| Overall Rating | Bronze |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 25.45 |
| Liaison | Meghann Jarchow |
| Submission Date | Jan. 30, 2023 |
University of South Dakota
OP-20: Hazardous Waste Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
0.75 / 1.00 |
Emily
Theroux Sustainability Sustainability & Environment |
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:
USD combines compatible waste streams, which makes recycling more efficient and cost-effective.
A brief description of how the institution safely disposes of hazardous, universal, and non-regulated chemical waste:
The University sends hazardous waste to a licensed TSDF (Transportation, Storage & Disposal Facility). For the past several years we have contracted with Veolia Environmental Services. As many of the wastes as possible are recycled by the TSDF we use. For example, solvents are recycled for their BTU value, acids are used to neutralize caustic wastes, etc.
Wastes currently covered under the Universal Waste Rule in South Dakota include: mercury-containing equipment, certain pesticides, used batteries, and waste lamps. We use Retrofit Environmental for the disposal of the mercury containing equipment. The batteries and pesticides, along with waste paint, go to Missouri Valley Recycling here in Vermillion.
A brief description of any significant hazardous material release incidents during the previous three years, including volume, impact and response/remediation:
None
A brief description of any inventory system employed by the institution to facilitate the reuse or redistribution of laboratory chemicals:
USD does not use an inventory system. Rather, when a faculty member leaves a lab, it is opened up and allows other faculty members to take what they want.
Does the institution have or participate in a program to responsibly recycle, reuse, and/or refurbish 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), including information about how electronic waste generated by the institution and/or students is recycled:
Departments notify ITS when they have surplus technology items. All items are delivered to the ITS department and they determines if the items are still usable on campus and if not, hard drives are removed or wiped and the items are moved to the surplus warehouse. Retrofit Environmental out of Sioux Falls is notified when we have a significant amount of surplus and they schedule a pickup.
Is the institution’s electronic waste recycler certified under the e-Stewards and/or Responsible Recycling (R2) standards?:
Website URL where information about the institution’s hazardous waste program is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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.