LABORATORY WASTE DISPOSAL GUIDELINES

WHS Unit LABORATORY WASTE DISPOSAL GUIDELINES Contents 1 Introduction... 2 2 Scope... 2 3 Definitions... 2 4 General Principles... 3 5 Laboratory Procedures... 4 5.1 Summary of Waste Disposal... 9 6 Special Exceptions for Hazardous Waste... 10 7 Co-mingled Hazardous Waste... 10 8 Recycling... 10 9 Related Documents and References... 10 10 Version Control Table... 11 HRD-WHS-GUI-427.3 HRD-WHS-GUI-427_3_Laboratory_Waste_Disposal_Guidelines 2013 June Page 1 of 11

1 Introduction These laboratory advisory guidelines provide procedural information for laboratory workers to follow in disposing of waste that is generated in laboratories across the University. These guidelines should be read in conjunction with the UOW guideline HRD-OHS_GUI-119.8 Hazardous Waste Disposal Guidelines in order to minimise risks associated with the disposal of laboratory waste. 2 Scope These guidelines apply to all students and staff who work within a laboratory environment at the Wollongong Campus and Innovation Campus who generate and dispose of hazardous waste. Local waste management arrangements are in place at University of Wollongong satellite campuses. 3 Definitions Biological Waste Biohazardous waste Broken Glass bin Biological materials of animal, human, plant or microbial origin. This can include infectious material, contaminated agar plates, live cultures, human cells and blood, and disposables that have been in contact with the above. These are the yellow or white (IHMRI) bins located within certain labs. The contents of these bins are placed into the domestic waste stream, so should not contain any hazardous material. Contaminated Waste bin This bin contains solid material glass plastic, paper which is contaminated with hazardous material Cytotoxic Waste DAFF Domestic glass E-waste FMD OGTR Segregation Sharps Winchester Any substance contaminated with any residue or preparations that contain materials that are toxic to cells principally by their action on cell reproduction. Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, the government department responsible for the regulation of quarantine materials. Glass not in use in the laboratory such as coffee jars, glass drink bottles. Electronic waste, an item with circuitry or electrical components with power or battery supply that has been assessed as waste. Facilities Management Division (formerly Buildings and Grounds) Australian Government Department of Health and Aging Office of the Gene Technology Regulator Separating incompatible hazardous chemicals or materials which go into different waste streams. Collecting compatible materials (where practical) can improve the potential for reuse or recycling. Objects or devices that have acute, rigid corners, edges, points or protuberances capable of cutting or penetrating the skin e.g. hypodermic needles, glass, scalpel blades and lancets. Brown glass container, most often 2.5 L in volume, used to store solvents, ammonia solution and concentrated acids. HRD-WHS-GUI-427.3 HRD-WHS-GUI-427_3_Laboratory_Waste_Disposal_Guidelines 2013 June Page 2 of 11

4 General Principles Minimise waste and do not be accumulate large amount in the laboratory. Regular disposal from the laboratories must be part of the laboratory WHS program. Segregate waste -have a separate residue container if you are generating a large amount of one particular type of waste. Ensure the waste container is compatible with the waste you are collecting. Label the waste residue container with the appropriate waste label. Store waste in a suitable area whilst awaiting collection. For example, chemicals and solvents should be stored in ventilated area and residue container lids must be secure. Ensure the container is not leaking and there is no spillage on the exterior of the container. Handle waste only if you are aware of the hazards associated with the waste. Appropriate Personal Protective Equipment should be a used. Dispose of waste as per relevant UOW guidelines. HRD-WHS-GUI-427.3 HRD-WHS-GUI-427_3_Laboratory_Waste_Disposal_Guidelines 2013 June Page 3 of 11

5 Laboratory Procedures All potential waste streams that arise as part of laboratory operations needs to be assessed and an appropriate disposal route selected prior to it actually being generated. Waste should be collected in a suitable container and labelled accordingly. Waste Type Waste Collection Waste container Domestic Waste Place any domestic waste in a normal garbage bin (the bin is lined with a plastic bag). This waste is disposed of by the cleaning staff. If waste material is recyclable, refer to the Recycling procedures, section 8. Under no circumstances should chemical waste, sharps or broken glass be placed into a normal garbage bin. Glass Winchesters Winchesters and unbroken domestic glassware should not be placed into domestic waste bins. Empty glass Winchesters must be decontaminated: Remove cap and dispose in the normal domestic waste If the Winchester contained : - acid rinse with water - solvent vent in fume-hood before disposal. Place decontaminated Winchester and other glassware in a yellow lidded recycling bin in the Waste Collection Area (32.GS12, building18 back dock). In some areas Winchesters that have been used for ethanol or methanol can be recycled by returning directly to the Solvent Store for refilling. HRD-WHS-GUI-427.3 HRD-WHS-GUI-427_3_Laboratory_Waste_Disposal_Guidelines 2013 June Page 4 of 11

