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SUPERIOR HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT EXPECTED AT THREE UNIVERSITY LABS
Release Date: 10/07/99
Contact Information:
FOR RELEASE: THURSDAY, OCT. 7, 1999
SUPERIOR HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT
EXPECTED AT THREE UNIVERSITY LABS
EXPECTED AT THREE UNIVERSITY LABS
Three New England area universities have joined with EPA and the states of Massachusetts and Vermont to test an integrated, performance-based approach for managing laboratory hazardous wastes differently than currently required under federal law. Universities have long held that the existing requirements set for industry under the RCRA law, are not a good fit for university laboratories. Boston College, the University of Massachusetts (Boston), the University of Vermont, EPA, and the states have agreed to a site-specific rule that replaces applicable hazardous waste disposal requirements with comprehensive environmental management plans for the universities’ laboratories. While the amount of hazardous wastes generated by university laboratories is small, the labs have been incurring the high management costs of complying with federal industry requirements. The agreed-upon pilot program is expected to lower costs while increasing environmental protection. Proper handling and/or disposal of laboratory hazardous waste will be assured. The goals include a 10 percent reduction in hazardous waste generated at each university, a 20 percent increase in the amount of lab waste that is reused or recycled, a listing of hazardous chemicals of concern, and an annual survey of these chemicals in their labs. This agreement was developed under Project XL (eXcellence and Leadership), which is an EPA national initiative that tests innovative ways of achieving better and more cost-effective public health and environmental protection. For further information, see: https://www.epa.gov/projectxl.
R-122 ###
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