Waste Management

General Waste

Definition:

Wastes not contaminated with hazardous chemical, infectious, radioactive or other physical agents.



Examples:

  • Office wastes
  • Glass and plastic ware
  • Uncontaminated animal bedding
  • Uncontaminated biological materials
  • Chemically-or physically-treated infectious wastes
Packaging Guidelines
If Discarding: Then:
Office wastes (see Recyclable 
Materials for paper wastes)		 Place waste in trash receptacle.
Disposable glass
  1. Place plastic bag inside "Glass Only" box or similar puncture-proof container.
  2. When full, seal bag, and close box with tape.
Uncontaminated animal bedding
  1. Place dry bedding in a paper or plastic bag.
  2. Place wet bedding in a plastic bag or plastic-lined paper bag.
  3. Fill bag 3/4 full; staple or seal with tape, plastic tie, or other secure means.
Biological material (non-infectious)
  1.  Ensure that material(s) is non-infectious (see Biohazardous Waste.)  

 

Disposal Information
For: Then:
Office, glass, and regular trash
  1.  Custodian will remove from your location, and take to area dumpster.
 Animal bedding
  1.  Place in outside dumpster.
 Biological materials (non-hazardous)
  1. Liquids should be poured down the drain.
  2. Semi-solid materials should be placed in a plastic bag and disposed of in trash receptacles.
  3. Solid materials should be placed in regular trash receptacles, except for glass items which should be disposed of in "Glass Only" box.

Recyclable Materials

Definition:

Wastes with recycling potential or unneeded materials which may be of use to others.

Examples:

  • Office paper
  • Unneeded chemicals and related products
  • Steel or plastic 16, 30- and 55-gallon containers

Excluded at this time: This list is subject to change. For the latest restrictions please contact the recycling coordinator in Facilities.

  • Glass
  • Newspaper
  • Cardboard
  • Colored ledger paper
Packaging Guidelines
If Discarding: Then:
Recyclable waste paper  Place in recycling boxes.
Unneeded chemicals
  1. Verify that the chemical is uncontaminated and of specified quality.
  2. Verify that sufficient material remains to be of use to someone else
  3. Tape a note to the container lid indicating "Reuse"
Large steel or plastic chemical containers
  1. Insure that all liquid has been removed.
  2. If container contained a hazardous material, call The EH&S Office x8242 for instructions.
  3. Loosely install bungs.
  4. Place drum on loading dock or outside building. Notify The EH&S Office.

 

Disposal Information
For: Then:
Trash, recycling or paper pickup Call Facilities at 8100
Pick of unneeded chemicals Call The EH&S Office at 8242 or E-mail Robert Casparius, Director of EH&S at rcasparius@umassd.edu
Removal of large chemical containers. Call The EH&S Office at 8242 E-mail Robert Casparius, Director of EH&S at rcasparius@umassd.edu

Chemical Waste

Definition:

Solid, liquid, and gaseous hazardous chemicals and wastes contaminated with hazardous chemicals.

Examples:

