Disposal of laboratories waste

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Arrangements for Waste fromLaboratories.
Introduction
Differenttypesof waste are producedwithinlaboratories duringworking.
Thismeansthat the disposal processmustbe assessedandsuitableprecautionsused.
There issome overlapbetweenthe use of autoclave andyellowbags. (Anywaste fromContainment
level 3laboratoriesmust be autoclavedbefore sendingforincineration.) Yellowbagsare generallyused
for patientrelatedsamplesandare incineratedoff site.Autoclave bagsare notdesigned for
transportationof waste forincinerationandtherefore afterautoclavingneedtobe insertedintoyellow
bags forfinal disposal. Waste containingtransmissible spongiformencephalopathyagents(e.g.BSE&
CJD) requiresspecial treatment.
YellowBags
Yes.
 Gloves.
 Contaminatedmateriale.g.packaging.
 Low hazardchemicalsinsmall amounts.
 Clinical waste e.g.patientsamples.
No
 Sharps.
 Chemicalsclassifiedastoxic,carcinogenic,mutagenic,toxictoreproduction,corrosive etc.
 Microbiological waste (unlesspreviouslyinactivated).E.g.cell culturescontainingACDPhazard
group2 or greater.Patientsamplesknownorlikelytocontainhazardgroup3 or 4 biological
agents.
 Geneticallymodifiedmaterial unlessinactivatedusingaverifiedroute.
Autoclave bags – clear plastic
Yes
 Patientsamples
 Microbiological andCell cultures.
 Potentiallyinfectedorcontaminatedmaterial.
 Geneticallymodifiedmaterial

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No
 Sharps,(Thisincludesloosepipette tips –see footnote).
 Chemicalsclassifiedastoxic,carcinogenic,mutagenic,toxictoreproduction,corrosive etc.(e.g.
Ethidiumbromide).
Note:Pipette tipsmustbe packedina robust container.
Black bags
Yes
 Packagingmaterial.
 Hand towels.
 Paper.
 Emptycontainers – plastic(aslongas theyare not contaminated).
No
 Anythingcontaminated.
 Chemicalsingeneral.
 Batteries.
Sharps Boxes
Yes
 Needles.
 Scalpels.
 Razor blades.
 Pipette tips.(If notmicrobiologicallycontaminated).
 Glassvials.
No
 Liquidsingeneral.
 Chemicalsin general.
 Gloves.
 Packaging.

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Chemical waste
Yes
 All hazardouschemicals.
No
 Infectioussubstances.
 Radioactive substances.
Sink
Yes
 Dilute solutionsnotcontainingheavymetalsalts.
 Low quantitiesof water-soluble /miscible organicchemicals(e.g.alcohol).
 Neutral pH.
No
 Heavymetals.
 Flammable substances.
 Solvents.
 Organicchemicalsingeneral (see above forexception).
 Strongacids or alkalis.
 Oxidisingagentse.g.Histoclear.
 Alkaline metalse.g.sodiumandpotassium.
 Microbiological material(unlessdisinfected).
 Geneticallymodifiedmaterial (unlessde-activated)bymeansof a verifiedroute.
 Recycling
Paper - RowlandHill Street(opposite entrance.
 FleetRoadnearLawn Road junction.
Batteries - Medical Electronics - Medical Physics(Ground FloorRFH).
Glass - Lawn Road accessroad (at side of Staff Education& DevelopmentCentre).
Orange bags
Glass (rinsedif containerusedforhazardoussubstances).
autoclaved.

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Hazardous Waste Containers:
All hazardous waste material must be stored in an appropriate container.
The containers must be:
 Compatible with the waste material being stored; check MSDS
 Sturdy and leak-proof
 An appropriate size
 Under the control of the person generating and managing the waste
 Closed at all times except when adding waste, and have a tight-fitting cap. A container
is properly closed when it will not leak if placed on its side.
 Clearly identified with a hazardous waste label
 Secondary containment must be used for all waste containers under fume hoods to
prevent spills and accidental overflows from reaching the drain
 Not filled to capacity.
Containersthatpreviouslyheldmaterialsthatmightbe incompatiblewiththe waste tobe stored
(includingfood,beverage anddetergentcontainers) are NOTsuitable forstoringwaste.
Incompatible Materials:Certainhazardouswastes cannot be safelymixed orstoredwithother
materialsbecause asevere reactionorexplosioncanoccur or an extremelytoxicreactionproductcan
result.The chemical label and/orMSDSshouldprovide informationonincompatibilities.Ingeneral,
hazardouswaste containersshouldbe segregatedbyhazardclassas listedbelow:
 Ignitable/Flammable Reactive with Water Corrosive
 Explosive Reactive with Air ConcentratedAcids
 Toxic Peroxide Formers ConcentratedBase
 Oxidizers Halogenated Non-Halogenated

