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Environmental Health & Safety

Environmental Health & Safety Menu

CONTACT US

300 Jay Street
Namm Hall, Room N-308 A
Brooklyn, NY 11201

Phone: 718-260-5858

Fax: 718-260-5990

lvenegas@citytech.cuny.edu

Recycling Management Program

I. Overview and Purpose

The Environmental, Health & Safety Office is committed to help and preserve City Tech teaching environment and the wellness of our faculty, staff and students. Our goal is to reduce the amount of waste which would otherwise end up on our local landfill. This recycling program focuses on paper, corrugated cardboard, commingled aluminum, plastic, glass, electronic waste (E-waste), universal waste (U-waste) and empty toner and ink cartridges.

II. Responsibilities

  1. Environmental, Health & Safety Office (EH&S):
    1. Overseeing the program and maintaining all documents associated with the universal waste recycling program.
    2. Provide the universal waste containers throughout all campuses.
    3. Arrange the pick-up of universal waste by the contractor.
  2. Buildings and Grounds (B&G):
    1. Transfer all recycling materials from recycle bins on campus to the curb to be collected by New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY).
    2. Remove all cardboard boxes generated by campus personnel, transferring them to the cardboard compactor.
    3. Provide the necessary containers throughout all campuses.
    4. Pick up electronic waste from classrooms and offices.
    5. Schedule disposal of E-waste using a vendor.
  3. Faculty, Staff and Students:
    1. Responsible for using the recycling bins to collect all recyclable paper.
    2. Use the designated aluminum, plastic and glass recycle bins for personal or college activity generated recyclable material.
    3. Segregate cardboard and place near large paper recycle bins for pick-up by Facilities.
    4. Contact the EH&S Office to recycle all ink toner cartridges without returning labels.

III. Paper Recycling

A. Definition: Recycled paper is any paper product which no longer serves its intended use. This includes office paper, computer paper, magazines, periodicals, books or maps.

B. Responsibilities: City Tech’s faculty, staff or students are responsible for placing all paper products into the green recycle bins located in the corridors and public spaces. B&G is responsible for the daily collection of the recycled paper from the bins throughout the campuses to the street curb to be picked up by DSNY.

IV. Commingled Recycling

A. Definition: Commingled Recycling refers to the disposal of Aluminum, Plastic, and Glass in an environmentally safe manner. There are specially designated blue recycling bins distributed throughout campus for this collection.

B. Responsibilities: City Tech’s faculty, staff or students are responsible for placing all glass and plastic bottles, and aluminum cans into the blue recycle bins located in the corridors and public spaces. B&G is responsible for the daily collection of the recycled material from the bins throughout the campuses to the street curb to be picked up by DSNY.

V. Ink Toner Recycling

A. Definition: Ink Toner Recycling refers to the empty toner cartridges collected from printers, fax machines, and copiers.

B. Responsibilities: City Tech’s faculty and staff are responsible to pack the empty ink toners and cartridges in the box provided by the manufacture and bring them to the mail center to be mailed. In the absent of the pre-paid label, City Tech’s faculty and staff are obligated to contact the EH&S Office for pick up and proper recycling. Then, the toners are transferred to P-108, where they will be kept on a pallet until the salvaging vendor is schedule by the building manager to be picked up. Inkjet toners must be kept in a small bag or box so they can be picked up in an organized manner.

VI. Scrap Metal Recycling

A. Definition: Scrap metal refers to steel, aluminum, brass, copper, iron, silver, nickel, etc. generated during construction, renovation projects, and repair/replacement of building equipment that is no longer deemed useful in quality and / or quantity for further projects or surplus.

B. Responsibilities: All scrap metal generated on campus by B&G personnel from small projects such as replacing electrical wiring or plumbing which generates copper, brass, aluminum must be segregated and placed on the street curb to be collected by DSNY. If it is produced through contractors during construction projects the scrap metal must be disposed according to the contact specifications.

VII. Universal Waste (U-Waste) Recycling

A. Definition: Universal waste is a category of waste materials designated as "hazardous waste", but containing materials that are very common. It is defined in 40 CFR part 273, by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) but states may also have corollary regulations regarding these materials.
Universal Waste includes:

  • Batteries
  • Pesticide
  • Mercury-containing equipment (including many thermostats)
  • Lamps containing mercury
    (e.g. fluorescent lamps, including compact fluorescent lamps)
  • Electrical ballast

B. Accumulation Time Limits: City Tech, as a small quantity U-waste generator, may accumulate any waste under this category for no longer than one year from the date that the materials are originated. One exemption to this rule is if it can be proved that the extension is necessary to facilitate proper recovery, treatment, or disposal. U-waste being accumulated must be clearly marked with the date that accumulation started and the type of material (batteries, fluorescent light bulb, etc).

C. Responsibilities: All U-waste generated on campus by B&G personnel must be placed in the appropriate container with a dated label and stored in room NG-014F. EH&S Office is responsible to schedule a pick up every quarter. During construction activities, the contractor is accountable to collect and recycle all U-waste within the scope of work according to federal and state regulations.

VIII. Electronic Waste (E-Waste)

A. Definition: Electronic waste is a popular, informal name for electronic products nearing the end of their "useful life." Computers, televisions, VCRs, stereos, copiers, and fax machines are common electronic products. Many of these products can be reused, refurbished, or recycled.

B. Responsibilities: City Tech’s faculty and staff are obligated to follow the college E-waste policy procedure. Once the equipment is identified, a work order shall be placed through the salvage/e-waste management request system. Consequently, B&G staff is responsible to pick up the equipment and transport it to room P-108 to be segregated for recycling.