  • Chemical reagents no longer needed (see Recyclable, also).
  • Chemicals with shelf-life expired.
  • Waste oils
  • Waste solvents
  • Hazardous chemical spill cleanups
  • Materials with hazardous chemical contamination.
  • Unknown chemicals
  • Oil-based paints and related substances.
  • Pesticides
  • PCB items (transformers, capacitors, ballasts manufactured before 1978.
  • Batteries
  • Compressed gases
Packaging Guidelines
If Discarding:  Then:
Hazardous chemical in original container
  1. Confirm identity
  2. If still useful, see "RECYCLABLE MATERIALS"; if not, complete The EH&S Office Hazardous Waste label (see samples). You must be specific regarding contents. Check-off the appropriate hazards. Complete all pertinent information. Attach label to container.
Liquid hazardous waste
  1. Use empty, clean container with tight fitting cap. Avoid mixing corrosives or reactive materials with solvents. If this can't be avoided, neutralize or destroy the reactive component.
  2. Fill-out The EH&S Office Hazardous Waste label (see samples). Use instructions under "Hazardous chemical in original container"
  3. If inorganic acid or base (2 > pH > 12) and no other hazardous constituents, you may neutralize to (4 < pH < 10), and dispose down the drain.
  4. Use empty, clean, compatible container, with screw cap, **NOTE: for hydrofluoric acid, a plastic (not polycarbonate) container is required.
  5. Fill out The EH&S Office Hazardous Waste label (see samples). Use instructions under "Hazardous chemical in original container".
Solid hazardous waste (including materials contaminated with hazardous materials)
  1. Preferably use plastic container with screw cap. Glass OK. Double-plastic bag if volume too large for jar.
  2. Fill out The EH&S Office "Hazardous Waste" (see samples). Use instructions under "Hazardous chemical in original container".
Unknown chemicals
  1. Find out as much as possible about the unknown from former lab occupants or principal investigator.
  2. Ensure that unknown is in secure screw-cap container.
  3. Complete The EH&S Office Hazardous Waste Label (see sample), stating "Unknown ID but likely if anything is known.
 Gaseous hazardous waste 
  1. Confirm that gas remains in cylinder, if possible.
  2. Remove all valves, gauges, etc. Cap snugly.
  3. If lecture bottle, call The EH&S Office. For all others, contact supplier for removal.
Disposal Information
For:  Then:
Pick up at your laboratory or site (weekly).
  1. Complete all "Hazardous Waste" labels, insuring that all information has been filled in. Use instructions under "Hazardous chemical in original container"
  2. Call The EH&S Office at 8242, or E-mail Robert Casparius, Director of EH&S at rcasparius@umassd.edu

Satellite Accumulation Waste

Definition:

A satellite accumulation waste area is a designated waste collection space in the immediate vicinity of a waste generator site on campus.

Examples:

  • Fume hoods, cabinets or benches in laboratories
  • Barrels for waste oil or hazardous waste collection
  • Container area for waste contaminated rags or spill products
Packaging Guidelines
If Storing: Then:
All materials 
  1. Only one container no greater than 55 gallons of a particular waste material may be stored in the same satellite area at a time.
  2. All container must be tightly closed.
  3. All containers must have The EH&S Office "Hazardous Waste" label (see sample) affixed and completed.
  4. Incompatible waste shall not be mixed.
  5. Incompatible waste in containers greater than one gallon shall not be stored near each other.
  6. A weekly verification of the condition of all satellite areas shall be made at least weekly by the designated individual in charge.
If Discarding: Then:
All Materials
  1. Complete all "Hazardous Waste" labels, insuring that all information has been filled in.
  2. Call The EH&S Office at 8242 or e-mail Robert Casparius, Director of EH&S at rcasparius@umassd.edu to arrange for pickup.
  3. Date the container when full. The container must be relocated to the Main Accumulation Area within 3 days of the full date.
  4. All packaging, handling and labeling requirements from Chemical Waste Section above must be observed.

Radioactive Wastes

Definition:

Wastes containing or contaminated with radioactive materials (RAM)- materials labeled with H-3, C-14, S-35, P-32, I-125, etc.

Examples:

  • Aqueous liquid with RAM.
  • Liquid scintillation counting fluids in vials (LSVs)
  • Dry, solid wastes, including sharps (pipettes, needles, broken glass, etc.)
  • Mixed, i.e., RAM and hazardous chemical(s).
  • Animal carcasses and tissues with RAM, including excreta.
  • RAM wastes contaminated with infectious agents.

Note: hazardous waste companies do not handle mixed materials of hazardous chemicals and ram. Prior approval from the ruc must be obtained to create such wastes based on an ability to separate the ram species from the hazardous waste.

