Biohazardous Waste Categories

In the research lab or field environment, this includes any non-sharp item that is contaminated with human or animal diagnostic specimen material (i.e., body fluids, tissue debris), any microbiological culture material (including recombinant DNA).

Examples include but are not limited to:

• Gloves and other disposable PPE contaminated with specimen or culture material
• Plasticware such as pipettes or pipette tips, culture plates, specimen vials, etc. that are contaminated with biological specimens, bacterial and cell culture material, or nucleic acids
• Towels and bench paper that are biologically contaminated (Note: Bench paper that is used in areas where samples or cultures are opened and manipulated must be regarded as biologically-contaminated and therefore removed and managed as solid biohazardous waste)
• All culture or sample containers that are contaminated with biological materials
• Tubes of blood (note: glass blood vials that could break easily upon disposal should be segregated as sharps waste; see below)

Storage

Non-sharps solid biohazardous waste must be collected for final treatment and disposal in a leak-proof container lined with an autoclavable bag of moderate thickness to prevent punctures.  The collection container must have a lid or other means of closure and the container must be labeled with the biohazard symbol regardless of the lab’s operating biosafety level.  For BSL-2 labs, bags must be red, orange, or embossed with the biohazard symbol.

Benchtop containers should be used for the collection of small quantities of contaminated dry goods (i.e., pipette tips, centrifuge tubes, etc.).  Small plastic containers or wire bag racks lined with a biohazard bag are suitable for benchtop collection.  These containers do not need to have a lid (unless waste is contaminated with a pathogen) but daily disposal of the secured bag into a larger collection container such as the one shown to the right is strongly recommended.

“Breakable” biohazardous wastes

Tubes of blood and other “breakable” biohazardous waste can be troublesome to manage properly and safely for treatment and disposal.  For small amounts of “breakable” biohazardous waste, these items may be placed in sharps containers for disposal.  However, if your lab generates a large amount of “breakable” biohazardous waste, please contact the UTK/UTIA Biosafety Officer for assistance with finding solutions for safer waste management.

Serological Pipettes

Pipette wastes may require creative approaches for accumulation prior to disposal.  Serological pipettes and micropipette tips are good examples, as they may not fit some biohazardous waste bins or may present a sharps hazard if they comingle with heavier wastes (e.g., agar plates).

Suggested practices:

• Line a cardboard box, 5-gallon bucket, or similar container with a biohazard bag and collect the pipettes with the tips oriented in the same direction.
• Ensure the outside of the container has a biohazard label.
• When the bag is full, treat the pipettes by autoclave or disposal through the medial waste contractor as indicated above.
• Pipette tips may be placed in the sharps container or other puncture-resistant collection devices.

Pathological Waste

Animal tissues, tissue trimmings, organs, or carcasses must be:

• Collected in leak-proof, sealed bags.  Bags must be red, orange, or embossed with the universal biohazard symbol if the pathological material contains an infectious agent, recombinant/synthetic nucleic acid, or biological toxin.
• Frozen and stored (tissues) for disposal through the respective lab animal facility or satellite facility.
• Unless otherwise indicated by EH&S Laboratory Safety Services, pathological waste is not to be autoclaved.  Rather it will be shipped offsite for incineration or submitted to the College of Veterinary Medicine’s necropsy unit for alkaline hydrolysis.

 NOTE:  Never discard pathological wastes into the trash! 

The collection of autoclaved soil, plants, and plant materials must be conducted in a manner that follows the correct waste stream and does not create ergonomic risks for facilities personnel.  This guidance applies to the collection, treatment, and disposal of all soil and plant material as defined below. This shall apply to all students, staff, and faculty responsible for handling and disposing of soil, plants, and plant materials.

Guidance

Soil and plant wastes do not qualify as ‘regulated medical waste’ per state code, so these are not subject to special segregation into the medical waste contractor receptacles.  However, to meet this exemption these wastes cannot be collected in an autoclave bag that is red (or orange) or bears the biohazard symbol (i.e., it must be a plain white/clear/tan autoclave bag).  The bags can then be placed directly into the dumpster once autoclaved/cooled.  Dry cycles can be incorporated into soil sterilization to possibly help reduce the weight of autoclaved soil.  It is important to follow this guidance for autoclaved soils and plant materials as they contribute 11x more to the cost of disposal than other materials in the waste stream.  This guidance also applies to USDA permitted soils and plant materials as long as they are fully devitalized prior to final disposition.

Field Generation

Waste should be collected and stored as previously outlined.  Contact the UTK/UTIA Biosafety Officer or UTIA Safety Officer for assistance with identifying disposal options.  If you plan to transport waste for treatment and/or disposal, please refer to guidelines at the end of this document for this activity.

This includes bulk quantities of blood, blood products, body fluids from human and animal research origin and culture media.  Note: Disposable primary containers or sample containers containing small quantities of liquids (less than 10 mls) should be managed as solid biohazardous waste.

Storage

These liquids must be stored in closed, leakproof containers while awaiting treatment and disposal.  Collection vessels should be secured so that they cannot be tipped over.  Secondary containment is strongly recommended and can be achieved by placing the vessel in a bucket or deep tray.  Storage vessels or the secondary container must be labeled with the biohazard label if the liquids will not be treated and disposed of within the shift.  If a disinfectant is added to the vessel, provide labeling so that the chemical hazard is identified as well.  For instance, if your collection flask contains waste cell media and bleach, place a biohazard label on the flask (or secondary container) as well as the words “bleach-treated cell culture materials” to properly identify both the chemical and biological hazard.

Treatment and disposal

Liquid wastes may be treated and disposed of by either one or the other of the following methods:

• Chemical treatment of liquids with disinfectant; disposal via lab sink
  Disinfectants may be used for “treatment” of liquid biological waste to prohibit the growth of microorganisms. Here is an example of the use of household bleach. Add household bleach to the collection vessel so that the bleach makes 10% to 15% of the final volume.  Allow a contact time of at least 30 minutes.  Carefully discharge the mixture to the sanitary sewer by way of the lab sink, then thoroughly rinse down the sink with water.  Remember to wear splash goggles, gloves, and a lab coat for the handling of bleach and bleach-treated liquids.

NOTE:  Diluted bleach solutions may go down the drain in most cases.  However, many chemicals used for disinfection cannot be discarded down the train.  Contact EH&S at 974-5084 to determine if sink disposal of disinfectants other than diluted bleach solutions is acceptable.

• Autoclave treatment of liquids; disposal via lab sink
  Place the closed collection vessel in a secondary container and transport it by cart to the autoclave facilities. Treat by autoclave using the liquids cycle. (Remember to loosen or remove the closure on the vessel before placing in the autoclave.)  Discharge cooled treated liquids to the sanitary sewer by way of the lab sink.  Note:  Only personnel who have received training regarding the operation of the autoclave should use this device.

Safety Note:  PLEASE do not autoclave liquids containing chemical disinfectants! 

Biohazardous sharps waste must be disposed of in an FDA-approved container that is manufactured for the disposal of biohazardous sharps waste:  1) puncture resistant; 2) restricted opening disallowing retrieval of sharps; 3) a lid that can be securely closed once full; 4)  labeled with the universal biohazard symbol.

Additionally:

1. All sharps containers must be permanently closed and disposed of when 2/3 to ¾ full or whenever items do not freely fall into the container.  Never pack, tamp, or shake a sharps container to fit additional items.
2. Wipe down the exterior surface of the container with a disinfectant prior to submission for disposal.
3. Clean sharps may also be placed in the red sharps containers as necessary.