Waste Type Waste Collection Waste container Laboratory Glass Contaminated Glass Where possible decontaminate the glass as much as possible. For example, Pasteur pipettes can be rinsed before being placed in the laboratory glass bin. Broken glass should be placed in the labelled glass bin located in your laboratory. Ensure bin has a lid. When the laboratory glass bin is ¾ full, the lid should be placed on the bin and the contents transferred to the larger solid waste bins. Contact FMD to empty this larger bin when it is approximately ¾ full. Any glassware that has been contaminated with biohazardous material must either be autoclaved in a metal bin before placing in the laboratory glass disposal bin or placed directly into a contaminated sharps bin, depending on local laboratory practice. For example Pasteur pipettes contaminated with blood can be placed directly into a sharps waste container. Glass that is contaminated with hazardous chemicals must be disposed of as contaminated waste. Under NO circumstances can contaminated glass containers or laboratory glass such as beakers, volumetric flasks or other Pyrex items be placed into recycling bins. Where possible sample vials should be rinsed and reused or disposed as contaminated laboratory glass. Sharps Place any sharps (syringes with needles, razor-blades, scalpel blades and small pieces of broken glass) in approved yellow sharps container. Sharps container should be located adjacent to the work area where sharps are used. When the sharps residue container is filled to the black line, seal container, affix UOW Biological Waste label, place in yellow wheelie bin or take to fortnightly waste collection area. For further information, see the Working with Sharps Guidelines. Sharps may also be contaminated with toxic, infectious or radioactive materials. These sharps should be placed in a sharps container which is then labelled appropriately according to the type of primary contamination (biohazardous, radioactive, and cytotoxic). Do not overfill container - only fill container to black line marked on container. Contaminated solids Filter paper, Gloves, Tissues, spent silica, sample vials that contaminated with hazardous material should be placed directly into a contaminated solids bin or bag. These residues are disposed of as hazardous waste. Never mix incompatible residues in the one bin or bag. HRD-WHS-GUI-427.3 HRD-WHS-GUI-427_3_Laboratory_Waste_Disposal_Guidelines 2013 June Page 5 of 11

Waste Type Waste Collection Waste container Hazardous Chemicals Chemical waste can take the form of solvents, aqueous solutions, dry powders, and unwanted old chemicals. The SDS for the chemical must be checked to ensure compatibility of materials if there is a combined chemical residue container, where possible mixing should be avoided, as unexpected reactions may occur. A bulging waste container must be dealt with immediately. The waste container should be compatible with the residue material placed within. If the waste is a liquid, residue containers are approved strong, plastic sealable containers, no larger than 5 litres. No chemical substances should be disposed of down drains. All enquiries concerning wastes discharged through the sewerage system must be directed to FMD. Large quantities of chemicals which are no longer in use should be returned to the store for recovery or disposal. See your supervisor for specific methods. Generally chemical waste should be segregated according to its properties, such as: Aqueous Acidic Aqueous Alkaline Halogenated Non-halogenated General Hazardous Waste powders etc. 5L HDPE residue container (approved) 5L App Dangerous Goods container Hazard Waste labels are available for each of these generic categories. Affix completed Hazardous Waste Label to the hazardous waste residue container. If a chemical reagent bottle has lost its label and the identity of the substance is unknown, label with Caution unknown substance - Do not use.these bottles can be taken directly to Waste Store for pick up. Hazardous waste is collected at the Waste Store (western side of Building 15) every second Wednesday from 9.00am - 11.00am. Store opening dates listed on the Waste Disposal web page. A Waste Tracking Log sheet is required to be completed, when leaving waste at the Waste Store. Download the log sheet from the WHS Unit website and submit the completed form with the hazardous waste. It is advisable for a laboratory to keep a copy of the Waste Tracking Log. Special collections can be made from the laboratory at a cost to the unit and/or research group. Advice can be obtained from the School Hazardous Waste Contact, the Manager Environmental Services (FMD) or the WHS Unit. HRD-WHS-GUI-427.3 HRD-WHS-GUI-427_3_Laboratory_Waste_Disposal_Guidelines 2013 June Page 6 of 11

