Non-medical/pathological waste disposal

Disposal of Biological material

•  Discard specimens and cultures into containers with a double autoclavable plastic lining. Autoclave bags must have the biohazard symbol of the outside of the bag. Bags should be changed when about half full.

•  Containers used for the biohazard bag must also have the biohazard symbol on the outside surface of the container.

      1. Both inner and outer bags should be sealed securely to prevent leakage when half full and during transportation to the autoclave area. Bags should be opened before autoclaving to insure sterilization. Follow appropriate means for sterilization which is found at: www.ncsu.edu/ncsu/ehs/www99/left/bioSafe/index.html
      2. Materials or containers that are to be reused should be autoclaved prior to cleaning. Place them in a sealed and clearly labeled container to minimize hazard to others prior to sterilization.
      3. Any breakage of bags or leakage of contaminated materials should be reported to the laboratory director or supervisor at once for instructions on procedures for safe cleanup.
      4. After autoclaving and once the material is cool, the bags must be resealed. The bags then can go into the regular trash.

 

Pathological Material

•  Animal and animal parts should not go into the regular trash. CVM has a location for disposal.

•  Contact the CVM at 513-6625 for pathological waste disposal procedure.

•  Make sure pathological waste is in a secured container or double bagged before transporting.

 

Sharps

Note : Refer to the Medical Waste regulation for interpretation of sharps and disposal

•  Discard needles, syringes, pipettes, broken glassware, glass slides, scalpel blades into the appropriate container. Make sure that metal and glass/plastics are in separate containers.

•  Do not recap needles.

•  Do not use devices that cut needles off. These devices produce an aerosol.

•  Do not force sharps into a full container . Use a new container when old is full.

•  Discard sharps into a suitable plastic or heavy plastic lined container that is properly labeled. If items are not contaminated, the container may then be thrown into the regular trash.