WASTE DISPOSAL FLOWCHART
Does the waste contain any radioactive materials?
YES
Contact
Radiation
Safety Officer
for assistance
x6771
NO
Does the waste contain any hazardous chemicals
(formaldehyde, ethidium bromide, flammable liquids, etc.), or is
the pH of the material <5 or >10?
YES
NO
Does the waste contain material of human or animal origin
(blood, blood products, tissues, cell lines)? Is waste
contaminated with any material of human or animal origin?
YES
Contact
Incinerator
Supervisor for
disposal
x5617
x7020
Collect sharps in punctureresistant container marked
“Sharps”.
NO
Does the waste contain sharps (syringes, razor blades, Pasteur
pipets, microscope slides)?
YES
If bacterial or viral agents
are present, place sharps
container in autoclave
bag and follow
Autoclaving Flowchart
NO
Does the waste contain cultures of bacteria, recombinant
DNA organisms, viruses, or material that is contaminated
with such agents (pipet tips, gloves, microfuge tubes, etc.)?
NO
Contact UAF
Hazmat for
disposal or
assistance
YES
If no bacterial or viral
agents are present,
remove any “Biohazard”
labels and place sharps
container in box marked
“Broken Glass”. Seal and
dispose in regular trash.
See Autoclaving Flowchart
Material can be disposed with regular trash or down the drain
AUTOCLAVING FLOWCHART
STOP!
Do the items that you want to autoclave contain any of the
following:
flammable liquids (ethanol, methanol, acetone, etc.)
toxic or reactive chemicals
bleach
radioactive isotopes
animal carcasses or large blocks of tissue
NO
Are you autoclaving
liquids or a
combination of liquids
and solid items?
Place items in a tray and
ensure that caps are not
tightly sealed (containers
may explode). Separate
items to allow steam
circulation.
YES
NO
Are you autoclaving only solid items,
such as new pipet tips, empty glassware,
Pasteur pipets, forceps, scissors, etc.?
NO
x6771 or x5617
Is the maximum
volume in any
given tube or
bottle <500 mL?
NO
Is the maximum volume
in any given tube or bottle
>500 mL?
YES
Do not autoclave
these materials.
Contact EHS&RM
for assistance.
YES
YES
YES
Autoclave
for 20 min
on liquid
cycle.
Autoclave for 35 min
on liquid cycle.
NOTE: very large
volumes may require
longer times.
Place items on tray and ensure that any lids are not
tightly sealed. Separate objects so that steam can
circulate completely around them.
Autoclave for 20 minutes using a gravity cycle.
Are you autoclaving
solid waste in an
autoclave bag, such as
contaminated agar
plates, gloves, tips,
swabs?
YES
Place bag in bin or tray. Add 100-200 mL water to bag just prior to placing in
autoclave (to generate steam within bag during cycle). Close bag loosely.
Autoclave for 35-60 minutes using a gravity cycle. After cycle is finished, place
bag in gray Autoclaved Waste Disposal bin next to autoclave.