41 Laboratory Safety Manual Environmental Health and Safety H Waste and Recycling Laboratories generate a large variety of waste, including chemicals, biohazardous, and radiological materials, appliances, and equipment. Generators of waste must manage them as outlined in the Waste and Recycling Guidelines, Biosafety Manual, and Radioactive Materials Safety Manual. Waste MUST NOT be poured into the sanitary sewer system (drain) or released to the environment (trash), unless specifically authorized in writing by EH&S. All laboratory personnel must be familiar with appropriate decontamination, disposal and Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) waste collection procedures. Biohazardous Waste Materials Biohazardous waste materials include carcasses, disposable solids, liquids, non-disposable items (reusable), sharps, and tissues or bedding that have been exposed to biohazardous materials. All biohazardous waste must be decontaminated before disposal. Common decontamination methods include heat sterilization (autoclaving), chemical disinfection and incineration. Detailed instructions for decontamination and disposal are included in the Biosafety Manual, Sharps and Biohazardous Waste Procedure, and Sharps and Biohazardous Waste Disposal Flow Chart. Chemical Waste Materials Chemical waste includes used and unused reagents, samples, synthesized items, and unknowns. At a minimum, researchers generating waste must ensure: • All personnel have completed the online training course Laboratory Safety: Core Concepts. • Waste materials are collected in a designated satellite accumulation area identified with EH&S signage. • Hazardous waste satellite accumulation areas are located at or near the point of generation (in the same room or suite of connected rooms where the waste is generated). • Waste containers are appropriately labeled (no abbreviations, formulas, or shorthand) with contents and hazardous characteristics. • All liquid hazardous waste containers are used and stored in an appropriate, chemically compatible leak-proof secondary containment. • If empty chemical containers are used to collect hazardous waste, the waste must be compatible with the original contents. (Do not collect solvents in an empty nitric acid bottle.) • Remove or mark out the original container label before use. • Funnels are removed and waste containers are closed immediately after adding new material. Waste containers must be closed except when in use. • Hazardous waste tags are affixed immediately when starting a new waste container. • All hazardous waste will be collected by EH&S. Request collection by submitting an online request.
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