How to Identify, Label, Package and Dispose of Biohazardous and Medical Waste
See requirements for managing biohazardous and medical waste.
Biohazardous Waste Disposal Guidelines
Biohazardous waste (e.g., biomedical, infectious, sharps, clinical medical waste, etc.) may be contaminated by blood, body fluids or other potentially infectious materials thus posing a significant risk of transmitting infection to humans or harming the environment. Please follow the guidelines for each category when disposing of biohazardous waste.
Animal carcasses and animal waste
Description
Animals and animal body parts if the animal is infectious, potentially infectious, or genetically modified, for example, all genetically modified animals, including all mice and zebrafish.
Storage and packaging
Place carcass in a clear colorless bag. Transfer to red pathological waste container with tight-fitting lid and a red bag liner. Store in refrigerator or freezer. Maximum storage time is 7 days.
Labeling
Affix the following:
- Biohazard symbol
- IACUC protocol number
- Date
- Species
- PI name
- Campus Address (La Jolla or Hillcrest campus; Word files)
Treatment
Off-site incineration by biowaste vendor.
Disposal
Red pathological waste container with biohazard symbol collected by EH&S-EMF at ACP collection sites. The Animal Care Program, (858) 534-6064, oversees collection and disposal. Package according to these guidelines:
- Chemicals: Place carcasses and animal waste in a clear bag(s), attach appropriate hazardous waste tag, put carcass in lab freezer and request hazardous waste pick-up.
- Noninfectious (excluding mice and zebrafish): Place carcasses and animal waste in a clear plastic bag and close. Transfer to rendering waste can. Store in ACP refrigerator.
- Infectious: Place carcasses and animal waste in a clear plastic bag and close. Transfer to red plastic can with red bag liner. Store in ACP refrigerator. Maximum storage time: 7 days.
Solid lab waste (dry biohazardous)
Description
Plastic pipettes, pipette tips, petri dishes, culture flasks, paper towels, bench paper, biohazardous animal bedding, and gloves contaminated with infectious, potentially infectious, or genetically modified materials or organisms including invertebrates.
Storage and packaging
Place two red biohazard bags in a rigid, leakproof container with a tight-fitting lid. Maximum storage time is 7 days.
Labeling
Affix the following:
Treatment
Off-site treatment by biowaste vendor. If BSL-3 or ABSL-2 steam, sterilize in an autoclave with quality control checks.
Disposal
Tie neck of bags in single knot and place in Red Biohazardous Waste Collection Bins with biohazard symbol, collected by EH&S-EMF at building collection sites.
Pathological (human anatomical specimens)
Description
NOT RECOGNIZABLE--Human anatomical specimens, body parts or organs.
Storage and packaging
Place tissue in a clear colorless bag. Transfer to red pathological waste container with a tight-fitting lid and a red bag liner. Store in refrigerator or freezer. Maximum storage time is 7 days.
Labeling
Affix the following:
Treatment
Off-site incineration by biowaste vendor.
Disposal
Red pathological waste container with biohazard symbol located in sites designated by EH&S-EMF For pick-up call (858) 534-2753.
- Return pathological human specimens obtained from SOM Anatomical Preparation to them at completion of use for disposition.
- If you have questions, contact Anatomical Preparation, (858) 534-4546 or 534-8280.
Liquid biohazardous waste
Description
Liquid biohazardous cultures or specimens, including infectious, potentially infectious, or genetically modified organisms.
Storage and packaging
Use a vacuum flask with a stopper. Store in a secondary container if outside biosafety cabinet. Maximum storage time is 7 days.
Labeling
Affix the following:
- Biohazard symbol
Treatment
- Dilute liquid waste with bleach (1 part bleach to 9 parts liquid waste) and let waste sit exposed to the bleach for 30 minutes before pouring it down the drain.
- Steam sterilize without bleach in an autoclave with a Biomedical Waste Permit from San Diego County Health Department. See How to Determine if Autoclave Permit Is up to Date and Tested.
For chemical disinfection of liquid biohazardous waste, the only university-wide approved disinfectant for UC San Diego is bleach. If your laboratory wishes to inquire about the use of alternative disinfectants to inactivate liquid biohazardous waste, please send an email with the following information:
- Material to be disinfected
- Chemical to be used
- Concentration of chemical
- Contact time
- Disposal method (sewering, hazardous waste pickup)
You will receive a response within five (5) working days regarding approval.
Disposal
Pour treated liquids down laboratory sink using the appropriate personal protective equipment.Sharps
Description
Sharps are devices that have acute rigid corners, edges, or protuberances capable of cutting or piercing. Common sharps use include hypodermic needles, needles with syringes or tubing, blades, Pasteur pipettes, blood vials, items capable of cutting or piercing, and all glassware if contaminated with infectious, potentially infectious, or genetically modified materials.
Sharps in contact with biological or infectious materials are disposed of as biohazard sharps. Do not dispose of sharps in contact with chemicals or radioactive materials in a biohazard sharps container. Sharps connected to other equipment can be disposed of in sharps containers. For example, a needle connected to syringes or tubing. Non-sharps items should not be disposed of in a biohazard sharps container. Gloves, kimwipes, wrappers, and other lab debris should not be disposed of within sharps containers.
Storage and packaging
Use an FDA approved sharps container. Container must be leakproof, rigid, and puncture-resistant.
Labeling
Affix the following:
Treatment
Off-site treatment by biowaste vendor. Contact ehsbio@ucsd.edu for questions about waste procedures for high-containment laboratories.
Disposal
Close and seal with tape when ready for disposal and place in Red Biohazardous Waste Collection Bins with biohazard symbol, collected by EH&S-EMF at building collection sites. The disposal method for sharps depends on whether they are contaminated with hazardous material and the type of contaminant.
Whether contaminated or not, strict packaging and container restrictions apply.
- See How to Dispose of Sharps for instructions.
Others
Follow instructions below for the category of waste generated.
- Biohazardous and Medical Waste Overview for detailed information about the types of waste included in each category.
- How to Store and Dispose of Radioactive Waste for detailed instructions on packaging, labeling, and disposal.
- How to Dispose of Plastic Tissue-Culture Pipettes
- For chemically contaminated waste, contact the EH&S Environmental Management Facility, (858) 534-2753, for instructions.
MIXED WASTE: To dispose mixed waste (i.e, mixture of biohazardous and chemical or radioactive waste) contact EH&S' Environmental Mgt. Facility (EMF) at (858) 534-2753
*RECOGNIZABLE BODY PART and ORGANS: For recognizable anatomical specimen disposal and pick-up, contact SOM Anatomical Services at (858) 534-8280