Swarthmore College
OP-21: Hazardous Waste Management

The Environmental Health and Safety Officer works with faculty and staff to support selections of lower-hazard and smaller quantities of chemicals, and reusing materials where safe and practical to do so. Materials and information have been provided to support the safe collection and removal of chemical and other regulated wastes, and the EHSO provides regular training on reducing and safely handling hazardous wastes in a laboratory environment.  In general, the EHSO collects hazardous and other wastes of concern from the academic departments each semester (or more often if needed) and sorts them into appropriate categories pending semi-annual pickup by a licensed handler (currently Tier of Gap, PA). In addition to standard regulated chemical waste (e.g., halogenated and non-halogenated organics, heavy metals, acids and bases), collected materials may include general lab waste, preserved biological specimens, small-spill cleanup, non-returnable/non-empty gas cylinders, and other materials not necessarily regulated as hazardous waste but nonetheless selected for special disposal. 

Regulated wastes collected from Facilities activities are removed by special contract (e.g., paint solvents) or included with hazardous materials in the EHS waste accumulation room collected from campus laboratories, workshops and studios.  Universal wastes are collected primarily by the Maintenance department while replacing batteries, bulbs, etc., and also from collection bins accessible to the campus community. The EHSO arranges for U-listed waste to be removed, generally along with the semi-annual chemical pickups by the same handler.  The College has separate arrangements for disposal/removal of regular trash and several classes of recyclable materials.