Waste Type Waste Collection Waste container Biological Waste Biological Waste (e.g. any material potentially contaminated with microorganisms, including human blood and body fluids, but not glass or sharps) must be placed in the metal biological waste bins lined with an autoclave bag displaying a biohazard symbol (do not use yellow clinical waste bag). Keep lid on bin when sitting in lab. When bags in the bin are ¾ full, they need to be autoclaved. Follow your local Safe Work Procedure for safe use of autoclave. Autoclave waste in the metal bin with the lid off, and record details of the sterilization run. Ensure you autoclave appropriately to satisfy the OGTR or DAFF (AQIS) specifications. Once autoclaved, waste can be disposed of as for domestic waste. Use the red lidded wheelie bins for disposing of autoclaved waste. Technical officers will take the waste bins to the collection point when full. Biohazardous waste is collected from the Building 35 loading dock, Building 41 Anatomy Lab and Building 32 waste compound. Gels contaminated with chemicals Place gels agarose gels stained with ethidium bromide, polyacrylamide or similar gels in yellow clinical waste bags. Any gloves, paper towels etc. that have been contaminated with trace chemicals from the gels can also be placed in the clinical waste bag. Seal and affix biological waste label and place in yellow Biohazardous Waste wheelie bin. Fill in the Waste Tracking Log. Animal waste and human tissue waste Cytotoxic Waste Animal carcasses and tissue and human tissue must be placed in a yellow clinical waste bag, sealed, and affix a Biological Waste label. Waste may need to be frozen prior to disposal to minimise decay. Animals that have been used for infectious or genetic manipulation studies must be autoclaved according to the Biosafety guidelines before disposal. Once autoclaved, seal bag, affix biological waste label and place in waste chest freezer until waste collection day. Fill in the Waste Tracking Log. In the laboratory place all Cytotoxic waste (class 6.1) in an approved Purple cytotoxic bag or container. When the residue container is full, place in locked purple cytotoxic waste wheelie bin. When the larger bin is full, collection should be organised through FMD. HRD-WHS-GUI-427.3 HRD-WHS-GUI-427_3_Laboratory_Waste_Disposal_Guidelines 2013 June Page 7 of 11

Waste Type Waste Collection Waste container Quarantine waste Quarantine waste and its transportation must be followed according to the instructions set out by the AQIS. Refer to Quarantine Approved Premises Criteria 5.1 for Quarantine Containment Level 1 (QC1) Facilities see http://www.daff.gov.au/ data/assets/pdf_file/0003/113457/qap-5.1.pdf Solid quarantine wastes must be bagged and placed in an unbreakable container with a secured lid for movement within or outside the building to the approved disposal place. Ideally arrangements will be made for a laboratory pickup of this material by organising with FMD. Where waste cannot be disposed of immediately, there must be as a minimum the provision for: A separate storage device/area for the temporary holding of goods Storage in lidded bins/containers of an appropriate size which are leak and pest proof Bins to be labelled Quarantine Waste Double bagging of all waste Approved signage must be displayed. Radioactive Waste Radioactive waste should be stored in red radioactive waste bags, sealed, labelled and stored according to the University s Radioactive Waste Disposal Guidelines. Low and medium level radioactive waste is stored in the Radiation Waste Area in Building 41. Higher level radioactive waste needs to be appropriately contained and stored in the School until the radioactivity level is suitable for low level storage in Building 41. See the above link for appropriate storage levels. Radiation stickers and/or containers are available from the Radiation Safety Officer in the Unit. Only people with a radiation licence are permitted access to the Radiation Waste Area. A key to the Radiation Waste Area in Building 41 available from the Radiation Safety Officer. Complete thee Radiation Waste Log. Low level solid radioactive waste such as blotting paper, paper towels etc. should be labelled and stored in red radioactive waste bags until it has reached a safe background level. The storage time will depend on the isotope being used. Liquid waste should be collected in appropriately labelled 5L plastic containers. HRD-WHS-GUI-427.3 HRD-WHS-GUI-427_3_Laboratory_Waste_Disposal_Guidelines 2013 June Page 8 of 11

