Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 49.13
Liaison Michael Kensler
Submission Date Jan. 15, 2013
Executive Letter Download

STARS v1.2

Auburn University
OP-21: Hazardous Waste Management

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.00 / 1.00 Steven Nelson
Assoc Director, Environmental Health & Safety
Risk Management & Safety
"---" 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:

Auburn University (AU) has established processes and procedures to minimize the volume and toxicity of hazardous, special, universal and non-regulated chemical wastes generated through University operations. AU continuously seeks new opportunities to improve performance in this area. Following are some of the key waste minimization measures:
• Microscale laboratory techniques are used whenever practical in laboratories to reduce the amount of chemicals consumed and the volume of waste generated.
• Non-hazardous or less hazardous chemicals are used in chemical processes whenever practical.
• Processes which use hazardous chemicals are reviewed and modified when possible to minimize the amount of chemicals used, and volume of waste generated including bench scale treatment of laboratory waste.
• Reverse distribution of pharmaceutical products occurs when possible.
• Implementation of a chemical inventory management system to monitor chemical usage, minimize redundant purchases, reduce the amount of unused, outdated chemicals requiring disposal.
• Implementation of a surplus chemical sharing and redistribution system available through the chemical inventory system.
In addition, glass, plastic and metal chemical waste containers are recycled after use.


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

Auburn University Department of Risk Management and Safety is responsible for managing all hazardous, universal, and non-regulated chemical waste generated by University operations.
Hazardous chemical waste is accumulated at the AU Hazardous Materials 90-day Storage facility prior to being transported for off-site disposal at a licensed treatment, storage and disposal facility.
Non-empty aerosol cans are collected for processing at the waste management facility. The cans are punctured to drain and collect the contents for disposal as hazardous waste and the propellant is captured in a carbon filter.
Non-hazardous chemical waste is disposed of through the sanitary sewer or municipal trash.
Universal waste is accumulated at the waste management facility prior to being transported for off-site recycling at a licensed facility. Waste types include: batteries (including alkaline), mercury containing lamps, lamp ballasts and mercury.
Biological waste includes regulated medical waste (blood, sharps, etc), infectious waste, and pathological waste and is managed as follows:
Regulated medical waste is autoclaved prior to disposal through a licensed waste handler.
Biohazardous materials are autoclaved prior to disposal as municipal trash.
Pathological wastes are incinerated in the permitted AU Pathological Waste Incinerator.
Radioactive wastes are managed based on the level of activity, and half-life of the isotope. Short lived materials are held for decay prior to disposal as sanitary sewage or municipal trash. Other radioactive materials are stored in secure facilities on-campus prior to being returned to the US Government, the original supplier, or disposal through a licensed waste handler.


The website URL where information about hazardous materials management is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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