Download solid waste management and recycling policy

UTMDACC INSTITUTIONAL POLICY # ADM0964
SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT AND
RECYCLING POLICY
PURPOSE
The purpose of the policy is to expand and promote The University of Texas at MD Anderson Cancer
Center’s (MD Anderson’s) pollution prevention initiatives by reducing the amount of wastes and toxins
that are disposed of in landfills or incineration facilities.
POLICY STATEMENT
Where possible, MD Anderson shall divert materials from disposal in landfills or incineration facilities
through:

Source reduction,

Reuse of products,

Recycle material streams, and

Compost biodegradable wastes.
SCOPE
All MD Anderson departments and offices that generate waste or that contract with others that generate
waste products.
STRATEGIC VISION
Strategic Goal 5: Our People
Enhance our most valuable asset, the people who work, volunteer, and contribute to advancing our
mission.
Strategic Goal 7: Resources
Safeguard and enhance our resources.
DEFINITIONS
Durable Goods: Have a useful life of two years or more and are replaced infrequently and/or may
require capital program outlays. Examples include furniture, office equipment, appliances, external power
adapters, and audiovisual equipment.
Incinerator: A furnace for burning waste materials.
Page 1 of 5
This document is the property of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and, with few exceptions, may not be used,
distributed, or reproduced outside of MD Anderson without written permission from the Institutional Compliance Office.
UTMDACC INSTITUTIONAL POLICY # ADM0964
Landfills: Waste disposal sites for encapsulating solid waste materials.
Ongoing Consumables: Have a low cost per unit and are regularly used and replaced in the course of
business. Examples include paper, toner cartridges, binders, batteries, and desk accessories.
Recycling: The collection, reprocessing, marketing, and use of materials that were diverted or recovered
from the solid waste stream.
Source Reduction: Reduces the amount of unnecessary material brought into a facility. Examples
include purchasing products with less packaging and sustainable design.
Sustainable Design: The philosophy of designing physical objects, the built environment, and services
to comply with the principles of economic, social, and ecological sustainability.
Waste: Comprises all materials that flow from MDACC facilities to final disposal. Examples include
paper, medical supplies, grass clippings, food scraps, and plastics.
Waste Disposal: Eliminates waste by means of burial in a landfill, combustion in an incinerator, or any
other way that is not recycling or reuse.
Waste Diversion: A management activity that disposes of waste other than through incineration or
landland filling. Examples are reuse and recycling.
Waste Reduction: Includes source reduction and waste diversion though product reuse or recycling.
PROCEDURE
1.0
2.0
3.0
Standards of Practice
1.1
MD Anderson shall adopt standards that emphasize recycled content, recyclables, reusability,
or other aspects that would reduce the institution’s environmental footprint.
1.2
The Executive Director of EH&S in collaboration with the Director of Sourcing and Contract
Management shall develop the standards of practice.
Departments
2.1
MD Anderson departments shall request and use, where practicable, reusable products, post
consumer recycled-content products, and recyclable products.
2.2
The director of each MD Anderson department shall require, whenever practicable, selected
vendors, contractors, and consultants to use recycled-content paper on all documents
submitted to MD Anderson and to use other environmentally preferable products, as
appropriate.
Education and Technical Assistance
3.1
The Executive Director of EH&S, in conjunction with the Director of Sourcing and Contract
Management, shall be responsible for: (1) establishing user-friendly tools to disseminate
information to MD Anderson staff about reusable, recycled content, recyclable, and otherwise
environmentally preferable products; (2) vendor identification and MD Anderson contracts for
such products; and (3) user groups and other opportunities to test, discuss, and utilize new
products.
Page 2 of 5
This document is the property of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and, with few exceptions, may not be used,
distributed, or reproduced outside of MD Anderson without written permission from the Institutional Compliance Office.
UTMDACC INSTITUTIONAL POLICY # ADM0964
3.2
The director of each MD Anderson department shall be responsible for:
Ensuring departmental use, where practicable, of environmentally preferable products, and
awareness of end of life product management through training, information dissemination, and
development of internal procedures.
4.0
Data Collection and Performance Reporting
The Executive Director of EH&S shall be responsible for:
5.0
4.1
Working with other departments to design and implement a data collection system for
performance tracking and evaluation of the MD Anderson’s source reduction and waste
diversion activities; and
4.2
Compiling records for the purposes of producing an annual summary of MD Anderson’s
source reduction, materials reuse, and recycling activities, and for evaluating the effectiveness
of these actions in reducing the environmental impacts of MD Anderson procurement.
Marketing Enhancement
The Executive Director of EH&S and the Director of Sourcing and Contract Management shall
be responsible for:
5.1
Seeking opportunities to cooperate with other health care institutions to enhance source
reduction, materials reuse, and product recycling.
5.2
Promoting the use of recycled-content products, recyclable products, and other
environmentally preferable products at MD Anderson to our vendors or potential vendors by
encouraging these vendors to e-publicize and advertize the availability as well as the
advantages of purchasing and utilizing such products.
Page 3 of 5
This document is the property of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and, with few exceptions, may not be used,
distributed, or reproduced outside of MD Anderson without written permission from the Institutional Compliance Office.
UTMDACC INSTITUTIONAL POLICY # ADM0964
REFERENCES
Inform, “Waste at Work: Prevention Strategies for the Bottom Line.” www.informinc.org/wasteatwork.php
www.lamprecycle.org
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “Mercury-Containing Light Bulb (Lamp) Recycling.”
www.epa.gov/epaoswer/hazwaste/id/univwast/lamps/index.htm
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “Preserving Resources, Preventing Waste.”
www.epa.gov/wastewise/about/index.htm
U.S. Green Building Council. www.usgbc.org/projecttools
Page 4 of 5
This document is the property of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and, with few exceptions, may not be used,
distributed, or reproduced outside of MD Anderson without written permission from the Institutional Compliance Office.
UTMDACC INSTITUTIONAL POLICY # ADM0964
Approved With Revisions Date: 07/19/2010
Approved Without Revisions Date:
Implementation Date: 07/19/2010
Governors
Savala,Joseph W -Assoc VP, Facilities Admin
Stewards
Pokluda,Michael D -Prog Mgr, Safety
Berkheiser,Matthew L -Exec Dir, Env Health & Safety
Content Experts
Berkheiser,Matthew L -Exec Dir, Env Health & Safety
Pokluda,Michael D -Prog Mgr, Safety
Page 5 of 5
This document is the property of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and, with few exceptions, may not be used,
distributed, or reproduced outside of MD Anderson without written permission from the Institutional Compliance Office.