| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 58.23 |
| Liaison | Sarah Williams |
| Submission Date | July 24, 2023 |
Whitman College
OP-20: Hazardous Waste Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.00 / 1.00 |
Sarah
Williams Sustainability Manager Office of Sustainability, Facilities Services |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Part 1. Hazardous waste minimization and disposal
Yes
A brief description of steps taken to reduce hazardous, special (e.g. coal ash), universal, and non-regulated chemical waste:
We have strategies and programs in place for managing hazardous, special, and universal wastes. All campus departments submit them to Environmental Health & Safety for management. We’ve instituted less resource-intensive packaging methods, identified non-hazardous substitutions, and training students, faculty, and staff to reduce waste through better work practices. We’re working with faculty to reduce chemical holdings, and better manage the chemicals necessary for teaching and research. Strategies include centralization of purchase and inventory, reducing purchase volumes, and sharing common chemicals rather than having multiple occurrences of them in labs. Additionally, we've begun replacing incandescent and fluorescent lighting with LEDs, when possible and economically feasible.
A brief description of how the institution safely disposes of hazardous, universal, and non-regulated chemical waste:
Hazardous, universal, and special wastes are submitted to EHS for determination, designation, and appropriate management in accordance with WAC 296-828 (Washington Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories). Non-regulated wastes are designated and managed in accordance with local, state and federal solid waste rules as well as Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act considerations. All wastes are screened for recycling and/or reuse potential, and those found suitable are managed as appropriate in order to reduce waste. The hierarchy is: 1) Identify and eliminate or reduce to the maximum extent possible any waste-producing materials (control of inventory and purchase, process change/substitution, product substitution); 2) Reuse; 3) Recycle; 4) Dispose as MSW or to the local POTW, as appropriate; 5) Divert to “Special Waste” as allowed by WAC 173-303 and regional facility capacity; 6) Manage as Universal Waste; 7) Manage as Hazardous Waste, in order of preference: a) Non-thermal treatment; b) Thermal treatment; c) Land disposal.
A brief description of any significant hazardous material release incidents during the previous three years, including volume, impact and response/remediation:
None
A brief description of any inventory system employed by the institution to facilitate the reuse or redistribution of laboratory chemicals:
The chemistry department tracks and ensures that chemicals are reused and redistributed until that is no longer feasible. All information can be found at https://www.whitman.edu/environmental-health-and-safety/safety-and-environmental-programs/on-the-job/accident-prevention-program/appendix-1-%E2%80%93-other-programs-and-special-conditions/laboratory-safety
Part 2. Electronic waste diversion
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:
The institution currently employees a waste minimization and collection plan for e-waste.
Is the institution’s electronic waste recycler certified under the e-Stewards and/or Responsible Recycling (R2) standards?:
Yes
Optional Fields
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.