University of Virginia
OP-21: Hazardous Waste Management

UVa's Environmental Health and Safety Office (EHS) has implemented a variety of programs to minimize the amount of hazardous, special, universal, and non-regulated chemical waste from UVa. Materials such as batteries, light bulbs, and certain chemicals are also collected throughout the University by EHS for recycling. The batteries are sent for processing to recover the metals. Fluorescent light bulbs are shipped to a facility where the mercury can be recovered and reused and the glass is recycled. The oil and antifreeze collected from from vehicles is recycled through Parking and Transportation. EHS also has a mercury thermometer replacement program and works with labs and departments to replace mercury-containing equipment. Solvents, including xylene and acetone, are recycled through EHS for reuse in other departments. In addition, EHS examines large generators of waste and works with them where possible to reduce their usage or switch to less hazardous chemicals. One example of this program involved working with the undergraduate chemistry labs to scale down the size of their experiments to reduce the quantity of waste generated from the large number of lab classes every semester.

EHS has protocols, procedures, and policies for safely labeling, collecting and disposing of chemical, radioactive, biohazardous, and other universal hazardous waste. Anyone who works in a laboratory/area where chemicals are used, or who generates Hazardous (Chemical) Waste, must be trained by Environmental Health & Safety (EHS). All wastes are disposed of in accordance with Federal, State, and local regulations.

2015-09-29 - the fire suppression system for the helicopter pad on the roof of the hospital was activated by an electrical short in a local pull station. As this system is designed to suppress potential jet fuel fires, the system activated spraying the whole area on and around the pad with a foam firefighting agent called Chemguard C103. The system consumed about 36 gallons of this agent diluted one part agent to 99 parts of water. Because this occurred during a heavy rainstorm event, the foam was washed from the building and surrounding area into our stormwater conveyance system. We also had to conduct a wash down of the area because of the safety concerns as this materials was making some pedestrian areas slippery, particularly at our emergency department. UVA followed the discharge downstream in the creek and did not see and obvious impacts. Minnows were observed swimming in the stream right up to the outfall from UVA property. This material is largely biodegradable so the combined effect of fire system dilution, further rainfall dilution, further dilution in the pond, and active aeration in the pond were expected to reduce the concentrations in the environmental relatively quickly. The pull station will be repaired to prevent future accidental releases.

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Computers and related parallels are recycled through a recycling company contracted by the UVA. Cell phones, pagers, small electronics, batteries and media related materials (CDs, DVDs, audio and or video tapes) are sent to recyclers for proper refurbishments or recycling. E-cycle secure is the company used by UVA, which is R2 certified. http://www.ecyclesecure.com/AboutUs.html