| Description of the Plan | 1. Administration
Administrative support for the Hazardous Waste Reduction Plan will be provided by the Environmental Health and Safety Office with oversight by the University Standing Committee on Safety. Duties of the Committee associated with the Plan will include:
*Review waste data and project progress annually;
*Report findings, make recommendations, and initiate project requests for implementation and corrective action;
*Prepare an annual progress report for submission to upper management; and
*Recommend updates to the Plan as necessary.
2. Training and Worker Involvement
Waste reduction will be incorporated into the existing training curriculum wherein employees are trained on the general nature of chemical hazards, safe operating procedures, and use of Safety Data Sheets (SDS). Employees will be required to evaluate their own area's waste streams and be provided with resource materials that describe the technology available and currently used for reduction of waste streams of similar nature or in similar processes. Major emphasis will be on preventing waste generation by improved procedures, material substitution, and process changes.
Employees should participate in tracking the costs of the wastes they generate and should be expected to use this information to continuously improve processes.
3. New Processes, New Products, and Major Changes
New processes, purchase of new products, or major changes likely to impact waste generation within departments will be initiated only after an analysis of the waste stream impact. New processes and major changes will require an estimate of the type and volume of the waste generated, its environmental impact and related costs. Departments will be required to assess waste impact early in design considerations. Any significant additional waste generated will require a challenge to the design before work proceeds. Waste reduction teams will be apprised early in the development as to the nature of the required process and asked for input on the anticipated waste streams' impact. Departmental groups will have strong incentive to challenge changes and the addition of new products because they are ultimately responsible for managing the costs associated with their waste streams.
4. Waste Management Cost Accounting System
Hazardous waste cost information will be maintained by the Environmental Health and Safety Office and disseminated to appropriate departments.
Data will be compiled at least annually to provide guidance in waste reduction efforts.
The above costs will be tracked through the appropriate expenditure account (74492, Hazardous Waste Disposal) in addition to estimates of personnel time provided by generating and support departments. Expenditure account 74492 is assigned exclusively to track the following expenditures associated with hazardous waste: permits, fees, and assessments required by regulatory agencies; waste treatment, storage, transportation, and disposal; analytical lab fees; and related items. This account should also be used to cover items such as supplies associated with waste disposal which would otherwise be charged to other object codes.
|