5.1 Summary of Waste Disposal Waste Primary Container Additional Information Secondary Container Location 1. Clean Lab broken glass bin Glass 2. Chemically contaminated 3. Biologically contaminated Wash Lab broken glass bin Only allow to reach 3/4 full Glass wheelie bin B:35 Loading dock Autoclave Lab broken glass bin 4. Contaminated Yellow sharps container Appropriate waste label Yellow wheelie bin B35:loading dock; B41: Anatomy Lab; B32: Waste Comp. & B70. Sharps Yellow sharps container Appropriate waste label Yellow wheelie bin B35:loading dock; B41: Anatomy Lab; B32: Waste Comp. & B70. Biological Waste Metal bin with autoclave bag Autoclave General waste wheelie bin or glass bin if glass Animal & Human tissue Yellow clinical waste bag Label & freeze prior to placing in bin Yellow wheelie Bin B35:loading dock; B41: Anatomy Lab; B32: Waste Comp. & B70. GMOs Metal bin with autoclave bag Autoclave General waste wheelie bin Quarantine Metal bin with autoclave bag Autoclave General waste wheelie bin Gels Hazardous Chemical Polyacrylamide or agarose with ethidium bromide 1. Gloves, paper etc 2. Liquid Yellow clinical waste bag Appropriate waste label Yellow wheelie bin Yellow clinical waste bag Appropriate waste label Yellow wheelie bin Strong plastic sealable container <5l N.B. Chemical compatibility Chemical waste store 3. Dry powder Unbreakable sealable container <5l N.B. Chemical compatibility Chemical waste store B35:loading dock; B41: Anatomy Lab; B32: Waste Comp. & B70. B35:loading dock; B41: Anatomy Lab; B32: Waste Comp. & B70. Western end building 15 or AIIM Innov. Campus Western end building 15 or AIIM Innov. Campus Radioactive Red waste bag Radioactive waste store B:41 Cytotoxic Purple cytotoxic bag Purple wheelie bin B:32 IHMRI N.B. Co-mingled hazardous waste must be disposed of in a manner that best addresses all hazards. HRD-WHS-GUI-427.3 HRD-WHS-GUI-427_3_Laboratory_Waste_Disposal_Guidelines 2013 June Page 9 of 11

6 Special Exceptions for Hazardous Waste Always refer to the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) to determine chemical compatibility and recommended waste disposal procedures. Certain chemicals require specific disposal procedures. Class 1 (Explosive) and Class 4 (Spontaneously Combustible) wastes cannot be disposed of by the routes mentioned below. See the School WHS Facilitator for advice. Halogenated solvent wastes are to be collected in waste containers, and clearly labelled as halogenated solvents. Halogenated wastes must be kept separate to other organic solvents as, for example, mixtures of acetone and chloroform can explode. Cyanide wastes must be placed in an appropriate waste bottle and the solution kept alkaline at all times. Highly reactive substances such as amines, phosphorus compounds, acetic anhydride, acetyl- chloride and reactive metals should never be placed in general disposal containers. For further information contact local hazardous waste contacts, Environmental Services Manager (x3081) or WHS Officer (x4365). 7 Co-mingled Hazardous Waste If co-mingled hazardous waste (e.g. chemical or radiation waste that is also contaminated with microorganisms, arsenic agar plates contaminated with microorganisms) is generated, it must be disposed of in a manner that best addresses all hazards associated with the waste. Do not attempt to dispose of co-mingled hazardous waste before contacting the School/Facility Manager or the WHS Unit. 8 Recycling Combustible materials should be minimised within a laboratory. Cardboard boxes and paper based packaging should be folded flat and then placed in the cardboard recycling bin situated in the waste collection area or the wheelie bins with yellow lids for mixed recycling. Styrofoam or polystyrene packaging materials should NOT be placed in recycling bins but can be put in general waste bins. For more information on recycling at the University http://www.uow.edu.au/about/environment/recycling. 9 Related Documents and References Contaminated/Hazardous Waste Disposal Flowchart Waste Disposal Guidelines Area Hazardous Waste Representatives Working with Sharps Guidelines Radioactive Safety Guidelines Laboratory Waste Disposal IHMRI SOP Waste Disposal Guidelines Radioactive Waste Disposal Guidelines Biosafety Manual AS 2243.3-2010 : Safety in laboratories - Microbiological safety and containment AS 3816-1998 : Management of clinical and related wastes AS 4031-1992 : Non-reusable containers for the collection of sharp medical items used in health care areas AS 4261-1994 : Reusable containers for the collection of sharp items used in human and animal medical applications AS 4478-1997 : Guide to the reprocessing of reusable containers for the collection of sharp items used in human and animal clinical/medical applications HRD-WHS-GUI-427.3 HRD-WHS-GUI-427_3_Laboratory_Waste_Disposal_Guidelines 2013 June Page 10 of 11

Biohazard Waste Industry Australia and New Zealand Industry Code of Practices 6 th Edition 2010Version control table 10 Version Control Table Version Control Date Released Approved By Amendment 1 November 2012 Manager WHS. New document 2 December 2012 Manager WHS Minor amendment 3 June 2013 Manager WHS Repairing links HRD-WHS-GUI-427.3 HRD-WHS-GUI-427_3_Laboratory_Waste_Disposal_Guidelines 2013 June Page 11 of 11