Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 45.12
Liaison Stefanie Smith
Submission Date Aug. 13, 2012
Executive Letter Download

STARS v1.1

Stark State College
OP-21: Hazardous Waste Management

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.00 / 1.00 Stefanie Smith
Sustainability Coordinator
Academic Affairs
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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:

The Stark State College Physical Plant and Construction Department is striving toward a 100% bio based department. Materials that are not bio based are recycled or properly disposed.

Academic Laboratories:
Chemicals are purchased only in amounts suitable to run the courses and allow for a small inventory to be on hand for Biology and Chemistry laboratories. Student access to chemicals in the lab is limited to only what is required to do the experiment. Mercury thermometers were replaced with alcohol thermometers and mercury barometers replaced.

Nonhazardous chemical reagents and testing kits are selected for use in the Medical Laboratory Technology Program where ever possible. Inventory is maintained to meet educational needs only.


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

Used Oil and spent light bulbs are recycled. All refrigerant containers are evacuated, recorded and properly disposed. Records are maintained by maintenance staff.

Biohazard waste is bagged in autoclavable bags or placed in a sharps container then placed in a lined biohazard box for removal by Stericycle. Contaminated sharps are autoclaved before removal also. This includes cradle to grave tracking with a log book kept for inspection by the Health Department.

Chemicals that require special removal will be placed in Chem Packs and sent off to a contracted agency.

Items can be recycled such as plastic, glass, etc. if not contaminated.

Reagent and chemical waste is disposed of according to manufacturer and MSDS recommendations.
If possible chemical waste is evaporated in a fume hood.
Chemicals that cannot be evaporated in the hood and cannot be added to the sewer system (abiding by local wastewater guidelines) are contracted out for removal.


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