Environmental Stewardship
At its most basic level, stewardship means taking responsibility for your choices.
The US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) defines environmental stewardship as
“...the responsibility for environmental quality shared by all those whose actions affect the environment. This sense of responsibility is a value that can be reflected through the choices of individuals, companies, communities, and government organizations, and shaped by unique environmental, social, and economic interests. It is also a behavior, one demonstrated through continuous improvement of environmental performance, and a commitment to efficient use of natural resources, protection of ecosystems, and, where applicable, ensuring a baseline of compliance with environmental requirements.” (Source: USEPA)
Lipscomb's Environmental Policy
Air Pollution Prevention
In Nashville, air quality is regulated by the Metro Department of Health, Air Pollution Control Division. Lipscomb maintains operating permits for fuel-burning equipment on campus over 500,000 BTUs, including emergency generators, boilers, and water heaters. For more information regarding these sources at Lipscomb, please contact the Director of EHS. For information on air quality in Nashville, click here.
Stormwater Quality
Stormwater includes rain and melting snow that runoff of land, streets, parking lots, and rooftops. The water then directly flows into natural water bodies, like creeks and streams, or enters the storm sewer system, which eventually drains into area waterways. As the stormwater runs across the surfaces, it picks up pollutants like oils and antifreeze, silt and sediment, and fertilizers. In developed areas, like Green Hills in Nashville, stormwater control measures are installed and permitted during construction of large buildings and paved areas. These stormwater control measures serve to remove pollutants from stormwater and slow down the flow of water during large storm events to prevent flooding.
Lipscomb operates and maintains multiple stormwater control measures on campus, under the authority of the Nashville Water Services, Stormwater Control Division. For more information regarding Metro’s program, click here. If you would like additional information about Lipscomb’s stormwater control measures, please contact the Director of EHS.
Oil Spill Prevention
Petroleum and other oil products are a significant threat to natural water systems in the United States and a major source of pollution. The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 is a part of the Clean Water Act whose purpose is to control oil discharges and prevent them from reaching navigable waters and shorelines. These regulations are codified in the 40 CFR 112, Oil Pollution Prevention, regulations, which require a facility storing significant quantities of oil to develop and follow an Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure Plan (SPCC). The SPCC establishes procedures and methods to prevent and respond to oil discharges at non-transportation facilities. Lipscomb’s SPCC is maintained by the EHS program and operated by Facilities personnel. Lipscomb employees may view the SPCC plan here.
Waste Management
Because a wide variety of academic, research, recreational, and residential activities are conducted on Lipscomb’s campus, a correspondingly wide variety of waste materials are generated. It is essential that these wastes be properly managed to ensure the health and safety of everyone in the community and good stewardship of our resources. Lipscomb has developed multiple Best Management Practices (BMPs) to help employees properly identify and manage wastes in their workplace. Lipscomb employees may view these BMPs here.
Before wastes can be properly managed, you must determine what type of waste you have (hazardous, non-hazardous, universal, etc.). Programs that generate chemical wastes must evaluate the types of wastestreams that are produced in each area and how those wastes should be properly managed. These wastestream evaluations are documented and maintained by EHS here. For assistance in evaluating wastes produced in your area, contact the Director of EHS.
Hazardous wastes are defined and regulated by the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC). To meet the regulatory definition of a hazardous waste, a substance must be specifically listed in the regulations (“listed wastes”) or have the characteristic of corrosivity, flammability, reactivity, or toxicity (“characteristic wastes”). There are many wastes that are by nature hazardous, that may not meet the regulatory definition of a hazardous waste. These waste must still be managed in such a way as to prevent their introduction into the environment and are generally handled according to the same procedures as regulatory hazardous wastes.
Regulatory hazardous wastes are subject to multiple requirements covering containers, storage conditions, labeling, inspection and disposal. These are outlined in the hazardous waste BMPs referenced above. Employees whose work generates hazardous waste or who work in areas where waste is generated are required by USEPA to receive hazardous waste program training. For assistance with hazardous waste management or to arrange for disposal or training, contact the Director of EHS.
Lipscomb maintains a Hazardous Waste Reduction Plan as required by TDEC’s Hazardous Waste Reduction Act of 1990.This plan focuses on the reduction of wastes generated in academic labs and research activities, as well as targeted chemical purchasing practices which are detailed in the Chemical Hygiene Plan for the University.
