EAUC Hazardous Waste seminar – January 2007

Dr Keith Pitcher Environmental Officer

tel: 0113 343 7255

email: k.f.pitcher@leeds.ac.uk

web: www.leeds.ac.uk/environmental

Environmental Policy

The University approved its Environmental Policy

in November 2001.

This was also approved by

the VC in March 2006.

Our EMS:

• is the focus of all activities that have environmental effects;

• is the summary of our environmental performance;

• sets and monitors targets for environment improvement;

• provides new programmes and financial resources; and

• delivers a culture that embraces environmental best practice

Waste management and recycling is a key objective

We will conduct our own activities and operations to reflect best environmental practice, implement an environmental management system (EMS) to pursue sustainability and continuous improvement and seek innovative ways of meeting environmental objectives.

Waste management – not recycling

‘I was shocked and appalled by our visit to the waste site yesterday; within 5 minutes I was knee deep in paper and books. These were not isolated incidences but originated from across the university community.’ – Quote from Environmental Co-ordinator

Waste management – targets & performance

We will meet or better UK recycling targets

• 25% by end of 2005

• 30% by 2010

• 33% by 2015

Office waste recycling scheme 80% complete across campus, finish in next 3 months

Offices monitored before scheme implemented recycled 24%

Audits carried out post scheme implementation recycled 56 – 75%

Electrical & electronic waste needed to have a separate collection & reuse/recycle scheme

Hazardous Waste Directive

Environment Agency provided advice and support

Big change in emphasis

• Mixing waste streams with IT equipment makes the whole lot hazardous

• Much further distance to licensed hazardous waste site

• Potential issues with IT equipment being found in a landfill

• WITH University of xxxx non-removable markings!!

• Big cost increases

Project team established:

• Information Systems Services, Cleaning Services, Environmental Management

WEEE programme

Review of systems – 2004 situation

• Collection and transport of IT equipment to a local charity established by Leeds Council to provide employment

• Issues with increasing volume of IT equipment and its condition

• Issues with certification for transfer and disposal

• Issues with medium term viability of the company

• Donation of computers to schools in Leeds, Lesotho and Kenya

• Use of waste skips, 1100 litre bins and in their vicinity to ‘dispose’ of redundant IT equipment

What we found in unlocked skips

New Electrical & Electronic Waste System

Discussions with companies to collect, transport and process redundant equipment

Assessment of likely amounts of waste

Key requirements:

• Licensed for BOTH transfer and processing

• Disk wipe to a high standard (same as Home Office)

• Efficient and regular collection from several university sites on campus

• Provision of information on individual assets and method of disposal

University financed costs of the scheme

Issues to consider

Pre-contract

Confirm the ability of the contractor to carry out the work to cost, time and standards

Check licensing with Environment Agency

Follow up references – see how the companies performed

• costs for the contract as a whole and for individual items

(base units, monitors, fridges, miscellaneous small items etc.)

• logistics

• frequency of collections

• reports

• any spot checks carried out?

Ensure disk wiping is to the appropriate standard

Issues to consider

Operational

Get business case approved

Set up internal collection system

• individual departments, central holding stores

• cleaning team

Confirm collection arrangements, one or multi pickup per campus

Obtain records of items and disposal methods:

• Reuse or recycle

Don’t underestimate what will come out of the woodwork!

Progress

Initial assessment - a bit of an underestimate!

Recycling summary

In 2006 1645 tonnes of waste from campus and 34.4% recycled

• 326 tonnes of waste paper

• 30 tonnes of cardboard

• 28 tonnes of glass

• 66.56 tonnes (> 3500 items) electrical & electronic equip

• 0.69 tonnes printer & photocopier cartridges & toners

• 6000 chemical bottles returned & reused

• batteries, wood and furniture recycling commenced

• Hazardous waste items

• 2229 items of IT equipment supplied

Recycling performance

Recycling % 14.8 18.0 16.5 19.5 26.6 32.9

Waste recycling summary

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

1,400

1,600

1,800

2,000

(Mar-Dec) (Jan-Dec) (Jan-Dec) (Jan-Dec) (Jan-Dec) (Jan-Dec) (Jan-Dec)

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

To

nn

es

Batteries

Mobile phones

Toners

Wood

Chemical bottles

Fluoro tubes

Computers

Plastics

Aluminium cans

Glass

Cardboard

Paper

Refuse

Weights of electrical/electronic waste collected

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

2003 2004 2005 2006

Ton

nes

Accredited collectionISS complete unitsKeyboardsPrintersMonitorsBase units

Current issues

•Link in existing collection & disposal with university IT suppliers

• Use current organisation

• Use IT suppliers

• Combination of both

• Factor disposal costs into IT procurement contracts

• Monitor any changes in hazardous waste procedures that WEEE requires

….and finally – support from the VC

The VC said ‘The office waste recycling scheme has already been a great success, but we need everyone to take part if we are going to make a real difference.’