waste disposal

Disposal of Biological WasteFleur Rothwell

Waste & Environment ManagerEnergy & Sustainability Office

Oct/Nov2006

Introduction to Biological Waste Training Session

Slide #2

Training Outline

• What is it?– Waste. Clinical? Animal? Special? Other?

• How do you deal with it?– Containers

– Always Render Safe

– Disposal Procedure

– Health & Safety

• Further information

Oct/Nov2006


Slide #3

What is it?Firstly, it is “WASTE”• The Environmental Protection (Duty of Care)

Regulations 1991 apply:– Responsibility of anyone discarding any items to ensure that

it:• It is stored and disposed of responsibly; • It is only handled or dealt with by authorised / registered

individuals or businesses; and • A record is kept of all waste received or transferred

through a system of signed Waste Transfer Notes (WTN).

– Responsibility of the Producer to make an assessment of each item, to segregate and dispose of it safely and retain records relating to this disposal.

– Producer, and contractor should sign and date the WTN and Producer should retain a copy of the completed Transfer Note for three years.

Oct/Nov2006


Slide #4

What is it?

• Biological, but… no legal definition so:– Clinical (= Healthcare) or

– Animal By-Product

– May also be Special (= Hazardous)

– Or may be Radioactive

• Or, if “rendered safe”, it may be non-clinical i.e. general waste

Oct/Nov2006


Slide #5

What is it?• Clinical Waste is…

– “any waste which consists wholly or partly of:• human or animal tissue; • blood / body fluids, excretions; • drugs or other pharmaceutical products; • swabs or dressings; • syringes, needles or other sharp instruments;

…which, unless rendered safe, may prove hazardous…; and

– any other waste arising from medical,… veterinary, pharmaceutical… care, teaching or research… which may cause infection to any person coming into contact with it ”

Extract from the Controlled Waste Regulations (S.I. 1992/588)

Oct/Nov2006


Slide #6

What is it?

• Special Waste– Defined by European, UK and Scottish

regulations

– Includes:• Infectious or potentially infectious material • Cytotoxic and cytostatic drugs (and clinical

material treated with them)• Many drugs / chemicals, otherwise hazardous

– If Special Waste is to be produced, both WEM and Safety Advisor must be notified

Oct/Nov2006


Slide #7

What is it?

• Radioactive Waste – If both clinical and radioactive then both sets of

legislation may apply

– Separate registration with H&S and ESO

– Barcodes & containers

• None of the above– In many instances, if treated appropriately,

waste might no longer be “clinical”

– But… make sure not “offensive”

Oct/Nov2006


Slide #8

Containers – Type • Container type

– Must be appropriate to contents & regulations

• Bags – NO sharps, medicines or liquids • Sharps bins – sharps ONLY• Other Rigid Bins – various e.g.

– High liquid-content Clinical – Combustible Radioactive– Special & Clinical (e.g. Cytotoxic)– Waste medicines

Oct/Nov2006


Slide #9

Containers – Colour • Container colour

– Tells other staff what is in the container

– Tells the contractor what to do with the waste

– Can apply to both sacks and rigid containersSafe for Disposal to

General Waste

Lab plastics

Carcass, anatomical

Sharps

Cytotoxic

Oct/Nov2006


Slide #10

Always Render Safe

Remember, University procedure is to always render waste safe

before it leaves the lab (e.g. autoclave or disinfect)

to ensure that waste is “non-infectious” at point of

disposal (including cultures & GM)

Oct/Nov2006


Slide #11

Disposal Procedure – Carcass

• Carcass or anatomical material– Small / medium carcasses or obvious body parts

– Render safe first

– Yellow bags or containers

– Freeze prior to collection or keep refrigerated

Oct/Nov2006


Slide #12

Disposal Procedure – Blood

• Blood or body fluids– Render safe first

– Including heavily soaked materials (e.g. swabs, dressings)

– Yellow containers or heavy gauge yellow bags (only if doubled and NOT leaking)

– Freeze prior to collection

Oct/Nov2006


Slide #13

Disposal Procedure – Sharps

• Sharps– Including needles, scalpel blades and small

pieces of glass

– ALWAYS USE a Sharps bin

– Do NOT overfill or shake

– Follow H&S guidance and take care

– (If contaminated) autoclave when bin is full

Oct/Nov2006


Slide #14

Disposal Procedure – Plastics

• Laboratory plastics– Render safe first

– If non-identifiable following autoclave then non-clinical disposal [Black Bag and label “Safe for Disposal”]

– If identifiable still then possibly “offensive” - Orange Bag and label as for Clinical Waste

Oct/Nov2006


Slide #15

Disposal Procedure – Glass

• Glassware– Render safe first

– Designated boxes – clearly labelled “Broken Glassware – Safe for Disposal”

