**The development of an Environmental Audit for R-MWC was the focus of a Summer Research Project in 2004 carried out by Dr. Rick Barnes and Katie Radke '06.**
Randolph-Macon Woman’s College Environmental Audit - Q & A *General Information about the Campus* *High Priority* Energy: Status: Look at records provided by Angela Hefner. Water: Status: See the water filtration plant, check out the Pedlar River Reservoir, and check irrigation meters on campus, look up the numbers for cost and gallons. Solid Waste: Status: Set up an appointment with B.J. Litchford at BFI (845-6800) for an interview and find invoices (check with Angela Hefner) (be sure to look up numbers before you go) Purchasing: Status: look up the meter records on copiers, look at the meters on the lab computers, look into how much our bills from Mr. Speedy are, follow up to see the copier numbers for 2003-2004, find where our wood comes from (if it is local, who is our supplier, etc.) Environmental Education and Literacy: Status: Talk to Karin Warren, Environmental Studies Department Waste Water and Storm Water Run Off: Status: Contact City of Lynchburg wastewater treatment plant and ask Angela Hefner about the fine for the Dinning hall waste water. Add a section on Building Design and Renovations (Use of Green Building Technologies)? *Secondary Priority* Hazardous Waste: Status: Look up Clean Harbors Environmental Services (can be found at cleanharbors.com) 1. What kind of hazardous waste does Randolph-Macon generate and what are the sources? Most of the hazardous waste comes from labs in Martin Science Building. Ballast from fluorescent lights contain PCB’s, so they are taken to a special landfill for hazardous waste. Also, asbestos from renovations is taken to a hazardous waste landfill. In Martin Science Building we generate a wide variety of wastes--heavy metals, organic compounds (solvents, carcinogens, toxic compounds, etc.). No radioactive waste, but some biologically hazardous substances. Our sources are old stock, laboratory classes, and research. 2. How much hazardous waste does RMWC generate annually? We are considered a small quantity generator. On average the sciences generate about 100 liters and 7 kilograms of waste. 3. How is this waste disposed of? We have our waste removed once a year by Clean Harbors Environmental Services (a waste removal company). 4. How much is recycled? incinerated? land filled? We are allowed to dispose of preserved animals and some biologicals in the landfill. The amount varies from year to year but is usually between 200-300 pounds. None is incinerated on campus because we are not licensed for that. Recycling is determined by the waste removal company. Clean Harbors does recycle our mercury, but our college does not normally produce anything else they recycle. 5. What were the total hazardous-waste disposal costs for the last academic year? $2832.80. RMWC normally falls between $2500 and $3000. 6. How has this figure changed over the past five years? Since the early 1990's Amanda Wentzel has made a concentrated effort to minimize waste. At the beginning the total cost for waste removal was $5000. After a few years the cost reached its current level. 7. What is being done on campus to minimize the quantity of hazardous substances used and waste generated? At RMWC we try to reduce the amounts of chemicals used in laboratory techniques. We are allowed to evaporate water from waste generated in some labs to reduce the quantities. Professors have been trained to look at the labs used in teaching and discuss evaluating the chemicals and amounts used to help reduce waste and eliminate the use of hazardous chemicals whenever possible. 8. Have micro scale chemistry techniques/surplus chemical exchange programs been initiated?(Yes No) If so, please describe, including date of implementation and cost-savings to date. Semi micro techniques were already being used in 1992. RMWC does not have a full micro scale program due to the limitations of our instruments and other equipment. With the small number of students we have, cost savings between our current program and going micro scale would probably only reduce our waste and chemical usage by about 5-10%. Our largest classes are general chemistry (about 50 students each year) and organic chemistry (about 30 students each year). The upper level classes (of which there are 6) average about 5 students a year. 9. If the Chemistry Department has implemented a micro scale laboratory program, how many courses use micro scale techniques and how many students does this include? Not applicable. possible elimination? 10. Does RMWC have a system for tracking and inventorying hazardous chemicals bought and used? (Yes No) If so, please describe. Amanda Wentzel is in charge of purchasing all chemicals for the science building. When a chemical arrives it is put into the chemical database and is normally stored in a general storage area (some which are specific for a professor may be stored in other areas of the building). Chemical usage can be tracked through the purchases made. Waste is stored in a specific area and also entered into a database as it is created. 11. Are campus computers recycled when they are of no future use to the college? Computers are recycled in the sense that they are donated to other organizations. If the computers are completely incapacitated, they are taken to the landfill where they are sorted and disposed of. Pesticides: Status: Make an appointment with Mark Gilbert and Payton Thomas to answer for sure. Dining Hall Services: Status: Set up an interview with Gloria Chabot *For Future Consideration* Transportation: Status: Set an interview with Angela Hefner Investment Policies: Status: Business Ties: Status *Conclusion: Date of completion:________ Please list below the Faculty, Staff, and Student(s) responsible for completing the Campus Environmental Audit Please include your name, year in school, campus address, campus phone number, permanent address, and permanent phone number. Sources:* University of Pennsylvania, Penn Environmental Group. (1996, May). Campus Environmental Audit. Retrieved on June 23, 2004, from the website: http://dolphin.upenn.edu/~pennenv/audit/ University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, Environmental Audit. (1990). Campus Environmental Audit. Retrieved on June 23, 2004, from the website: http://www.uwosh.edu/environmentalaudit/i_audit.php Bishop’s University, Environmental Audit. (2000). Campus Environmental Audit. Retrieved on June 24, 2004, from the website: http://www.ubishops.ca/ccc/div/soc/ESG/audit/Audit.html