Re: Waste Disposal at Universities

[c-m-meyer@tamu.edu (Christopher M. Meyer)]

Kent Lambert asked:

>1.  At your facility, does the RSO pay for disposal and charge the
researcher prorata  
>based on volume generated?

Yes.  Actually we charge for solid waste by the pound rather than by volume.
We didn't want researchers trying to compact their own lab waste to minimize
charges.
>
>    a.  How does one assure that waste is not hidden away (e.g., in a
closet) to 
>        avoid charges?

You can never be sure.  We occassionally found such messes even BEFORE we
started charging for waste disposal.  Since then, we have NOT found that
those problems have worsened.  The only noteable change that we have been
able to identify is that sealed source users (particularly soil moisture and
density gauge users) do not want to dispose of old gauges...the disposal
costs are simply too high.  We are working on that problem with the
Administration.  Such devices need to be viewed as departmental property
rather than an individual's responsibility.

>    b.  Does this lead researchers on with little grant money to dispose of
waste  
>        in alternative, less expensive waste streams (e.g., regular trash)?

The incentive to dispose improperly is certainly there.  Even with
reasonable material balance checks, we depend to a large extent on the
integrity of the researcher.

>
>    c.  If a principle investigator (or a whole department) leaves the
institution
>        and leaves radioactive waste or contamination which results in the 
>        generation of radioactive waste who pays for the disposal?

The Rad Safety Office sucks up the disposal costs.  Obviously, we have great
incentive to avoid being caught unaware...sometimes we lose.

>3.  At your facility, is waste disposal a part of the RSO budget?
>

No.

>    a.  How does one encourage waste minimization?
>

The charge-back system does this nicely.

>    b.  Does this encourage researchers to put expensive waste stream materials
>        (e.g., chemical waste) that they are charged for into radioactive waste
>        resulting in mixed waste?

No.  Mixed waste is even more expensive to dispose.  If they are dishonest
enough to do this, they can and will find a cheaper way to be dishonest.

>
>4.  At your facility, does the RSO collect a surcharge for the purchase of
long lived 
>radioactive wastes as a mechanism to collect waste disposal costs? 
>

No.  But I think it is a good method to fund disposal.  Unfortunately, it
was not an option for us.


Chris Meyer, C.H,P.
Texas A&M University
c-m-meyer@tamu.edu