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Laboratory Waste Disposal Procedures
a. Chemical waste
Organic solvents and oils
Indicate the composition of the contents as accurately as possible on the attached label.
Peroxide-forming (e.g. ether) and explosive (e.g. dry picric acid) chemicals
Do not mix with solvents or other waste.
If the material is older than one year, do not attempt to open or move the container.
Corrosives (acids and bases)
- Collect acids (pH<7) and bases (pH>7) separately in the recommended plastic containers.
- Do not mix acids with bases.
Indicate the composition of the contents, as accurately as possible, on the attached label.
b. Biomedical waste
Animal carcass
- Place in the recommended plastic-lined biomedical waste containers provided
- Ensure that the weight of individual containers does not exceed 40 pounds.
- Store in a refrigerated area.
Infectious laboratory waste
- Place in the recommended plastic-lined biomedical containers.
Blood and blood-contaminated materials
- Unclotted blood can be disposed of via the sanitary drains. Designate one sink for this purpose.
- After discharging blood, decontaminate the sink with a 5-10% dilution of household bleach. Allow a contact time of 20 minutes, then rinse with water.
- Dispose of blood-contaminated materials as infectious laboratory waste.
c. Biohazard Sharps
Sharps are defined as any material that can penetrate plastic bags: examples include syringe needles, scalpel blades, glass and plastic pipettes, disposable pipette tips, etc.
- Contaminated sharps
- Label a plastic, puncture proof container (e.g. empty liquid bleach bottle) with the word “SHARPS”, the appropriate hazard warning symbol (e.g. biohazard, radioactive).
- Discard containers of sharps contaminated with infectious materials into biomedical waste containers as per the procedure for Infectious Laboratory Waste.
- Discard containers of sharps contaminated with radioactive materials as per the procedure for solid radioactive waste
- Non-contaminated sharps
- Label a puncture-proof container (wide-mouth plastic bottle or a heavy-duty cardboard box lined with plastic) with the word “SHARPS”.
- Accumulate in the designated container, without overfilling.
- When full, close and seal the container and place it beside the regular garbage receptacle for pickup by the cleaning staff.
e. Broken glassware (uncontaminated)
- Designate a cardboard box for broken glass; label it “BROKEN GLASS”, and place glass inside. When the box is full, seal it with tape and place it next to the garbage receptacle for pickup by the cleaning staff.
f. Empty chemical reagent bottles
- Remove the cap from the empty bottle and allow volatile materials to evaporate into the fume hood.
- Rinse the bottle three times with tap water and let dry.
- Remove or obliterate the label.
- Place the uncapped bottle next to the garbage receptacle.
g. Radioactive waste
- Whenever possible, package alpha emitting radioisotopes separately from other radioisotopes.
- Whenever possible, package long-lived (half-life > 10 years) radioisotopes separately from short-lived radioisotopes.
- Accumulate wastes in the solid radioactive waste containers provided.
- Update the information on the label as wastes are placed in the container.
- Do not package sealed sources with other types of waste materials.
- Contact your local Hazardous Waste Coordinator.
- Leave fluids in their vials.
- Deposit vials into the designated gallon drum in your building’s waste storage area and enter the required information on the inventory sheet attached to the drum.
a. Chemical waste
Organic solvents and oils
Indicate the composition of the contents as accurately as possible on the attached label.
Peroxide-forming (e.g. ether) and explosive (e.g. dry picric acid) chemicals
Do not mix with solvents or other waste.
If the material is older than one year, do not attempt to open or move the container.
Corrosives (acids and bases)
- Collect acids (pH<7) and bases (pH>7) separately in the recommended plastic containers.
- Do not mix acids with bases.
Indicate the composition of the contents, as accurately as possible, on the attached label.
b. Biomedical waste
Animal carcass
- Place in the recommended plastic-lined biomedical waste containers provided
- Ensure that the weight of individual containers does not exceed 40 pounds.
- Store in a refrigerated area.
Infectious laboratory waste
- Place in the recommended plastic-lined biomedical containers.
Blood and blood-contaminated materials
- Unclotted blood can be disposed of via the sanitary drains. Designate one sink for this purpose.
- After discharging blood, decontaminate the sink with a 5-10% dilution of household bleach. Allow a contact time of 20 minutes, then rinse with water.
- Dispose of blood-contaminated materials as infectious laboratory waste.
c. Biohazard Sharps
Sharps are defined as any material that can penetrate plastic bags: examples include syringe needles, scalpel blades, glass and plastic pipettes, disposable pipette tips, etc.
- Contaminated sharps
- Label a plastic, puncture proof container (e.g. empty liquid bleach bottle) with the word “SHARPS”, the appropriate hazard warning symbol (e.g. biohazard, radioactive).
- Discard containers of sharps contaminated with infectious materials into biomedical waste containers as per the procedure for Infectious Laboratory Waste.
- Discard containers of sharps contaminated with radioactive materials as per the procedure for solid radioactive waste
- Non-contaminated sharps
- Label a puncture-proof container (wide-mouth plastic bottle or a heavy-duty cardboard box lined with plastic) with the word “SHARPS”.
- Accumulate in the designated container, without overfilling.
- When full, close and seal the container and place it beside the regular garbage receptacle for pickup by the cleaning staff.
e. Broken glassware (uncontaminated)
- Designate a cardboard box for broken glass; label it “BROKEN GLASS”, and place glass inside. When the box is full, seal it with tape and place it next to the garbage receptacle for pickup by the cleaning staff.
f. Empty chemical reagent bottles
- Remove the cap from the empty bottle and allow volatile materials to evaporate into the fume hood.
- Rinse the bottle three times with tap water and let dry.
- Remove or obliterate the label.
- Place the uncapped bottle next to the garbage receptacle.
g. Radioactive waste
- Whenever possible, package alpha emitting radioisotopes separately from other radioisotopes.
- Whenever possible, package long-lived (half-life > 10 years) radioisotopes separately from short-lived radioisotopes.
- Accumulate wastes in the solid radioactive waste containers provided.
- Update the information on the label as wastes are placed in the container.
- Do not package sealed sources with other types of waste materials.
- Contact your local Hazardous Waste Coordinator.
- Leave fluids in their vials.
- Deposit vials into the designated gallon drum in your building’s waste storage area and enter the required information on the inventory sheet attached to the drum.