 

Packaging Guidelines
If Discarding: Then:
Aqueous liquids with RAM
  1. If solution contains no other hazardous wastes, dispose in sanitary sink drain. Fill in the sink disposal log for the lab.
  2. Log all activity on a log sheet posted at the sink.
Liquid Scintillation Vials (LSV) LSVs--(flammable solvent-based cocktail
  1. Place no more than 200 LSVs into a polyethylene bag (PE); tie closed.
  2. Place this bag into a 2nd PE bag; tie closed.
  3. Label the bag with "LSV," authorized userÕs name, radioisotope, and date.
LSVs--(non-flammable and non-hazardous based cocktail)
  1. Vials containing H-3, C-14 can be poured into the based cocktail) designated disposal sink. Record isotope quantities in the liquid disposal log in the laboratory. The empty vials can be discarded as regular trash.
  2. All other radioisotopes must be separately bagged in PE as described in 1-3 above. (Do not mix non-hazardous vials with flammable/ hazardous cocktail-containing vials.)
Dry, solid RAM wastes
  1. Separate waste by isotope, only P-32 or S-35 (C-14 and H-3 may be combined)
  2. Place wastes in polyethylene bag not greater than 30 gallons in size; tie closed.
  3. Place 1st bag into 2nd bag; tie closed.
  4. Label each bag with "Dry/solid," authorized user's name, radioisotope, mCi quantity, and date.
  5. Sharps must be placed in non-penetrable container (plastic jar or sharps container) before placing into bag.
Animal carcass/ tissues and contaminated bedding
  1. Place animals containing different radioisotopes bedding into separate PE bags.
  2. Label "Animal name (identity)," authorized user's name, radioisotope, mCi/g of animal weight, mCi/animal, number and the date.
  3. Store in freezer.
Biohazardous-contaminated
  1. Inactivate infectious agent in accordance with "BIOHAZARDOUS WASTE" section.
  2. Package in accordance with appropriate category listed above or call for information.

 

Disposal Information
For: Then:
Aqueous liquids with RAM
  1. Dispose down sanitary sewer drain with large amounts of water.
  2. Log all activity on a log sheet posted at the sink.
All other RAM wastes
  1. Call The EH&S Office at 8242 or E-mail Robert Casparius, Director of EH&S at rcasparius@umassd.edu to arrange for pickup.

Biohazardous Waste

Definition:

Wastes contaminated with potentially infectious agents or animal carcasses and other tissues.

Examples:

  • Human tissues, blood, blood products, other body fluids
  • Wastes from contact with patients/subjects.
  • Laboratory cultures/wastes contaminated with infectious agents.
  • Live vaccines
  • Syringes, hypodermic needles, scalpel blades, and other sharps
  • Animal carcasses and tissues.
  • Contaminated bedding
  • Other contaminated items
Packaging Guidelines
If Discarding: Then:
Autoclavable or chemically treatable wastes
  1. Disinfect using autoclave manufacturer's procedure or appropriate chemical disinfectant.
  2. Periodically, test unit using recommended monitoring program, e.g., heat-tolerant spore test.
Human blood, tissues, other bodily fluids, and all medically-generated wastes (patient contact laboratory items, etc.)
  1. Place in leak proof and puncture-proof package. Then place in designated double bagged cardboard boxes.
  2. Refrigerate if material will become odorous.
Sharps
  1. Place needles and syringes intact in a leak proof and puncture-resistant container. Do not clip or break needles.
  2. Close and secure opening of container with tape.
  3. Label with "Biohazard" tag.
Animal carcass/tissues and contaminated bedding
  1. Place in leak proof package (see above)
  2. Label appropriately, as above.
  3. Freeze, or refrigerate for not more than three days.
Other biohazardous materials
  1. Package in accordance with appropriate category listed above or call for information.
Disposal Information
For: Then:
Autoclavable or chemically-treatable wastes
  1. Treat according to manufacturer's instructions or accepted lab procedures.
  2. After treatment, waste should be handled as general waste (see GENERAL WASTE).
Medical wastes Call The EH&S Office at 8242 or e-mail Robert Casparius, Director of EH&S at rcasparius@umassd.edu to arrange for pickup.
Sharps Call The EH&S Office at 8242 or e-mail Robert Casparius, Director of EH&S at rcasparius@umassd.edu to arrange for pickup.
Animals and contaminated bedding Call The EH&S Office at 8242 or e-mail Robert Casparius, Director of EH&S at rcasparius@umassd.edu to arrange for pickup.
Other biohazardous materials Call The EH&S Office at 8242 or e-mail Robert Casparius, Director of EH&S at rcasparius@umassd.edu to arrange for pickup.