Jan. 2015 LABORATORY WASTE MANAGEMENT Virginia Tech Environmental Health & Safety

Type of Waste: Examples: Collec

t In: Containers Provided by: Disposal Steps:

SOLID BIOWASTE

Biosafety Level 1

gloves paper towels bacteria/fungi on solid media

tissue culture plates

vials, tubes NO LIQUIDS NO CHEMICALS

Clear autoclave bags (NO symbol)

Bags must be inside “Solid Biowaste

BSL1” lidded cans.

Bags: PI labWaste cans: EHS can supply an initial receptacle on a limited basis; PI lab supplies additional receptacles.

Nalgene pans: PI lab or department

1. Autoclave in Nalgene pan using

designated WASTE cycle. 2. Disposal: Reg. Trash WITH BLACK LINER

or RMW.

SOLID BIOWASTEBiosafety Level

2

gloves paper towels bacteria/fungi on solid media

tissue culture plates

vials, tubes NO LIQUIDS NO CHEMICALS

Orange autoclave bags WITH biohazardsymbol

Bags must be inside red “Solid Biowaste BSL2” lidded cans.

Bags: PI labWaste cans: EHS can supply an initial receptacle on a limited basis; PI lab supplies additional receptacles.

Nalgene pans: PI lab or department

1. Autoclave in Nalgene pan using designated WASTE cycle.

2. Dispose in Regulated Medical Waste (RMW).

3. To schedule RMW pickup by EHS, go to: http://www.ehss.vt.edu/programs/waste_regulated_medical.php

LIQUID BIOWASTEBiosafety Level

1 Biosafety Level 2

used tissue culture media

broth for bacterial culture

biological fluids

bio-liquid extracts

bio-supernatants

NO CHEMICALS

Glass or autoclavable plastic

containers with vented

closures

Containers: PI lab

Nalgene pans: PI lab or department

1. Autoclave in Nalgene pan on LIQUID cycle, OR: Add undiluted household bleach to 1:5

final vol/vol concentration & wait 20 min. OR Add other appropriate disinfectant to proper vol/vol concentration.

2. Pour down drain after time for disinfection.

CONTAMINATED SHARPS

Biosafety Level 1

Biosafety Level 2

pipette tips wood sticks needles,

syringes scalpels razor blades glass slides cover slips NO LIQUIDS NO

CHEMICALS

Red Sharps containers with lids (several sizes available)

EHS; use online request system for Sharps & RMW supplies.

1. Autoclave on solid WASTE cycle.2. Dispose in Regulated Medical Waste.3. To schedule RMW pickup by EHS, go to:

http://www.ehss.vt.edu/programs/waste_regulated_medical.php

WHEN WASTE HAS BOTH CHEMICAL & BIOLOGICAL COMPONENTS, CONTACT E.H.S. FOR ASSISTANCE: chemwaste@vt.edu

GLASS WASTEContaminated

beakers, flasks glass pipettes bottles, tubes

Sharps containers in appropriate waste stream

Sharps containers: EHS Contact EHS if you have further questions:chemwaste@vt.edu

SOLID WASTE Contaminated

with Hazardous Chemicals(including

nanoparticles)

gloves paper towels bleach-soaked

items vials, tubes NO LIQUIDS NO BIOWASTE

Blue bags

Bags should be inside “Chemical Hazardous Waste” lidded cans

Bags: EHS

L idded cans : EHS

Pans (secondary containers): PI lab

1.Fill out the online Chemical Waste Pickup form through The EHS Safety Management System for research laboratories, or by using this link:

https://secure.hosting.vt.edu/www.ehss.vt.edu/programs/LMS/waste_management.php

2. Print out a copy of this form & attach it to

waste. 3. Store waste in safe place in appropriate secondary container until pickup. Allow

2 weeks for pickup.

Questions? Contact EHS at chemwaste@vt.edu

SHARPS Chemically

Contaminated(including

nanoparticles)

syringes/needles

blades/scalpels pipette tips glass

slides/slips glass pipettes NO LIQUIDS NO BIOWASTE

Labeled, clear rigid jars + lids

DO NOT COLLECT SHARPS ON THIS LIST IN BLUE BAGS DUE TO PUNCTURE POTENTIAL

Small clear jars suitable for bench: EHS

pipette tips serol. pipettes NO SHARPS

FROM ABOVE LIST

NO LIQUIDS NO BIOWASTE

Clear jars (as above) for small volumes of tips

Blue bags inside lidded can for large volumes of tips & serological pipettes

Bags : EHS

Lidded cans: EHS

LIQUID WASTE Contaminated

with Hazardous Chemicals(including

nanoparticles)

ethidium bromidesolutions

compatible solvents

stains NO BIOWASTE

Leak-proof, lidded containers:-- 5 gal carboys-- Empty solvent bottles*

with original label defaced; relabel ‘Haz. Waste’ & include specific contents + proper hazard warning. No need to rinse if dry.

Keep lids on liquid waste containers.

5 GAL carboys: EHSRecycled bottles: PI lab1. Use empty chemical

bottles for collecting like-waste.

2. Mixed liq. waste : Use empty solvent bottles*--acetonitrile, methanol, isopropanol, acetone, ethanol, hexane, cyclohexane, chloroform

EMPTY CHEMICAL

CONTAINERS

Empty metal cans

Empty plastic/glass bottles

CONTAINERS OF ACCUTELY HAZ. WASTE (“P LIST” CHEMICALS, STRONG OXIDIZERS, AGGRESSIVE ACIDS/BASES, ETC.) --- SUBMIT A HAZ. WASTE FORM FOR EHS PICKUP. Contact EHS if you have further questions:

chemwaste@vt.eduContainers of less hazardous chemicals --- deface labels, place in cardboard carton, close & tape carton securely; take taped carton to dumpster for disposal.

GLASS WASTEUncontaminated

UNCONTAMINATED Broken glass ONLY

NO LIQUID CONTENTS

Glass disposal box

Line box with CLEAR plastic bag

Glass Disposal Boxes & plastic bag liners: PI lab

GLASSWARE DISPOSED OF IN THIS STREAM CANNOT BE CONTAMINATED WITH HAZARDOUS MATERIAL-- No radioactive (any amount), no biological (any amount), no chemical (more than a trace amount—if unsure, discard in Chem Sharps waste).

When box is full, close & tape securely. Take taped box to dumpster for disposal.