Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 65.20
Liaison Susan Kidd
Submission Date June 21, 2018
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Agnes Scott College
OP-21: Hazardous Waste Management

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.00 / 1.00 Elizabeth Rowe
Sustainability Fellow
Center for Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

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:

Most of the hazardous waste generated at Agnes Scott College can be found in the Bullock Science Center. Other areas that may have smaller contributions to the hazardous waste on campus include the Art department, the Wellness Center, and Facilities department.

Designated Agnes Scott facilities staff have received training as part of the Georgia Foundation for Independent Colleges (GFIC) to determine waste streams and procedures to handle waste that have an impact on the environment. The process also involves being audited and fixing the areas of non-compliance.

A dedicated staff person for the Bullock Science Center monitors the materials and chemicals used in each lab and how they are stored. They also ensure that student and staff lab assistants are properly trained in hazardous waste disposal each year.
Students, faculty, and staff across all departments are encouraged to not overuse resources and not to generate any additional waste than is absolutely necessary.


A brief description of how the institution safely disposes of hazardous, universal, and non-regulated chemical waste:

As a small generator of hazardous waste, items are to be labeled and removed from the campus within 180 days.

In the Bullock Science Center all hazardous chemicals should be collected in the Satellite Accumulation Area(SAA)or Central Accumulation Area(CAA). Containers should be labeled as “Hazardous” and the contents should be listed on the container. Container must be kept sealed unless filling with waste. Once the container is full it should be dated and scheduled to be taken to the Central Storage Area(CSA) room.

For non-hazardous chemicals (a full list of non-hazardous chemicals can be obtained from the Bullock Science Center Building Manager) containers should be labeled “non-hazardous” and set under a fume hood for pickup.

For universal waste items such as batteries or small electronic equipment can be brought to the Office of Sustainability. Larger electronic items or items related to printing can be dropped off at Information Technology Services. Fluorescent bulbs and other miscellaneous items can be picked up and disposed by the Facilities Department.

All other hazardous materials or contaminated materials are put into closeable red biohazard containers with plastic biohazard liner. For sharps (Pipettes, syringes and razors) red biohazard sharps boxes are used to collect sharps that contain any living contamination. When the biohazard bag or box is fill it is autoclaved and marked with indicator tape to confirm sterilization was done. After that sterilized waste may be disposed of in regular trash.


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:

The College’s Chemistry Lab Specialist is currently developing procedures and modifications to the Organic Chemistry labs in order to reduce materials and increase the use of non-hazardous materials. At present, this is policy shift is being done one academic course at a time, which emphasis being placed on introductory courses which are taken by the greatest number of students.


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

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 college’s Information Technology Services department collects obsolete or broken electronic waste and our e-waste recycling hauler, Regency Technologies, comes to pick up the amassed volume. The college’s waste consultant, MPASS, coordinates the contract for the college’s e-waste hauler, and ensures they are utilizing the highest environmental standards for recycling. ITS collects both e-waste generated from campus waste or student waste.


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

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:
1.70 Tons

The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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