Universal Waste Management Policy
Scope
In accordance with <<YOUR HOSPITAL NAME>>Plans, Policies and Standard Operating Guidelines,
the <<YOUR HOSPITAL NAME>>Environmental Health & Safety Committee and the Environmental
Compliance Committee have instituted this Universal Waste Management Program.
Purpose
In an effort to better manage our universal wastes, <<YOUR HOSPITAL NAME>>has developed and
implemented our Universal Waste Management Program. Universal wastes which include fluorescent
light tubes, sodium vapor lamps, batteries and computer and television monitors are regulated by the
federal and state environmental agencies and are no longer disposed of in the regular waste stream.
They are separated from recycling and landfill wastes by <<YOUR HOSPITAL NAME>>employees,
most notably the custodial staff from the Physical Plant.
Applicability
The <<YOUR HOSPITAL NAME>>Universal Waste Management Program ultimately applies to each
and every person on the campus. However, control of the program and the proper handling of the
Universal Wastes is primarily the responsibility of the Physical Plant Custodial and Special Service
departments. These branches of the Physical Plant identify, package and relocate universal wastes to a
central receiving area where the material is either later picked up by an outside vendor or relocated to
another location<<IDENTIFY LOCATION>> for recycling or reclamation.
Universal Waste Management Program
A. FLUORESCENT, MERCURY AND SODIUM VAPOR LIGHT BULBS AND TUBES
1.
All light bulbs and tubes, with the exception of incandescent bulbs shall be properly handled
and packaged by the Custodial, Electrical and other applicable shops when they are being
replaced.
2.
Old, burned out lights shall be placed in a size appropriate box that the lights originally came
in or a box of equal size that will completely contain the bulb, in case of breakage.
3.
unwanted bulbs that are no longer being used can not be located in any room or area without
proper containment.
The box used for the containment of the expired bulbs shall be of cardboard or fiberboard construction
and shall:
Have a label affixed to the box that indicates the information below as well as our EPA
identification number...
Universal Waste Management Policy
when full be completely closed and taped to avoid discharge of either glass or powder.
Although the universal waste labels have a place for a date, the packager should not fill in the
date
It is the responsibility of the Special <<SPECIFY PERSON>> to complete the date at the time
the bulbs are placed into <<SPECIFY LOCATION>>.
After the box or boxes of bulbs have been properly packaged and labeled, they shall be placed in the
appropriate recycling area where they shall be removed by Special Services. The Special Services Driver
/ Recycler will then date the label on the box with the date of pickup and deliver the container to
<<SPECIFY LOCATION>>.
When <<SPECIFY LOCATION>> has been filled with the old, no longer needed light bulbs, the
Special Services Supervisor or Environmental Health and Safety Manager will notify the selected waste
hauler and ask that the light bulbs be removed.
Because the Hazardous / Universal Waste Storage Facility is inspected on a weekly basis by the
Environmental Health & Safety Manager or his/her designee, notification for pick up by the designated
waste hauler happens as needed.
B. BATTERIES
Batteries, including automobile, alkaline, nickel-cadmium and lead acid are also handled as universal
wastes by custodial, electrical and other Physical Plant personnel. Because automobile batteries,
nickel-cadmium and lead acid batteries are handled almost exclusively by members of the Physical
Plant, control through recycling is fairly easy.
1.
Physical Plant staff can drop batteries off with the Environmental Health & Safety Manager, at
the <<SPECIFY LOCATION>> or place them directly into the designated areas of <<SPECIFY
LOCATION>>.
2.
When these battery recycling containers are full, it is reported to the Recycling Coordinator.
3.
The Recycling Coordinator notifies the designated waste / recycling hauler to remove the old,
unwanted batteries
4.
Alkaline batteries, although not mandated to be recycled, are being handled as much as
possible as Universal Waste following the guidelines referenced above.
5.
Alkaline batteries are dropped off when no longer useable to the Environmental Health and
Safety Manager or the Physical Plant Service Desk by Physical Plant Staff.
6.
After temporarily being stored at these sites in proper containment, the batteries are relocated
to <<SPECIFY LOCATION>> where they are placed into designated containers for future
pick-up, through the Recycling Coordinator.
Universal Waste Management Policy
7.
Alkaline battery stations are also found on campus in buildings such as the <<SPECIFY
LOCATION>>.
8.
When the battery container is full, the custodial staff for the building makes a request through
Physical Plant Special Services for a pick-up.
9.
The batteries from this location are also delivered to <<SPECIFY LOCATION>> for future
removal through the Recycling Coordinator.
10. Physical Plant Staff handles automobile Batteries only. These batteries are, when no longer
used, placed into <<SPECIFY LOCATION>> by the Physical Plant Mechanic.
11. When appropriate, the Physical Plant Mechanic notifies an authorized distributor to come and
remove the batteries from the above referenced waste facility.