Property Disposition | Facilities Management

Facilities Management staff assist departments with disposing/recycling of a variety of materials, furniture, equipment, and other waste materials. Faculty, staff, and students can request disposal/transfer assistance by submitting a work request through the department’s work request system. Please read below to learn more about the responsibilities associated with disposal/transfer of University property and the services offered by Facilities Management.

Department Responsibilities

Chapter 11 of the Property Management Operating Procedures Manual for more information related to the disposition, disposal, and/or transfer of University property. Departmental Equipment Coordinators are responsible for overseeing property and equipment in their area. Equipment Coordinators can also provide guidance to staff and faculty on general policies and procedures.

Requesting departments are responsible for the proper management of their equipment and any related wastes associated with that equipment. Equipment such as freezers, refrigerators, and similar items often contain a refrigerant that must be evacuated prior to disposal. If equipment scheduled for disposal has been used in conjunction with biological materials or toxins, hazardous chemicals, radioactive material, oil or fuel, or other health or environmental hazards, it will need to be decontaminated prior to disposal. Facilities Management staff can assist with the removal of refrigerant, oil, or similar hazards inherent to the equipment. Otherwise, decontamination of the equipment is the responsibility of the requesting department. A completed Equipment Decontamination form should be attached to the item prior to collection.

Consumer electronics, computers, monitors, printers, and cell phones are considered electronic waste (e-waste). Please contact it-help@mtu.edu for questions related to the disposal/recycling of e-waste on campus.

Departments in need of hazardous waste disposal should contact Environmental Health and Safety and review their Hazardous Waste Collection and Disposal Procedures.

For assistance with evaluating hazards associated with the equipment or chemicals and identifying appropriate methods for decontamination/disposal, please contact the Research Integrity Office at researchintegrity@mtu.edu or by phone 906-487-2902.

Internal Transfers

Facilities Management staff routinely supports internal transfers by moving surplus property between departments. Items that are in good, reusable condition are made available to other University departments via internal transfer. Internal transfers require approval by the Property Office. Property office authorizations generally include all furniture scheduled for transfer, including those without property tags.

The requesting department is responsible for notifying the Property Office and obtaining transfer approval prior to submitting a departmental work request. Requesting departments must also obtain authorization from Financial Services and Operations before any obsolete or nonfunctional item may be dismantled, junked, or scrapped. Contact your department’s Equipment Coordinator for assistance communicating with the Property Office.

If you’re planning to transfer or dispose of excess, idle or broken equipment and you have questions, you may contact Facilities Management for additional assistance and coordination.

Billing For Services

Equipment management and disposition can vary significantly in size and scope. Moves can also be necessary for a variety of reasons. Whether the moves are elective or mandated, a number of factors contribute to the costs associated with each. Consider the following when planning your move and any potential costs that might be associated with the work.

Billing for moving and disposal services is generally consistent with the funding source for the requesting/responsible department. Research areas are typically charged for service requests. These are generally referred to as “billable” work requests. Facilities Management is funded by the General Fund. Routine services in General Fund buildings and departments, such as furniture disposal, are largely “non-billable”. Charges incurred as a result of the disposal activities are billable to the requesting department. Examples of such charges might include specialized containment or disposal requirements, specialized boxes or shipping containers, and/or specialized handling of the materials/equipment scheduled for disposal. Each work request for disposal services is reviewed and considered individually and determined whether it is billable or non-billable.

For more information related to Facilities Management’s billable and non-billable services, please refer to Repair/Services.