As a university, we have a legal responsibility to ensure that we produce, store, transport and dispose of our business waste without harming the environment. This “duty of care” has no time limit. We are specifically responsible for our waste from when we produce it until we have transferred it to an authorized person for disposal.
To comply with the UCLM Procedures, the University must ensure that all waste is stored in such a way as to prevent escape or leakage whilst on site, in transit or in storage.
The UCLM hazardous waste procedures outlines how hazardous waste should be managed and disposed of from UCLM premises at all campuses. Waste is defined as hazardous if it is classified as hazardous in the European Waste Catalogue (EWC or List of Wastes). Generally, waste is hazardous if it, or the materials or substances it contains, are harmful to human health or the environment. Examples of Hazardous Wastes produced by the UCLM include:
- Chemical and solvents: Waste chemicals which have the properties of toxicity, flammability, reactivity or corrosivity are considered hazardous wastes. These chemicals must be isolated from solid (normal trash) waste and properly containerized and labeled for disposition.
- Batteries
- Printer cartridges
- Infectious: Any potentially contaminated sharps; human and animal blood samples, blood products, other body fluids, tissues, and organs are all considered biological and infectious materials. These materials should be isolated from the general wastes and discarded directly into labeled containers which identify them as such.
- Etc.
Wherever practicable, waste hierarchy principles must be adopted in order to minimize the quantities of hazardous waste generated. This includes assessing during the procurement of materials/goods/equipment how hazardous waste might subsequently be produced, and how it will be disposed of.