Starting April 1, 2000, the Department of Environmental Protection has banned Cathode Ray Tubes (CRT)’s which includes computer screens and televisions from land disposal. To comply with this new requirement, Boston College will send CRT’s and other computer related equipment off-site to a recycling company.
In accordance with the Mercury Containing and Rechargeable Battery Management Act, the Environmental Health and Safety Office at Boston College will collect ALL batteries used on campus for proper management and disposal to an off-site recycling facility.
The following steps are to be taken by Information Technology, Facilities Services Ground Department and EH&S in managing this program.
Starting April 1, 2000, the Department of Environmental Protection has banned Cathode Ray Tubes (CRT)’s which includes computer screens and televisions from land disposal. To comply with this new requirement, Boston College will send CRT’s and other computer related equipment off-site to a recycling company. The following are steps to be taken by Information Technology, Grounds and EH&S in managing this program
Contacts
Gail Hall, EH&S 2-0300
Procedures
IT will collect irreparable and obsolete computer and other applicable electronic equipment from Boston College Community for disposal in the IT space in Gasson Hall.
When at least 15-20 pieces of equipment are collected, IT will contact Grounds to move the equipment to the Warehouse off-campus. IT should plan on a one week response time from Grounds.
Grounds will move the equipment from IT to the Warehouse in an area designated by the Warehouse Supervisor.
Two bins are located in this area. One of the bins should be used for monitors only, the other bin for various electronic equipment.
Grounds and or Warehouse personnel should contact EH&S when the bins are nearly full of equipment and ready for off-site recycling.
Once full, EH&S will contact a recycling vendor to pick up the full bins, replacement bins will be left for further collection.
We are all enjoying the convenience of rechargeable batteries in cellular phones, laptop computers, cordless power tools, and video cameras. More than 350 million rechargeable batteries are purchased annually in the United States. And while the toxic heavy metals contained within batteries pose no real risk while in use, they can be of concern when discarded with ordinary municipal solid waste. For instance nickel cadmium rechargeable batteries are estimated to represent approximately "75%" of the cadmium found in the municipal solid waste stream in 1995.
To help prevent the release of these toxic materials to the environment, the Mercury Containing and Rechargeable Battery Management Act was put into effect. This Act is a major step forward in the recycling of batteries and in phasing out the use of mercury in batteries.
In accordance with this Act, the Environmental Health and Safety Office at Boston College will collect ALL batteries used on campus for proper management and disposal to an off-site recycling facility.
Batteries can be dropped off at the following locations:
- O'Neill Library on Level 2 - Adjacent to the elevators
- St. Clements in Room 214 - (Mail or Drop Off)
- Stuart Hall
The types of batteries that can be recycled include:
- Alkaline
- Nickel Metal Hydride
- Mercury
- Lithium
- Carbon Zinc
- Silver Oxide
- Nickel Cadmium
- Magnesium
- Lead Acid/Gel Cel (Must be labeled before adding to waste barrel.)
- Zinc Carbonaire
Any questions or comments on this program can be directed to:
Gail Hall
EH&S Officer
Environmental Health & Safety
2-0300
hallga@bc.edu
For more information on the Mercury Containing and Rechargeable Battery Management Act try EPA's web site
Or call the EPA RCRA Hotline for general questions on battery recycling at: 1-800-424-9346.