Environment

At the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), high value is placed on ensuring that all programmatic and business functions operate in a way that is both safe and environmentally sound. ORISE’s environmental management plan also provides a comprehensive framework for making certain that ORISE fulfills its contract with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in an environmentally responsible way.

In 2005, ORISE’s environmental management plan played a key role in the organization earning ISO-14001 registration—an international standard that governs environmental management at all levels, from training to documentation to day-to-day activities. Only a very small number of DOE contractors earn ISO-14001 registration, and achieving this designation allows ORISE to operate in any of the numerous countries that recognize the ISO-14001 standard.

ORISE has also created policies that guide the organization’s environmental management efforts in recycling, minimizing waste, and ensuring that hazardous waste is handled properly.

Recycling plays a significant part in environmental management, and ORISE has developed a large-scale program for both recycling used consumables and buying products made from recycled materials. Additionally, ORISE works to minimize waste sent to landfills. These efforts have been so successful that the net weight of ORISE’s recyclables—more than 75 tons annually—exceeds the weight of its landfill waste.

Certain ORISE programs also involve the handling of hazardous materials, and ORISE takes careful steps to ensure their safe and proper disposal.

2010 Recycling Totals