Environmental protection
The environmental protection program provides guidance and technical support to faculty, staff and departments to help minimize environmental impacts and promote sustainable practices.
For more information, please contact Amanda Muench or 250-853-3915.
Reporting
There are a number of regulations and reporting requirements that the university must follow under Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC).
Units or researchers who intend to purchase or dispose of any regulated substances listed below, or receive any other environmental reporting inquiries from local, provincial or federal agencies, should contact OHSE to ensure all institutional reporting requirements.
Prohibition of Certain Toxic Substances
The Prohibition of Certain Toxic Substances regulations prohibit the use of chemicals determined to be the most toxic and harmful to human health and the environment. Labs are exempt from prohibition, if the certain toxic substance listed is used for analysis, scientific research or lab standard in small quantities (10 g or less).
Products Containing Mercury Regulations
The Products Containing Mercury Regulations are part of Canada’s international commitment to advance the transition to mercury-free products, reducing the impact and risks of mercury to the environment and human health. The regulations prohibit the import and manufacture of all products containing mercury with some exemptions, including a gradual phase out of the most common types of lamps, and lab equipment containing mercury.
Chemicals Management Plan
The Chemicals Management Plan is mandated to assess and manage the risks associated with a wide variety of chemicals to protect human health and the environment. OHSE monitors notifications under this initiative and will advise accordingly if reporting is required.
Polychlorinated Biphynyls (PCBs)
It is important for UVic to identify possible sources of PCBs for reporting and compliance with end-of-use deadlines. Specific electrical equipment containing PCBs in a concentration of 50 pmm or more must be phased out by December 31, 2025.
Pollution prevention
UVic is committed to protecting the local environment, waterways and oceans from harmful or dangerous pollutants. Environmental regulations, legislated codes of practice, and our internal best management practices, ensure that all waste streams generated from campus activities are appropriately managed.
Source Control
The Capital Regional District (CRD) Sewer Use by-law regulates the discharge of waste into drains and the sewer system for the Victoria region. Industry specific Codes of Practice outline the regulatory requirements for waste contaminants from a variety of operations on campus, including Laboratories, Photographic Imaging, Food Services and Vehicle Washing.
Source control and disposal of hazardous wastes are coordinated through the OHSE hazardous waste management program.
Permits
Certain liquid and solid wastes generated from UVic activities may require a permit from the CRD. This can include landfill controlled wastes requiring a Controlled Waste disposal permit, or a Wastewater Discharge permit for discharges of large volumes (greater than 10 cubic metres per day) of non-domestic wastewater, or wastewater containing high loads of specified chemicals into the sanitary sewer.
Green labs
Laboratories are amongst the most intensive consumers of utilities and resources on campus. They also generate a significant amount of waste, both hazardous and non-hazardous. Green lab initiatives are intended to provide lab users with resources and tools to implement sustainable practices without compromising health and safety.
Helpful links:
Laboratory glass recycling
The university provides laboratory glass recycling options to assist laboratory users reduce waste and promote sustainable practices. All laboratory glassware must be cleaned appropriately prior to disposal and recycling to ensure the safety of UVic custodial staff and personnel who collect and process the glassware, as follows:
- Empty containers must be triple rinsed with water prior to disposal and the caps disposed of separately.
- Containers that have held acutely hazardous or reactive wastes must be rinsed with a suitable solvent and then placed in the fume hood to allow evaporation of solvent vapours.
- For biologicals, the glassware must be autoclaved.
Within laboratory spaces, Facilities Management Waste Reduction provides a white flip‐top bin that is for the collection of smaller glass containers and regularly serviced by custodial staff. Acceptable items include, but are not limited to, bottles and other glass containers (up to a maximum size of 1 L), clean Pasteur pipettes and broken glass.
For larger glass containers (greater than 1 L), laboratory users are requested to bring containers to the yellow recycling totes located at three primary locations: Petch loading dock, Bob Wright waste compound and the Elliott loading dock.
For glass that cannot be decontaminated (examples include some pipettes, broken glass, etc.) laboratory users are instructed to dispose of these items as per OHSE hazardous waste disposal.