Waste Management

biological waste

Biohazardous waste may include:

• blood

• body fluids

• unfixed tissue

• organ cultures.

These wastes (other than used sharps and animal carcasses) cannot be discarded into the municipal sewer or trash until they have been thoroughly decontaminated.  

Specific definitions of infectious wastes are as follows:

• Cultures and stocks:  includes etiological agents and associated biologicals, including specimen cultures, and dishes/devices used to transfer, inoculate, and mix cultures, wastes from production of biologicals and serums and discarded live and attenuated vaccines.  (this definition does not include throat and urine cultures that have been chemically or thermally decontaminated;  these may be placed in regular trash.)

• Pathological waste:  included biopsy materials and all human tissues, anatomical parts that emanate from surgery, obstetrical procedures, autopsy and laboratory processes and animal carcasses and tissues exposed to pathogens in research and bedding and other waste from such animals.  (this definition does not include teeth or formaldehyde or other preservative agents.)

• Sharps:  includes needles, IV tubing with needles attached, scalpel blades, lancets, and glass tubes that could be broken during handling.

Solid waste should be collected in red, biohazard bags, sharps disposal containers, suction canisters, or container lined with a clear, unlabeled autoclave bag as appropriate.  Any waste that is placed in regular trash must be autoclaved or disinfected prior to disposal.

The effectiveness of the autoclave cycle should be monitored with indicator tape.  

Red bags, or any waste labeled with a biohazard symbol, are not allowed in the regular trash.  

Liquid waste should be decontaminated using an effective chemical disinfectant prior to drain disposal.

BIohazard waste at Central Campus is removed from work areas by housekeepers and/or PHC employees (custodial service providers) to be either sterilized and disposed of as trash or bulked for shipment as regulated waste landfill.

Biohazard waste at West Campus is removed by EHRS staff.

Animal carcasses and used sharps cannot be disposed of in the regular trash under any circumstances, and must be collected in the appropriate areas for disposal by authorized methods.  There is a fee for sharps/carcass collection and disposal. 

Spills should be immediately cleaned up and the affected area or surface disinfected.

For information regarding collection procedures, current fees, spill response or any questions on the biohazard waste program, please contact:

Central Campus EHRS 503-494-7795 or 

West Campus EHRS 503-690-5390

For details on biohazard waste and safety, please see Biosafety page.

radioactive waste

Request a radioactive waste pickup

The keys to managing radioactive waste:

• Know the radionuclide that you are disposing.

• Segregate radionuclides

• • Long-lived (³H, ¹⁴C) -  not allowed to decay
    

  • Short-lived (³²P, ³³P, ³⁵S) - allowed to decay

• Survey the material with the appropriate instrument to limit waste (if not hot - regular trash).

• Re-use glassware for other radioactive experiments.

Decaying Radioactive Waste:

• Only for half-lives <90 days (RSOP1801).

• Ensure entire bag of waste is free of radioactive markings.

• Verify that a minimum of 10 half-lives have passed.

• Check outside of bag and on top of waste with appropriate survey instrument.

• Record results on decay form

Radioactive Waste Rules, Procedures & Forms:

•  RSO RegulationsSection 18: Radioactive Waste Disposal

• Accumulation and storage RSOP 1801(.pdf)

• Disposal by RSO RSOP 1802 (.pdf)

• Liquid drain disposal RSOP 1803 (.pdf)

• Absorbing radioactive liquids RSOP 1804 (.pdf)

Radioactive Waste Logsheets

• Radioactive Waste Price Schedule