University of Sussex Case Study

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University of SussexCase Study

• Amanda Hastings
• Health, Safety Environment Officer

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Format of Case Study

• Background to Waste Management
• Waste Audit and Findings
• Hazardous Waste Review
• Hazardous Waste Management Systems
• Future Developments

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Why Review Waste Management?

• Increasing range of legislation
• Strengthen control over handling of waste
• Reduce waste to landfill
• Reduce environmental impact of waste
• Increasing costs

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Timetable of Changes
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Key Areas of Legislation

• ODS Regulations fridges
• WEEE Directive electrical
• Landfill Directive
• Pre-treatment, no co-disposal
• Waste bans clinical, corrosive, oxidising,
  flammable
• Increase in landfill tax
• Special/Hazardous Waste Regulations
• Administration
• New waste categories

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Situation in 2003/2004

• University of Sussex
• Devolved responsibility and budgets
• 38 contractors on campus
• 20,000 bin lifts (no weight data)
• Basic recycling systems equipment
• Poor quality of information
• Cost approx 250,000

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University Waste Management Strategy

• Compliance with waste legislation
• To meet EA reporting requirements
• Create one stop shop service on campus (contract
  management)
• Supplier investment in infrastructure for waste
  management
• Deliver value for money

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Waste Audit 2004

• Key Findings
• Reduction from 136 bins to 115 bins
• Average weight 49kg (Industry standard 68kg)
• Average weight of waste 28kg
• Average weight of recyclable waste 21kg
• Areas of non-compliance

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Waste Audit 2004
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Hazardous Waste Review and Strategy

• Clinical Waste Working Group established March
  2004
• Remit
• Review waste classification under HWR and LoWR
• Resolution of disposal routes
• Contract management
• Develop new policy and procedures
• Identify training needs

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Hazardous Waste Management System Trial

• Volunteers Biological Services Unit
• Identified the key wastes
• All wastes were going for incineration
• Review of key wastes under EWC categories
• Resolution of disposal routes
• Consultation, communication consensus
• Tracking wastes and audit trail
• Record keeping

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Hazardous Waste Management System Trial
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Hazardous Waste Management System Trial

• Budget 04/05 12,000
• Costs 04/05 All waste disposed of as clinical
• 10,305 (11 months)
• Costs 05/06 New disposal routes 6,377
• Savings 05/06 3,928 (5,623)
• Following the successful trial this review
  exercise was carried out in all Science Schools.

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Summary of Experience and Achievements

• Legal compliance
• Better central control
• Better record keeping, audit trails
• Common disposal routes
• Move away from custom and practice
• Initial resistance, co-operation following
  successful trial
• Training and greater awareness/understanding
• Value for money

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Future Developments
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Waste Management at The University of Sussex

• Thank you
• Any questions?