Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 69.30
Liaison Dave Barbier
Submission Date May 14, 2018
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
OP-21: Hazardous Waste Management

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.00 / 1.00 Shelly Janowski
Sustainability Coordinator
Facility Services
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Part 1 

Does the institution have strategies in place to safely dispose of all hazardous, special (e.g. coal ash), universal, and non-regulated chemical waste and seek to minimize the presence of these materials on campus?:
Yes

A brief description of steps taken to reduce hazardous, special (e.g. coal ash), universal, and non-regulated chemical waste:
UWSP handles all hazardous materials through Environment Health & Safety department in cooperation with departments and personnel on campus. We actively make a best practice and grassroots efforts to use up, recycle or more closely stated, re-purpose materials by channeling unwanted items to another department or outlet that could use the material. For example, alcohols or cleaners to those that can use them; furnishing to Surplus viable for-sale items (e.g., thinners, paints); or combining unused material with other similar items for end-use (e.g., mixtures of fuel). Unfortunately we’re not always able to find a home for unwanted materials, but many times materials are outdated before re-use. We are constantly exploring the literature to uncover new ways to work with this issue. Coal ash is tested and although it is safe for road cover, we choose to send to a local landfill that uses the ash for top cover.

A brief description of how the institution safely disposes of hazardous, universal, and non-regulated chemical waste:
Departments that are involved in the storage, use and disposal of chemicals manage them locally through best practices and as outlined in our Chemical Hygiene Plan. Departments are particularly aware of their internal responsibilities and they are audited and must demonstrate that they are practicing good industrial hygiene. https://campus.uwsp.edu/sites/rmgt/campus/Environmental%20Health%20%20Safety/Lab%20Safety/Chemical_Hygiene_Plan_current.pdf

A brief description of any significant hazardous material release incidents during the previous three years, including volume, impact and response/remediation:
From 2014 – 2016 there were no reportable hazardous materials releases on the UW-Stevens Point campus.

A brief description of any inventory system employed by the institution to facilitate the reuse or redistribution of laboratory chemicals:
We use SYSPRO and Chemwatch for our SDS inventory, and this information for recycling is communicated through email and publication through our Chemistry and Biology stockrooms.

Part 2 

Does the institution have or participate in a program to responsibly recycle, reuse, and/or refurbish electronic waste generated by the institution?:
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:

A brief description of the electronic waste recycling program(s), including information about how electronic waste generated by the institution and/or students is recycled:
All state purchased electronic equipment must be disposed of through our surplus store. Computers and electronic components that cannot be sold at Surplus Sales are recycled. Surplus Sales is the depository for cell phones on campus. All cellular equipment is sent to the campus recycler for proper disposal. At least once per year, the student Waste Management Society sponsors some type of e-waste collection drive, either on campus or in conjunction with a community drive.

Is the institution’s electronic waste recycler certified under the e-Stewards and/or Responsible Recycling (R2) standards?:
Yes

Optional Fields 

Electronic waste recycled or otherwise diverted from the landfill or incinerator during the most recent year for which data is available during the previous three years:
---

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:
Risk Management’s Environmental, Health & Safety department manages a complete hazardous waste program in compliance with state and federal law.

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.