Overall Rating	Gold
Overall Score	70.92
Liaison	Amy Brunvand
Submission Date	Sept. 12, 2023

STARS v2.2

University of Utah
OP-20: Hazardous Waste Management

Status	Score	Responsible Party
	1.00 / 1.00	Emerson Andrews Sustainable Campus Initiative Fund Manager Sustainability Office

"---" 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:

Environmental Health and Safety (EHS)
A comprehensive and fully staffed Environmental Health and Safety team with a responsibility to interpret national, state and local regulations related to environmental health and safety. EHS provides guidance and support to University of Utah operations and advises Senior Administration on business aspects of occupational and environmental health and safety.

Utah Department of Administrative Services(DAS). Design Requirements: University of Utah Supplement. November 1, 2017.
This document describes design requirements for building and construction, including reduction and control of hazardous wastes during construction projects and design of laboratory facilities that handle hazardous materials.

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

Hazardous Waste Management Program
This program area of EHS involves providing direction, oversight and coordination aimed at ensuring the proper storage, handling, and disposal of hazardous & radioactive wastes, including operation of the Packaging Facility. This also includes developing a contingency plan, providing a removal service for hazardous materials no longer in use, and procuring contractor services for the ultimate disposal of these materials. This includes the procurement of infectious waste disposal contract services. As a research institution with an onsite hospital, EH&S monitors, trains, and enforces proper disposal and recovery of materials with reputable subcontractors.

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

09.26.2020
A worker from a contractor was trying to drive a boom lift onto a trailer when the truck driving the trailer became loose and rolled down the parking lot and into a forklift. There were two 5 gallon containers of diesel in the bed of the truck. Upon impact, one of the diesel containers ruptured. Diesel and transmission fluid spilled from the truck and leaked over the parking lot. The forklift was determined to be rented by a second contractor and wasn't damaged. Absorbent was placed over the oil and fluid and the spilled materials were cleaned up. The oil and fluid did not get anywhere near a storm drain or sewer.

02.02.2023
80 gallons of diesel fuel was released when a dump truck on a construction site impacted a fuel tank. The fuel entered a storm drain which led to a retention basin. The contractor in charge of the construction site conducted cleanup operations in the construction site as well as the impacted storm drain and retention basin.

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

Lab Management System
URL: https://oehs.utah.edu/topics/lab-management-system
The Lab Management System allows research investigators to request hazardous material pickups and maintain chemical inventories. All disposal requests, including requests for empty containers, can be made in the Lab Management System. New users must complete online training in order to earn a certificate and gain full access to the system.

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:

University-owned Electronic Waste
To qualify for campus services, electronics in need of disposal or recycling must be the property of a campus department, affiliated facility, or business unit. All university owned equipment and electronics must be sent to University Surplus for re-purposing. E-waste is considered a “universal waste” by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and its campus disposal is managed by the Office of Environmental Health and Safety (EHS). University Surplus and Salvage Department (US&S) collects and recycles e-waste through University and EHS approved recyclers(ATR) and processes. A partial list of equipment considered to be e-waste are televisions, computers, computer monitors, computer keyboards, stereos, VCRs, fax machines, printers, copiers, telephones, cellular telephones, office electronics and many types of scientific and medical equipment. E-waste may not be thrown in the garbage. It should be sent to US&S. If e-waste is disposed of in a manner inconsistent with university procedures, fines and/or penalties may be assessed to the University. Responsible individuals, departments or both may be subject to fines, penalties and possible criminal action.

For Students:
At the end of Spring semester the University provides a week long donation event for students called "What Goes Around Comes Around". Functioning electronics are repurposed during this event.
For personal electronic waste, Declutter Day
e-waste at the University of Utah

Electronic waste is collected at the University of Utah Rice-Eccles Stadium parking lot. The Sustainability Office hosts the annual collection.
Students can also bring e-waste to Declutter day. On Declutter Day, bring your unwanted electronics and personal documents to Declutter Day. Participants are also invited to donate non-perishable food items, which will be given to the on-campus Feed U food pantry. This event is open to the University of Utah community and Salt Lake residents and is hosted by the U’s Sustainability Office and Salt Lake County Health Department.

Is the institution’s electronic waste recycler certified under the e-Stewards and/or Responsible Recycling (R2) standards?:

Yes

Website URL where information about the institution’s hazardous waste program is available:

https://oehs.utah.edu/resources/core-responsibilities-of-the-universitys-hazardous-waste-management-program

Additional documentation to support the submission:

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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

ATTACHMENT

Core Responsibilities of the University's Hazardous Waste Management Program, Rev. 2016.

SOURCES

Occupational & Environmental Health & Safety
https://oehs.utah.edu/

University Surplus & Salvage
URL: https://fbs.admin.utah.edu/surplus/

Policy 3-040: Property Accounting
URL: https://regulations.utah.edu/administration/3-040.php
Hazardous material disposal is coordinated by the Environmental Health and Safety and the Radiological Health Departments and specific Procedures on the disposal may be obtained from Environmental Health and Safety. If hazardous material is disposed of in a manner inconsistent with these Procedures, fines and/or penalties may be assessed to the university. Responsible individuals or departments may be subject to fines, penalties and possible criminal action.

Policy 3-300: University Health and Safety Policy
URL: https://regulations.utah.edu/administration/3-300.php

Utah Department of Administrative Services(DAS). Design Requirements: University of Utah Supplement. November 1, 2017.
URL: https://dfcm.utah.gov/wp-content/uploads/University-Design-Requirements-November-1-2017-final.docx.pdf
Relevant Sections:
3.0 UNIVERSITY REQUIREMENTS
3.2 Civil
--H. Site Grading (3) Demolition b. Materials, objects, excavation export, garbage, residue, etc., which contain hazardous or regulated waste shall be properly transported and disposed in accordance with the laws of the State of Utah. c. On-site burning is not permitted.
3.8 HVAC Systems
--N. Laboratory Ventilation (1) Basis of Design a. The American National Standard for Laboratory Ventilation ANSI/AIHA Z9.5 – latest version (www.aiha.org) shall be the basis of design for Laboratory Ventilation Systems. The following exceptions and or amendments shall apply: b. Requirements which are noted as ADDED or CHANGED or CLARIFICATION are special University of Utah requirements supplemental to The American National Standard for Laboratory Ventilation ANSI/AIHA Z9.5-2012.
A COMPARISON TABLE shows specific University design requirements for labs handing hazardous materials.

Data source(s) and notes about the submission