB-008-02_SOP_haz_waste.pdf