Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 52.41
Liaison Susan Dorward
Submission Date April 14, 2015
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Raritan Valley Community College
OP-25: Hazardous Waste Management

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.00 / 1.00 Susan Dorward
Sustainability and Energy Coordinator
Facilities and Grounds
"---" 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:

These types of waste are collected in two highly-controlled locations on campus. Most hazardous and medical waste is generated by our chemistry, nursing, and hematology programs as part of the curriculum. RVCC has adopted an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) policy under which we do not use chemicals for insects, weeds, fields or landscaping unless less-toxic alternatives have been exhausted and there is a clear risk to health or facilities. This policy reduces the amount of hazardous materials on campus.


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

Hazardous chemicals are inventoried and placed in recorded locations on secure shelving in a locked room. The room has controlled exterior access with surveillance cameras monitored by campus security. The facility and records are inspected regularly by NJ DEP. Chemical and medical waste is disposed of by a certified third party.


A brief description of any significant hazardous material release incidents during the previous three years, including volume, impact and response/remediation:

There were none.


A brief description of any inventory system employed by the institution to facilitate the reuse or redistribution of laboratory chemicals:

There is no system for this.


Does the institution have or participate in a program to responsibly recycle, reuse, and/or refurbish all 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):

Employees and students contact the Safety and Facilities Manager for pick-up of electronic waste items other than cell phones and printer cartridges, for which there are donation bins. Battery collection bins are placed around campus. RVCC recycles lighting and ballasts, batteries, hard drives, VCRs, computers, appliances and other electronics through certified third parties. Cell phones and printer cartridges are donated to NORWESCAP's Career and Life Transitions Center for Women.


A brief description of steps taken to ensure that e-waste is recycled responsibly, workers’ basic safety is protected, and environmental standards are met:

Materials are collected by Facilities staff and stored in a secure storage area for pick-up. The collecting organizations provide documentation of the recycled/donated items. Recycling certificates verify that the material has been recycling in accordance with US EPA and DEP waste management regulations (for NJ or PA, depending on vendor location).

RVCC's maintenance department is instructed to place e-waste in a proper container. Once the containers are full, they are moved to RVCC's e-waste holding station in the West building.

There the Facility and Safety Manager ensures the the items are in the appropriate containers (per DOT guidelines), then secures, labels, and dates the containers. Bulbs (Tube style) are placed in 4' or 8' cardboard drums with lid. Batteries, Ballasts, are placed into a 5 gallon buckets and sealed.

To ensure worker safety, staff attend annual training on e-waste by a qualified vendor. In most cases workers handling e-waste are required to wear gloves and eye protection.


The website URL where information about the institution’s hazardous and electronic-waste recycling programs is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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