Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 50.27
Liaison Caitlin Steele
Submission Date Feb. 15, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

San Francisco State University
OP-21: Hazardous Waste Management

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.00 / 1.00 Marsha Elliott
Environmental Compliance Manager
Environmental, Health & 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:

(1) SFSU recently purchased a silver recovery unit for the Fine Arts Dept. to eliminate the generation of photo-processing waste. Treated photo-processing waste will now be discharged to the municipal sewer system; spent silver canisters will be recycled.
(2) SFSU is in the process of securing a chemical purchasing vendor to coordinate the purchase of chemicals campus-wide. This system will enable EHS to place controls on the volumes and types of chemicals ordered. Guaranteed delivery timelines by the vendor should provide an incentive for chemical users on campus not to “over-order” chemicals.
(3) SFSU has initiated discussions with Ingenium, to “broker” qualifying “orphan” chemicals for re-use, in lieu of managing them as a hazardous waste.
(4) Over the past year, SFSU has been embarking on a fluorescent light change-out program, replacing fluorescent lamps with more efficient LED lights.


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

SFSU has contracts with PSC/Stericycle for hazardous & universal wastes, and Biologic for medical waste. Hazardous and medical wastes are picked up weekly for routine waste generation, and on an as-needed basis for groups that generate waste sporadically. EHS has a budget for regulated waste disposal and provides support, as needed, to affected groups on campus that need to dispose of unwanted hazardous materials. Additionally, Spring Clean-up Events serve as encouragement for groups on campus to identify old, outdated, hazmat items for disposal. During these events, disposal of hazardous and universal waste items is coordinated by the Campus Environmental Compliance Manager, to assure conformance with applicable regulations.

Used battery collection containers are provided to various groups on camps for the collection of small mixed batteries. Batteries are collected by EHS personnel, and sorted/taped, prior to pick-up by SFSU’s hazardous waste/universal waste contractor.
Spent lamps collected by Facilities and Campus Housing are managed as universal waste using SFSU’s hazardous waste/universal waste contractor.

Information is available on SFSU’s website:
http://ehs.sfsu.edu/content/environmental-programs
http://sustain.sfsu.edu/recycle


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

SF State's Science building was closed for a semester in 2014 when asbestos was detected in the building. The campus immediately shut down the building, conducted outreach to the community, then took steps to remediate the contamination. http://buildingclosure.sfsu.edu/


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

In June 2016, SFSU purchased a package from MSDS Online, which includes the preparation of a “binder” identifying chemicals and their locations campus-wide. This inventory will facilitate the re-use of laboratory chemicals, where feasible. The “binder” should be completed by December 2016.


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:

In California, electronic waste is regulated as Universal Waste. Computers and other electronic devices that cannot be refurbished or reused are managed as e-waste. The campus recycles e-waste through Electronic Recyclers International, Inc. Each department gathers e-waste and brings it to common, secure collection points. The campus typically has one pick-up per month. The campus also holds Spring Clean-Up events, which are aimed at clearing old computer equipment and other electronic devices from faculty and staff offices.

Residential students dispose of their used electronics via Goodwill donation boxes. The Student Center also collects small e-waste items from students.


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:
30.40 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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