| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 71.58 |
| Liaison | James Gordon |
| Submission Date | March 3, 2015 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Thompson Rivers University
OP-25: Hazardous Waste Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.00 / 1.00 |
James
Gordon Environmental Programs and Research Coordinator TRU Office of Environment and Sustainability |
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?:
A brief description of steps taken to reduce hazardous, special (e.g. coal ash), universal, and non-regulated chemical waste:
TRU Occupational Health and Safety is responsible for disposing of hazardous, universal and non-regulated chemical waste.
A brief description of how the institution safely disposes of hazardous, universal, and non-regulated chemical waste:
When an individual or department has hazardous waste to dispose of, a request for disposal is made to Occupational Health and Safety. It is sealed in an appropriate container and Occupational Health and Safety picks it up and disposes of it at the proper location. TRU Animal Health Technology and Biology animal waste is disposed of in cooperation with Kamloops' Mission Flats landfill. The landfill ensures that the waste is in the proper area and is well-covered within a short time of arrival. Outdated bear spray is collected and disposed of twice annually.
A brief description of any significant hazardous material release incidents during the previous three years, including volume, impact and response/remediation:
There has been no significant hazardous materials release incidents during the previous three years.
A brief description of any inventory system employed by the institution to facilitate the reuse or redistribution of laboratory chemicals:
There is no policy set in place to facilitate the reuse or redistribution of laboratory chemicals, however, laboratory professors use best practices to ensure chemicals are properly recycled through a third-party company. To minimize waste, TRU lab instructors are encouraged to only prepare the amount of chemicals needed for each class. Some classes will use the same chemical for a variety of labs so it can be redistributed if there is any leftover from a prior class.
Does the institution have or participate in a program to responsibly recycle, reuse, and/or refurbish all electronic waste generated by the institution?:
Does the institution have or participate in a program to responsibly recycle, reuse, and/or refurbish electronic waste generated by students?:
A brief description of the electronic waste recycling program(s):
Used batteries are collected in seventeen designated battery collection bins located in all main buildings (and some secondary buildings) throughout the campus. These go to a third-party organization in Kamloops (Battery Direct), which undertakes proper shipment and recycling of batteries. Smaller electronic waste (like cell phones or iPods) can be taken to designated recycling bins by the TRU Student Union Membership Desk in the Independent Centre or to the TRU Warehouse. They are then brought to a provincially-certified electronics recycling depot for proper disposal.
A brief description of steps taken to ensure that e-waste is recycled responsibly, workers’ basic safety is protected, and environmental standards are met:
Electronic waste is recycled in a manner consistent with the university’s occupational health and safety standards. All e-waste is brought to a provincially-certified electronics recycling depot for proper disposal.
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:
Another website with information pertaining to these issues: http://www.tru.ca/sustain/initiatives/recycling.html
Another website with information pertaining to these issues: http://www.tru.ca/sustain/initiatives/recycling.html
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.