– Except if contains hazardous chemicals – special disposal route via Chemistry

Oct/Nov2006


Slide #16

Disposal Procedure – Medicines

• Medicines– Designated medicine bins only (usually Blue

Rigid container)

– Do not use containers intended for other uses (e.g. sharps bins)

– Do not pour down the drain

– Some medicines are considered to be Special Waste

Oct/Nov2006


Slide #17

Disposal Procedure – Special I

• Cytotoxic Waste– Special Waste, therefore

• Packaging and labelling requirements• Holding locations – separate containment• “Pre-notification” of SEPA by contractor &

Special Waste Consignment Note

• Extra charges

– Notify Waste Manager

Oct/Nov2006


Slide #18

Disposal Procedure – Special II

• Infectious or GM Waste– Wherever possible, should be rendered safe /

inactivated BEFORE leaving the lab

– If not possible then special conditions apply:• Packaging and labelling• Holding locations – separate containment• “Pre-notification” of SEPA• Extra paperwork• Extra charges

– Notify Waste Manager immediately

Oct/Nov2006


Slide #19

Disposal Procedure – Overview

• (Where necessary) autoclave / disinfect

• Place in appropriate bag / bin

• Seal bag / bin• Complete Label Record Sheet and apply

Barcode Label – don’t forget to circle category on label (e.g. sharps, plastics, carcass)

• Place bag in designated store / holding location

Oct/Nov2006


Slide #20

Disposal Procedure – Labels I

• Barcode Labels MUST be used and information recorded

Oct/Nov2006


Slide #21

Disposal Procedure – Labels II

• Unless… Safe for disposal to landfill (e.g. uncontaminated glassware)

“SAFE FOR DISPOSAL” labels for Heavy BlackSacks of lab waste for disposal as General Waste.Use standard Avery L7163 labels available via Supplies Office.

Labels of your choice may be created provided they containidentical information in the same size and format.

Template available from Fleur Rothwell Energy & Sustainability Office, 9-16 Chambers St. tel 651 4287, Email [email protected]

University of Edinburgh

Laboratory Waste Treated to MakeSAFE FOR DISPOSAL

Dept/Lab: _________________________________Date Rendered Safe: ________________________Supervisor’s Initials: _________________________

Oct/Nov2006


Slide #22

Disposal Procedure - Reminder

• Key points to remember:– Never fill sacks more than ¾ full

– Never overfill sharps bins

– Do NOT use anything that leaks

– Secure sacks with a plastic tie / seal bins before removing from lab

– Always use a Barcode Label and complete your Label Record Sheet

– Know if it is “Special Waste” & act accordingly

– Place in approved Holding Location – in freezer if necessary

Oct/Nov2006


Slide #23

Disposal Procedure – Locations

Monday

• Hospital for Small Animals

• Swann Building

• Ashworth Labs

• Medical Building (new store)

• Summerhall

Wednesday

•Hospital for Small Animals

•Easter Bush Vet Centre

•Chancellor’s Building

•Queen’s Medical Research Institute

•Ann Walker Building

•Swann Building

•Agriculture

•Medical Quad - Doorway 4

•Summerhall

Friday

•Easter Bush Vet Centre

•Hospital for Small Animals

•Chancellor’s Building

•QMRI

•Ashworth Labs

•Swann Building

•Roger Land Building

•Medical Building (new store)

•Summerhall

Oct/Nov2006


Slide #24

Health & Safety

• As with H&S considerations, you must:– make full and proper use of any control measure

or facility provided

– familiarise yourself with University and School Waste Disposal Policies

– carry out your work safely and in accordance with these policies using all measures specified

– ask if you are unsure

– report any concerns

– know what to do if you have an accident

Oct/Nov2006


Slide #25

Further Information

• University guidance– Clinical Waste Code of Practice

(current version is 2002 – currently being updated)

– Hazardous Waste Code of Practice(current version is 1998 – to be updated in 2005-06)

– Waste Reduction Policy 2005

– Role of School Waste Coordinators

• School / laboratory guidance

Oct/Nov2006


Slide #26

Further Information

http://www.eso.ed.ac.uk

Oct/Nov2006


Slide #27

Further InformationEnergy & Sustainability Office website:http://www.eso.ed.ac.uk

Waste Section: http://www.eso.ed.ac.uk/waste/Policies & Reports Section: http://www.eso.ed.ac.uk/PoliciesAndReports/

Biosafety section on H&S website:http://www.safety.ed.ac.uk/resources/bio_safety.shtm

Oct/Nov2006


Slide #28

Further Information

Fleur Rothwell

Waste & Environment Manager

Email: [email protected]

Tel: 651 4287

waste disposal

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