American University of Sharjah
OP-20: Hazardous Waste Management

**Hazardous/chemical waste is present in colleges/research labs throughout AUS campus. Below are steps taken to reduce hazardous/chemical waste: Step 1: All chemicals used on campus are identified in an inventory (also see point “d” below.) Step 2: Hazardous and chemical waste is identified in an inventory Step 3: Disposal of hazardous/chemical waste off campus Step 4: Regulated chemical purchase process *Each college ensures the requested chemical is not already in stock prior to ordering. AUS Safety and Crisis Management (SCM) has introduced a new Laboratory Health and Safety Handbook, which includes a system for chemical inventory process. *After the purchase requisition is issued by the college, the Procurement Department, SCM checks/approves purchase order for type of chemical requested. *SCM confirms whether an alternative, less hazardous chemical is suitable than the chemical requested. *SCM confirms whether engineering controls (storage conditions, transportation/ handling) and administrative controls (signage) and PPE are in place. *SCM evaluates requested chemical quantity. If possible, order quantity is reduced in order to minimize expected waste. *Practice of buying chemicals using petty cash has been halted.

*End-users (colleges) place a request (with Office of Sustainability) for hazardous/chemical waste disposal by the end of the spring semester every year. *Office of Sustainability manages the administrative portion of disposing waste by contacting a third-party company approved by regulatory authorities. *SCM reviews the chemical MSDS/SDS to determine the best way to collect, transport and dispose the particular chemical. *SCM ensures chemicals are segregated, as necessary, and labelled as per standardized guidelines. *SCM supervises the actual collection process by the third-party company. *SCM receives disposal manifest as confirmation from the disposal company.

None.

The Laboratory Health and Safety Handbook includes an inventory system to check if laboratory chemicals are already in stock or can be redistributed within the college prior to making a new chemical purchase.

AUS has a waste disposal process. Electronic items that have market value are wiped clean and donated to charity or auctioned off. For electronic waste with no market value, the institution AUS has an agreement with Bee'ah, the local recycling company, to take our computers, accessories, electronic and electrical items, CPUs, laptops, monitors, office equipment, and printers. We receive a certificate of destruction to verify the items were destroyed. AUS Sustainability hosts one to two e-waste collection campaigns a year, when faculty and students are provided collection points for e-waste. We can provide the users with a certification of destruction, if requested.