This type of waste differs from traditional chemical waste due to the potential for exposure to infectious materials. It includes wastes that are potentially contaminated with infectious agents, cell lines, human or animal tissues, bodily fluids or sharps (items capable of puncturing the skin, such as needles, glass, blades, etc.). To ensure safe handling of these wastes and prevent exposure to infectious materials, Lipscomb has developed several BMPs for biological waste management which are available here. For assistance with biological waste management or to arrange for disposal or training, contact the Director of EHS.
To encourage recycling (rather than disposal) of certain “universally” generated hazardous wastes, the USEPA and TDEC developed the Universal Waste (UW) rule in 1995. This rule enables easier management and recycling of these forms of hazardous wastes, which include the following:
- Batteries: All batteries that meet the definition of hazardous waste are included in this rule, including most rechargeable, “button,” and nickel-cadmium batteries. Lead-acid batteries, such as automotive batteries, are specifically excluded from UW regulations under Tennessee rules. Most common alkaline batteries (AAA, AA, C, D, 9-V) no longer meet the definition of hazardous waste and may be disposed safely in the regular trash. Lipscomb’s BMP for used battery management may be viewed here.
- Pesticides: Most consumer pesticides that are regulated by USEPA under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) fall under UW rules, including those that have been suspended, cancelled, or recalled. Lipscomb does not currently manage used pesticides.
- Lamps: Lamps or light bulbs that meet the definition of a hazardous waste (usually due to heavy metal or mercury content) should not be disposed of in the regular trash, but should be managed as a UW or hazardous waste. This includes, fluorescent lamps, high-intensity discharge (HID) lamps, neon, mercury vapor, high-pressure sodium, and metal halide lamps. When broken, these lamps are considered particularly dangerous due to potential mercury exposure. Broken lamps must be managed as a hazardous waste. Lipscomb’s BMP for used lamp management may be viewed here.
- Mercury-Containing Equipment: This category includes devices that contain mercury or mercury compounds which are intentionally added or which use mercury to produce a certain characteristic or function, such as thermostats, thermometers, switches, instruments, certain lamps and some batteries. It does not include button batteries, pharmaceuticals, photographic products, or medical/dental devices.
- Aerosol Cans: Aerosol cans are defined under this rule as non-refillable containers that contain a gas under pressure, designed to expel the contents.
UW regulation classifications are dependent upon the total quantity stored onsite at any time. By managing less than 5,000 kilograms of UW at one time, Lipscomb is classified as a small-quantity handler, which imposes certain recycling, management, storage, training, and labeling requirements. These requirements are detailed in Lipscomb’s BMP for Universal Waste, which may be viewed here. To arrange for UW training or for assistance with UW management, please contact the Director of EHS.
The management of electronics that are no longer needed (E-waste or E-scrap) is regulated by TDEC. Many electronics contain high concentrations of heavy metals, which can pose a danger in the environment, and other materials which are highly recyclable. In Tennessee, these waste may be properly evaluated and disposed of as hazardous wastes or special wastes (with appropriate permit and approval). Alternatively, they can be recycled by a licensed contractor who offers a certificate of recycling and does not rely upon third-world disassembly of the components.
It is illegal to place electronic wastes in the general trash in Nashville-Davidson County. Metro offers E-waste recycling at specified locations for residents, but Metro businesses must rely upon recycling contractors for appropriate management of their waste electronics. To arrange for proper recycling of your E-waste, please contact the Director of EHS.
In Nashville-Davidson County, cardboard is banned in the general trash collection. Currently, office paper and cardboard may be recycled on Lipscomb’s campus. These materials are collected from office areas by Environmental Services (EVS) personnel or contractors. For assistance with recycling collection in your work area, please submit a Service Operations work ticket through the my.Lipscomb portal.
Materials placed in the general trash on campus should be non-hazardous and similar in nature to those generated by a normal residential household. Metro Nashville-Davidson County provides residents with curbside recycling or convenience center collection for compostables, household hazardous wastes, universal wastes, electronics, pharmaceuticals, cardboard and other recyclable materials. Businesses within Nashville must manage these wastes appropriately through licensed contractors. Although Lipscomb’s campus does incorporate residential facilities, wastes generated by Lipscomb must be managed as a business waste and should not be taken to area recycling centers or convenience centers.
Laboratory chemicals, even those deemed to be non-hazardous, should be disposed through licensed waste vendors. Uncontaminated broken glass may be placed in a sealed, sturdy, rigid container, such as a cardboard box or plastic bucket, per the Sharps Management BMP.
For questions about or assistance with regular trash collection on campus, please submit a Service Operations work ticket through the my.Lipscomb portal. For assistance with other wastes on campus, please contact the Director of EHS.