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Hazardous Materials Recycling Information
For further information on any of the hazardous materials
recycling programs listed below, please contact (none).
| Battery |
Battery recycling here at UNC-CH can include many types of batteries.
The University recycles all types of batteries including lithium, nickel-cadmium,
mercury, zinc, lead acid, alkaline, zinc carbonaire, and silver oxide, etc.
Recycling batteries helps keep toxic metals out of landfills and helps prevent ground
water contamination. The two most common battery types are the alkaline batteries
used in personal items (i.e. Walkman, flashlights, and boom boxes) and the lead-acid
batteries used in vehicles. All types of batteries can be recycled. |
| Circuit Board |
UNC-CH has a program to recycle electronic circuit boards, token ring
cards, etc. The boards are disassembled,
crushed and melted by a metals recycler to recover lead and other metals. Due to the high lead content of solder used on
electronic boards, the boards are not acceptable for disposal in landfills. |
| Light Ballast |
There are two types of light ballast, those containing PCBs
(polychlorinated biphenyls) and those that do not contain PCBs. All light
ballast, regardless of its PCB content, should be taken to the UNC Hazardous
Materials Facility for recycling or proper disposal. Before going to the
Hazardous Materials Facility, please call 962-2024 and arrange to drop off
the ballast at a time when someone will be at the facility. Please do not
leave any ballasts at the Hazardous Materials Facility when the building is
closed. |
| Computer Equipment |
UNC computer equipment, including monitors, keyboards, and printers, etc.,
should not be placed into the trash. Computer equipment contains lead and
mercury and can contaminate soil and water. All UNC computer equipment that
is no longer wanted (including non-working equipment) should be taken to UNC
Surplus Property. The computer equipment will then be sent to State Surplus
property. Working computer equipment is sold through State Surplus Property,
and non-working equipment is repaired for use in North Carolina schools.
Computer equipment that can not be repaired is recycled. |
| X-ray, Photoprocessing, and Microfiche Film |
Film
recycling at UNC-CH includes three types of film: x-ray, photoprocessing, and microfiche. The used film is collected and sent to a film
recycler for reclamation of the silver contained on the film. Because of its high silver content, film should
not be placed into the trash. The silver
recovered from the film is reused. |
| Film Fixer Reclamation |
Spent
fixer from the development of film contains silver that can be reclaimed and recycled. This is done by either collecting the fixer in a
container for transportation to a recycling facility or by placing silver filtration
devices on the fixer outflow piping leading from the film developing equipment. Because of the high silver content of spent fixer
solution, this material should not be discharged to the sanitary sewer without silver
recovery filtration. If spent fixer is washed down the sink drain, its toxicity can
adversely impact wastewater treatment operations and can contaminate rivers and lakes. |
| Lead Solder Recycling |
Much
of the solder used at UNC-CH contains high amounts of lead.
The best way to manage lead solder is to use it up completely so there is
none left to throw away. Small unusable
pieces of solder and droplets of solder can be recycled for their lead content. The lead solder can contribute to ground water
contamination at landfills if the material is placed into the trash for disposal. |
| Silver Solder |
The
best way to manage silver solder is to use it up completely so there is none left to throw
away. Small unusable pieces of silver solder
and droplets of solder can be recycled for their silver content. Silver solder is easily recycled and should not be
placed into the trash for disposal. |
| Mercury |
UNC-CH
has a program for recycling mercury from thermometers and other mercury-bearing
measurement equipment. Mercury is easily
recycled and is highly toxic if released into the environment. Mercury can contribute to ground water
contamination at landfills if the material is placed into the trash for disposal. If mercury is washed down the sink drain, its
toxicity can adversely impact wastewater treatment operations and can contaminate rivers
and lakes. |
| Mercury Dental Amalgam |
UNC-CH
has a program for recycling dental amalgam. The
dental amalgam usually results from excess mix or from the clean out of bits of amalgam
from chair-side traps and screens. Because
the amalgam contains mercury and other metals, the material is suitable for recycling. The amalgam can contribute to ground water
contamination at landfills if the material is placed into the trash for disposal. If amalgam is washed down the sink drain, its
mercury toxicity can adversely impact wastewater treatment operations and can contaminate
rivers and lakes. |
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