Green Mountain College
OP-25: Hazardous Waste Management

The facilities contractor, DTZ (UGL) has protocols in place and a MSDS for each chemical on campus. However, due to the fact that the College does not use pesticides and has a green chemistry program, there are very few sources of harmful chemicals. To deal with the potential for broken lightbulbs that are occasionally placed in e-waste containers, the sustainability office keeps a protocol document on hand for steps that one should take if a broken CFL bulb is found in one of the e-waste bins or anywhere on campus. In normal circumstances, broken lightbulbs are handled professionally by DTZ, the facilities contractor.

Broken lightbulbs are stored in the light bulb room in withey basement along with the burnt out bulbs until they are picked up and removed by a vendor for proper disposal. Broken bulbs are kept in a sealed container to ensure that they don't pose a hazard. Other hazardous materials are brought to facilities and processed by appropriate contractors. For example, broken refridgerators are processed annually with the waste company, Casella, who takes them to a facility to have the freon removed.

There have been no significant hazardous material releases during the last three years.

The chemicals are inventoried and used by multiple departments in order to facilitate use. Generally the College does not reuse chemicals, but they are distributed throughout the campus for common use.

Green Mountain College addresses electronic waste proactively on the purchasing in addition to retroactively when the material is at the end of its useful life.

While many colleges have a 4-year computer replacement cycle, GMC has a 5-6 year computer replacement cycle. In fact, sometimes the College uses desktops for 7 years. Part of the explanation is, of course, driven by finances. But, beyond budgetary considerations, the College believes that it is good environmental practice to maximize the life-cycle of computers by deliberately keeping them in use for as long a time period as feasible.

To this end, IT staff and work-study employees are dedicated to keeping machines maintained and in good working order. When a machine is finally recycled, all reusable parts are culled at GMC when possible: staff take out the memory, reuse the monitor, keyboard, mouse, and any other parts that can be salvaged. For example, in 2014, nine IMacs were restored and given to campus community members in need.

Every year, a certified e-waste recycling company picks up any computers, computer parts or monitors once they have reached the end of their useful life, so that the materials may be recycled. These items are stored in a large walk-in closet in the basement of the library until the e-waste company comes to collect the material each year during Earth Week.

Additionally, E-waste collection boxes are situated in the library, all major office buildings, and all residence halls. They collect desktop computers, laptops, hard drives, radios, monitors, projectors, cell phones (minus batteries), DVD players, VHS players, CDs, DVDs, batteries and lightbulbs. In addition to routine collection, the IT department and sustainability office co-host a large-scale e-waste collection event during Earth Week every year, where an e-waste recycling company comes to campus and accepts e-waste on the spot.

Collection bins have clear signage indicating that leaking or exposed hazardous material cannot be deposited in the bin—rather, students, staff, and faculty need to call DTZ for proper disposal. The custodial department of DTZ receives proper training on handling hazardous waste.

All collected e-waste is sent to a certified e-waste handler, except for light bulbs and miscellaneous items which are processed through DTZ's vendor.