EAUC Hazardous Waste seminar – January 2007

1. 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

2. 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 Environmental Policy 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.

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. What we found in unlocked skips

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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!

11. Progress • Initial assessment - a bit of an underestimate!

12. 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

13. Recycling performance Recycling % 14.8 18.0 16.5 19.5 26.6 32.9

14. Weights of electrical/electronic waste collected

15. 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

16. ….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.’