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Duke Occupational & Environmental Safety Office
Duke Occupational & Environmental Safety Office
Occupational & Environmental Safety Office
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Hazardous Waste Reduction at Duke University and Duke Health

Reducing Waste

Waste Reduction at Duke University and Duke Health


The Environmental Programs Division of OESO is continually working to remove the amount of actual regulated hazardous waste generated at Duke by incorporating Recycling/Reuse and Source Reduction programs into our comprehensive Waste Management strategy. The goal being to minimize the amount of waste that goes into the environment. The numbers below reflect our efforts through collection and recycling of specific waste materials for 2025. It is important that every member of the Duke University community be aware of the environmental and financial impacts related to the disposal of hazardous wastes and materials and to help reduce the volumes that are generated. Waste comes from research and clinical laboratories, Duke Hospital, clinics, and support facilities and is generated as a result of routine activities, single time experiments, unused but no longer needed reagent chemicals, poor purchasing practices and/or lack of appropriate inventory control. Proper waste management needs to be considered as an integral part of operating procedures and everyone at Duke can do their part to reduce, recycle, and reuse when and where they can.

2025 Statistics:
 

  • Amount of Acid and Base Neutralized onsite for safe drain disposal – 11,471 lbs.
  • Amount of Non-Halogenated Solvent waste collected and fuel blended – 69,031 lbs.
  • Amount of Oil collected and recycled – 2373 lbs.
  • Amount of Lead collected and recycled – 1925 lbs.
  • Amount of Rechargeable Batteries collected and recycled –  19600 lbs.
  • Amount of Non-PCB and Electronic Light Ballasts collected and recycled –  590 lbs.
  • Amount of Mercury containing devices collected and recycled –  143 lbs.
  • Amount of E-waste (circuit board waste) collected and recycled – 26 lbs. 
  • Amount of Aerosol can waste collected and recycled –  168 lbs. 
  • Amount of Self-Disposal waste collected and disposed of – 6318 lbs.
  • Amount of Light Bulbs containing Mercury collected and recycled –  593 lbs.

A Note on Fuel Blending Waste Treatment

Fuel blending is the waste treatment process of mixing waste and commercial fuels into an alternative fuel with properties that are used for industrial processes. Not all hazardous waste are compatible with the fuel-blending process and fuels must be blended to EPA specifications.

Benefits of Fuel Blending: 

  • Fuel blending offers thermal destruction of waste while providing the benefit of energy recovery.
  • The blends are used as alternative fuels for cement kilns.
  • Fuel blending conserves natural resources by replacing fossil fuels.
  • Fuel blending of waste is considered a form of recycling and can support your company’s sustainability objectives.
  • It can permanently remove materials from the environment, reducing future liability.
  • Fuel blending is a cost-effective way to dispose of waste.