| Overall Rating | Bronze - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 35.74 |
| Liaison | Amy Brunvand |
| Submission Date | Aug. 11, 2011 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of Utah
OP-21: Hazardous Waste Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.00 / 1.00 |
Myron
Willson Sustainability Director Sustainability Office |
Does the institution have strategies in place to safely dispose of all hazardous, 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, universal, and non-regulated chemical waste:
Below are strategies the U of U is taking to reduce hazardous waste:
*Recycle oil
*Asking the lab techs to finalize their laboratory processes by neutralizing acids or basic chemicals, which would render them non-hazardous unless they carry another hazard such as flammability, etc.
*Eliminate ordering such large quantities of chemicals that you will only use a small amount of.
*We have a chemical exchange that allows individuals to donate to or take from it what they need. There is no charge for this.
*Recycle batteries
Our philosophy in determining if it is a hazardous waste is to ask ourselves, can it be reused? Can it be recycled? If no to both questions, then it is a waste.
A brief description of how the institution safely disposes of hazardous, universal, and non-regulated chemical waste:
Hazardous waste must be documented and tracked from cradle to grave, meaning from the time it is declared waste to the time it is disposed of such as incinerated or landfilled.
1-Regulated hazardous waste is picked up by an Environmental Technician from Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) and brought to a central location at the University of Utah where it is bulked or labpacked into drums. The disposal contractor (Clean Harbors) takes it and it is either incinerated in Arogonite, UT or land filled at Grassy Mountain hazardous waste landfill, both EPA approved incinerator/disposal sites. The incinerator burns up to 99.999999…% with very low emissions. The land fill is lined, and used specifically for hazardous waste, to prevent anything leaching into the environment/ground waters.
2-Universal waste is usually recyclable and is sent out with our contractor (Clean Harbors) and then distributed for that purpose.
3-Non-regulated, non hazardous waste can usually be thrown in the regular trash. However, if we feel that it has a potential harmful effect on human health or the environment, we will ship it out as a hazardous waste.
4-Anyone handling the waste, which includes the generator, environmental tech, contractors or disposal facility employees, must wear proper PPE. This generally includes gloves, gowns or lab coat, tyvek suits, safety glasses or face shields, and occasionally respirators.
To finish up and close the loop, we receive certificates of destruction/signed manifest from the disposal company letting us know that the hazardous waste we shipped has been incinerated or landfilled.
The website URL where information about hazardous materials management is available:
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.