University of Vermont
OP-20: Hazardous Waste Management

The university’s hazardous waste program promotes waste reduction and recycling in the following ways: 1) through training of laboratory staff and facilities maintenance personnel (both online and in a classroom); 2) tracking “unknown” waste generation as an indicator of laboratory chemical storage and disposal practices; and 3) by managing electronic inventory systems that enable sharing among research groups and promoting full use of chemicals. This is done through a chemical distribution program (ChemSource) which purchases certain items in bulk, and then passes the savings on to labs at the per bottle price to help manage the volume of flammable liquids. In addition to training, the university developed a “Lab Waste Disposal Guide” that is available online, and assists laboratories in the proper management of their waste. The university provides an “Annual Progress Report on Pollution Prevention” to the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation.

The University of Vermont (UVM) has a comprehensive “Waste Management Plan” and operates a permitted hazardous waste facility. Various UVM departments are instructed to enter waste information into an electronic system for Risk Management & Safety personnel. Safety staff are trained in hazardous waste management and Department of Transportation regulations. They are responsible for the pick-up, characterization and transportation of each waste to a secure facility owned by the university. All wastes are managed and transported according to State and Federal law. Full containers of waste are sent only to approved contracted vendors. Details of UVM’s Waste Management Plan can be found at: https://www.uvm.edu/riskmanagement/laboratory-chemical-waste-management

Over the past three years there were no significant hazardous materials releases at UVM. The university did experience small incidental hazardous material spills from teaching, research and maintenance activities, but all instances were restored to pre-existing conditions.
UVM maintains an internal spill response team which provides immediate assistance, and performs clean-up activities in the event of a release. When necessary, this team is supplemented using a contracted emergency spill vendor.

UVM has two chemical inventory systems that promote redistribution of laboratory chemicals. The first specific to and maintained by our Chemistry Department. It provides detailed chemical information about specific properties and hazards of the material. The second is a University-wide system that contains the most commonly used chemicals across our campus. It is an internally developed software database that is managed by the department of Risk Management & Safety.

The UVM surplus program is operated in conjunction with UVM recycling which is housed in the Custodial Services department. University departments submit requests online to have electronic waste picked up from their offices. UVM recycling personnel transport all electronic waste to a secure storage trailer on campus. The trailer is emptied monthly by a contracted e-waste recycler (Good Point Recycling). The recycler performs “triage” on incoming materials to identify repairable, reusable components at their facility located in Middlebury Vermont, about one hour south of UVM campus.
The UVM Recycling program designed and built “techno trash” collection cabinets for universal wastes specifically for student areas. Each cabinet (about the size of a vertical file cabinet) has divided compartments to collect the following: batteries, CFL’s, ink jet cartridges and electronic waste which includes any computer, mobile or electronic “gadgets”. There are over 20 cabinets on campus. These are emptied on a regular basis by Work-study student employees, and materials are handled in a similar manner as with institutional e-waste.
The UVM Recycling program designed and built “techno trash” collection cabinets for universal wastes specifically for student areas. Each cabinet (about the size of a vertical file cabinet) has divided compartments to collect the following: batteries, CFL’s, ink jet cartridges and electronic waste which includes any computer, mobile or electronic “gadgets”. There are over 20 cabinets on campus. These are emptied on a regular basis by work-study student employees, and materials are handled in a similar manner as with institutional e-waste.

UVM Recycling: www.uvm.edu/recycle

Good Point Recycling: http://www.retroworks.net/

Laboratory Environmental Management Plan: https://www.uvm.edu/riskmanagement/laboratory-chemical-waste-management

Laboratory Disposal Site: https://www.uvm.edu/riskmanagement/waste-disposal-and-management

Energy and Sustainability in Laboratories: https://www.uvm.edu/riskmanagement/sustainability-and-pollution-prevention