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 (A) General rules
1. All generatorsof potentiallyhazardouswastesmustensure the accurate andcomplete labelling
and safe storage,transport,treatmentanddisposal of suchwastes.
2. Wastesshouldbe minimisedwherepossible.
3. Wastesshouldbe segregatedatthe outsetandmixingavoidedwhere possible.
4. Untrainedstaff andstudentsare not to handle hazardouswastesandmustnotbe given
responsibilityforthem.
 (B) General rules
1. All generators of potentiallyhazardouswastesmustensure the accurate andcomplete
labellingandsafe storage,transport,treatmentanddisposalof suchwastes.
2. Wastesshouldbe minimisedwherepossible.
3. Wastesshouldbe segregatedatthe outsetandmixingavoidedwhere possible.
4. Untrainedstaff andstudentsare not to handle hazardouswastesandmustnotbe given
responsibilityforthem.
General comments on storage
1. All storage facilitiesmustbe adequate,suitablysited,safe andhygienic.
2. UnqualifiedPersonneland Studentsare notto have accessto waste storage.
3. Waste must notbe compactedunderanycircumstances.
4. Categoriesof waste mustbe identifiedandseparatedbefore storage
5. Waste must notbe allowedtoaccumulate excessivelyandmustbe collectedas
frequentlyaspossible.
6. The Safety,HealthandRiskManagementBranch mustbe keptinformedof all
storage areas
Storage Containers
All laboratoriesmustuse standardisedcontainers,bagsandlabeling.
Infectiouswastes:Yellowbagswiththe internationallyrecognisedbiohazardsymbol inblack - double
bagging.
CytotoxicWastes:Purple bagswiththe cytotoxicwaste symbol(acell intelephase).
Radioactive wastes:Redbagswiththe blackinternationallyrecognisedradioactivitysymbol.
Waste transport
 External
All waste leavingRMITiscollectedbyaccreditedwaste collectionagencies.Loadingof radioactivewaste
isto be supervisedbythe staff atthe Safety,HealthandRiskManagementBranch.

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The operatorwill provide EPA transportationcertificates.LaboratoryManagerswill ensure thatcopies
are sentto the EPA.
 Internal
A. Transport of wastesto collection/storageareas.
1.All wastesmustbe fullylabeledandsecuredwithinappropriately
designedandconstructedcontainers.
2.Wastesmustbe transportedonlyviagoods elevator- notpublic
elevators.
3.All containersmustbe packedtominimise the riskof breakage or
rupture.
4.Spill kitsandappropriatelytrainedstaff mustaccompanywastes.
5.Wastesmustneverbe leftunattendedwhilstwaitingforcollectionby
external agencies.
B. Transport to autoclaves/incinerators.
Highcapacity autoclavesare inoperationwithinthe Departmentof AppliedBiologyandBiotechnology.
An effective 2stage incineratorisoperatedwithinthe animal house,Dept.of AppliedBiologyand
Biotechnology.
All waste fromworkinvolvinganimalsusedinconjunctionwithPathogens,GeneticallyManipulated
OrganismsandImportedBiologicals,mustbe autoclavedand/orincineratedinthe animal house
incinerator.The Animal House isaC1 containment areaand wastesmustbe treated/disposedof within
itsconfines.
Waste generatedinC1 areasoutside of the animal house mustbe transportedthere forincineration.All
waste mustbe transportedinappropriatelylabeledstandardcontainersviathe service elevatoronly.
Note:Standardproceduresandmaterialstocope withaccidental spillage shouldbe readilyavailable.
Methods of disposal
 Autoclaving
Usedfor the Treatmentof Infectiouswastes.Problemsmayarise because of bulkandcompactionof
waste material;completepenetrationof steammaybe compromisedandsterilizationnotachieved.
Onlyspecial autoclave bagsmaybe used.All bagsmustcarry an indicatorto show that waste hasbeen
subjectedtoadequate heattreatment.Autoclavesmustbe testedatleastannuallyforadequate
performance.
 Chemicaldisinfection
Usedfor moppingupspillsandfordisinfectantbathsforroutine laboratorywork.Sodiumhypochlorite
(0.5%) is usedforpotentiallyAIDScontaminatedequipmentanddisposablespriortoautoclaving.A

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0.05% of SodiumHypochlorite solutionisusedforgenerallaboratorycleanupforHaematological work
not involvingspills.70%ethyl alcohol isusedforstandardcleanupinmicrobiologylaboratories.
Hypochlorite solutionshouldbe rinsedoff priortoautoclavingsince dangerousgassesmaybe generated
whenitis autoclaved.
 Incineration
Burningina multichambered,monitoredfacility.AtRMIT any waste requiringhightemperature
incinerationiscollectedbyspecializedagencies.Normal animal waste andcarcassesare burnedinthe
Animal House Incinerator.Allplasticsorothermaterialslikelytoproduce toxicemissionsmustbe
collectedbyspecialistagencies.Completelyburnedashesare placedinsealedplasticbagsanddisposed
of throughnormal rubbishcollection.
 Sewerage anddrain systemdisposal
Whereverpossible avoiddischargingwastesintothe Sewerage andDrainSystem.
Verydilute,non-toxicchemicalsmaybe washedintothe sewerage systemif approvedbyMelbourne
Water.There are significantlyjustifiable limitsformaterialsdischargedintothe SewerageandDrain
System.All dischargesmustcomplywiththe "BoardTrade Waste Acceptance Standardascontainedin
"By-law208 of M.M.B.W. Act 1958 as amended"and"InterimStandardsand Requirementsfor
Acceptance of Waste Dischargedto the Sewerage System1991".All enquiresconcerningwastes
dischargedthroughthe Sewerage Systemmustbe directedtoRMIT FacilitiesGroup