| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 68.23 |
| Liaison | Merry Rankin |
| Submission Date | Sept. 1, 2016 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Iowa State University
OP-21: Hazardous Waste Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.00 / 1.00 |
Clay
Miller Environmental Programs Manager Environmental Health and Safety |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Part 1
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 (EH&S) ensures proper hazardous waste management by administering the Environmental Protection Agency Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) program, and other applicable state and local rules or policies. RCRA regulates the generation, storage, and disposal of hazardous waste items, and mandates that generators of hazardous waste implement waste minimization practices. University personnel must, whenever practical, minimize the generation of hazardous waste by utilizing the practices described in the ISU Waste and Recycling Manual, or by other suitable means. EH&S also operates a chemical redistribution or "recycling" program as part of a campus-wide waste minimization effort. EH&S stores surplus chemicals received in good condition from Iowa State facilities and offers them free of charge to the university community. Laboratory personnel interested in receiving recycled chemicals are encouraged to review the chemical redistribution list.
A brief description of how the institution safely disposes of hazardous, universal, and non-regulated chemical waste:
University personnel are prohibited from discharging-or allowing or causing to be discharged-hazardous wastes to the land, surfaces, waters, and sanitary or stormwater systems of Iowa State University. University personnel are required to report any discharge, spill, or release of hazardous waste immediately to Environmental Health and Safety or ISU Police.
Campus chemical waste generators are instructed to collect ALL chemicals wastes in appropriate accumulation areas (SAAs). SAAs are marked with signage which includes proper EPA management requirements. Users must also complete hazardous waste generator training available through EH&S.
EH&S staff collect, categorize and store all chemical wastes produced by Iowa State University. EH&S manages the waste in a state-of-the-art accumulation facility, which provides segregation and containment. Wastes are shipped off-site at least every 90 days by ISU’s current hazardous waste contractor, Clean Harbors, Incorporated.
Other waste streams managed by EH&S include: Universal Wastes such as lamps, mercury, and pesticides; used oil and oil filters; PCB oil, contaminated items and light ballasts; non-PCB light ballasts; and non-medical sharps and biohazard waste.
A brief description of any significant hazardous material release incidents during the previous three years, including volume, impact and response/remediation:
No significant hazardous material release incidents have occurred at Iowa State University during the past three years.
A brief description of any inventory system employed by the institution to facilitate the reuse or redistribution of laboratory chemicals:
ISU Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) operates a chemical redistribution or "recycling" program as part of a campus-wide waste minimization effort. EH&S stores surplus chemicals received in good condition from Iowa State facilities and offers them free of charge to the university community. Laboratory personnel interested in receiving recycled chemicals are encouraged to review the chemical redistribution list.
Part 2
Yes
Does the institution have or participate in a program to responsibly recycle, reuse, and/or refurbish electronic waste generated by students?:
Yes
If yes to either of the above, provide:
Iowa State prides itself on being green, maintaining many initiatives and programs to enhance sustainability, including recycling electronic waste, or e-waste. E-waste is recycled by Iowa State’s Central Stores, which works with Midwest Electronic Recovery to responsibly recycle e-waste. During vendor selection, ISU confirms companies are in good financial standing, have a good environmental record and are staffed by competent personnel. ISU also requires that electronics are only processed domestically. By following these procedures Iowa State verifies proper handling of the recycled material and ensures that downstream cognizance and consideration as well as environmental responsibility and compliance are satisfied.
The university first offers its computers and electronics for resale to the public through the ISU Surplus Department. The contractor mentioned above recycles unsold items. In addition, university faculty and staff are encouraged to upgrade electronics only when necessary.
The Iowa State University Department of Residence offers a year-end electronic waste reuse program through its SAVE initiative (Simple Act Vital Effect). During move-out at the end of the spring semester, students can donate small appliances and electronics in working order. The items are then dropped off at Goodwill or the Salvation Army, as well as at local charities and nonprofit organizations.
Is the institution’s electronic waste recycler certified under the e-Stewards and/or Responsible Recycling (R2) standards?:
Yes
Optional Fields
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The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.