Kwantlen Polytechnic University
OP-20: Hazardous Waste Management

The following steps are taken by the Sciences Department at KPU:

-Horticulture: They maintain an updated inventory of a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) with detailed information including the name, chemical formula, and hazard information of each chemical. They ensure strict adherence to proper procedures and protocols whenever handling hazardous chemicals to minimize the generation of waste. They also employ safe practices when handling hazardous chemicals such as flammable solvents and corrosive acids by conducting tests within the fume hood to enhance safety and reduce the risk of waste generation.

-Brewing: Chemicals used are a part of the industry standard. After using cleaning solutions, they check with the strength of the solution to determine if it is safe/good to use again. They use chemicals several times to reduce the amount of chemical waste. 

-Chemistry: During the last five years, the Chemistry department has worked hard to reduce the scale of their experiments, which in turn reduces the amount of waste produced. They have removed experiments that required the use of concentrated acids and chromium (VI). The use of dichloromethane (a chlorinated solvent) has largely been replaced by ethyl acetate (a greener alternative) in the organic labs.

-Biology: Chemical waste is disposed of in an appropriate container which is typically stored in the fume hoods. 

-Environmental Protection & Technology: They do not have specific strategies to reduce chemical waste as most waste hazardous chemical waste for EPT is generated based on industry required extraction / analysis procedures.

KPU has a partnership with the waste hauler "GFL Environmental" to safely pick up and dispose of all chemical waste on an if and when-required basis. This is generally initiated by the arts and sciences faculties as a result of programming (e.g. ceramics, chemistry). Waste water is also treated on site when it exits KPU's labs, automotive shop, boiler exhaust condensate, and KPU's brewery’s pH treatment plant before it enters Metro Vancouver wastewater for final processing. The following strategies are taken by the Sciences Department at KPU:

-Horticulture: Establishes designate collection points equipped with appropriate containers for disposing hazardous chemical spill waste. They also provide chemical spill kits in their classrooms. Teaching and learning adheres to established regulations for chemical waste disposal and collaborates with the Facilities Department to secure hazardous chemical waste disposal services.

-Brewing: Chemicals used are all part of industry standard methods and taught to be used as minimally as possible. As much as possible, methods are selected to avoid producing hazardous waste. Their pH measurement holding tank is in compliance with Metro Vancouver's waste water guidelines. Any hazardous waste produced is disposed of through the waste hauler GFL.

-Physics: Little to no chemical waste is related to KPU's physics labs. Small amounts of solder, epoxy, glues, and lubricants are used infrequently in labs and in small amounts, which are disposed of in a standard waste bin.

-Chemistry: Chemical waste is collected and stored in locked bunker until pickup by waste hauler, GFL. Chemistry has neutralization stations (using sodium bicarbonate and citric acid) at every sink in the lab room so that students can check the pH of aqueous waste and adjust it to the acceptable range as long as no other regulated substances are present in the solution. Solutions that contain regulated metal or organics are collected for pick-up by GFL. Waste/disposal collection instructions have been added to many of the experiments run by the students. -Biology: Disposal protocols for hazardous waste are followed and receptacles are removed from the lab when filled.

-Environmental Protection & Technology: Waste is collected in large jugs. For metal acid, HPDE jugs are purchased or empty acid jugs are rinsed and repurposed. Jugs of waste are identified and labels similar to WHMIS workplace labels are placed on jugs (note that chemical waste is exempt from WHMIS compliance regulations). Once sufficient quantities of waste have been collected, GFL is notified.

Only one incident has occurred over the last three years at KPU. In 2022 in the Environmental Protection & Technology program, while conducting a chemical inventory the instructors binder caught a bottle and pushed it over the lipped edge of the shelf in the chemical bunker. The bottle cap broke open and approx. 300mL of carbon disulfide was released. The space was evacuated and vented and spill clean up was done. The incident was reported to the supervisor and Occupational Health and Safety noted it as a near miss incident.

Horticulture: Utilizes an inventory system which encompasses the following practices 1) Proper Labeling: Ensure the proper labeling of hazardous materials for easy identification and separation. 2) Safe Storage: Store hazardous chemicals in safety cabinets to maintain a secure and organized inventory. 3) Categorization: Categorize chemicals based on their properties, such as flammability, and toxicity to guide safe handling and informed redistribution decisions

Brewing: There is no inventory system in the department.

Chemistry: The Surrey campus chemical inventory is available as an Excel spreadsheet on their Chemistry SharePoint site. The inventory for Richmond campus a work in progress, but will be added to the site when completed. The idea is that anyone in their department can see what exists, and in what quantities in order to plan for the development of new experiments or for outreach activities. In general, they try to order chemicals in the smallest amount that is practical and to keep a minimum quantity of items on hand. When a small amount of a chemical is needed by one department and they don’t have it on hand, they will check to see whether another department has any before purchasing it.

Biology: They keep a list of chemicals used in their lab, but otherwise have no formalized inventory system.

Environmental Protection & Technology: All chemicals are inventoried and documented by the department yearly prior to annual Safety Data Sheet (SDS) update and for major supplies purchase. That inventory only indicates presence of chemical, it does not record quantity. They also undertake a quick review at the beginning of each semester to look at quantities for specific upcoming labs. There is no formal process for redistribution of chemicals. If other techs in the area need chemicals then informal discussions can and have occurred for “borrowing” chemicals.

The Facilities Department recycles old or outdated electronic equipment at approved recycling depots. The IT Department donates good-condition decommissioned equipment to ReuseTechBC and Quantum Lifecycle is KPU's primary e-waste vendor. This does not include student electronics recycling. The Kwantlen Student Association does not specifically have a recycling/reuse program for student electronics, however, they have a free service called "Reboot Computer Repair" which could help prevent electronics from reaching their end of life prematurely.

Data from Faculties such as Fine Arts, Design, and Trades are intended to be included in future STARS submissions.