| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 50.03 |
| Liaison | Mike Evans |
| Submission Date | May 28, 2019 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Williams College
OP-21: Hazardous Waste Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.00 / 1.00 |
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:
Changes in regulation of hazardous and universal waste have tended to increase the quantity of them being collected on Williams' campus, as has our decisions to provide battery collection. We view these as a positive, however, since those materials are now being disposed of in the proper manner. We use green tipped light bulbs. We have collection sites all over campus for battery recycling for community members to properly dispose of their own batteries.
A brief description of how the institution safely disposes of hazardous, universal, and non-regulated chemical waste:
Universal Waste is collected in buildings and transported to several collection locations on campus, and disposed of by appropriate third parties.
The EPA governs primarily our generation and disposal of hazardous waste. We have appropriate EPA numbers, for our two locations on campus. One for our waste from the Sciences is located in Morley and our second is located near the Facilities Building. The two numbers are required because we cannot transport waste across public streets and hence must have two separate areas. Williams is considered a Small Quantity Generator so our waste is packed and removed by a licensed hauler every 180 days. In addition, waste oil, which is not EPA regulated, is removed as needed by Cyn Environmental, and the solvents in the paint brush cleaners are removed by the vendor, presently Heritage Crystal Clean. All waste manifests are filed in the office of the science safety officer, and copies are sent to the appropriate state agencies.
A brief description of any significant hazardous material release incidents during the previous three years, including volume, impact and response/remediation:
N/A
A brief description of any inventory system employed by the institution to facilitate the reuse or redistribution of laboratory chemicals:
We have an inventory of chemicals purchased that can be searched by researchers. Our inventory system is up and running, though updating the database is up to the individual researcher. When we purchase chemicals (for all of Chemistry) and they arrive they get entered into the system with a barcode. Once the chemical is depleted it is supposed to be deleted. The accuracy of the system is not 100%. About 95% of what we have on hand is in the system and 30% of what is in the system is no longer on campus (having been depleted without being deleted). Researchers and their students have search capabilities and can view where chemicals are located. Some chemicals like our highly toxic ones and our solvents are not in the system. Our solvents come in bulk and keeping a current inventory of the usage is impossible.
Does the institution have or participate in a program to responsibly recycle, reuse, and/or refurbish 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), including information about how electronic waste generated by the institution and/or students is recycled:
The Office of Information Technology collects computers for recycling as part of their regular replacement of faculty and staff computers, as well as servers and lab computers. In addition, Williams runs a "Green Up" event at the end of the spring semester where students, faculty, and staff can bring their unwanted electronics to the college for recycling. Williams’ e-waste is handled by Electronics Recyclers International, located in Gardner, MA facility.
Is the institution’s electronic waste recycler certified under the e-Stewards and/or Responsible Recycling (R2) standards?:
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:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
info about e-waste is here
https://sustainability.williams.edu/waste/e-waste
info about e-waste is here
https://sustainability.williams.edu/waste/e-waste
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.