Bio Burn-Box Pilot Program
Biology Department
Institute stats
• Autoclaving approximately 10,000 bags per
year
• EHS collecting approximately 6500 sharps bins
per year
• Costs for disposal rising out-of-sight!!
• Biology:
– Volunteered to pilot
– 1250 sharps bins per year
Pilot Program Objectives
• The pilot program will be used to assess and
measure the following:
– Feasibility of collection by EHS of all biowaste
from laboratories in burn-boxes.
– Efficiency of online pick-up requests similar to
hazardous and radioactive waste management.
– Standardization and use of biowaste bench-top
transfer containers
– Standardization and use of bench-top “sharps”
containers
Pilot Objectives
• Elimination of the current Stericycle biosharps
collection containers
• Elimination of the majority of lab processed biowaste
via autoclaving
• Time saved by researchers.
• Environmental impact from energy saved from reduced
use of autoclaves
• Cost savings to the institute.
• Time commitment required to provide this waste
management service to predict expansion
requirements for the global campus.
Lessons Learned to Date
– Implementation is labor intensive
• Lab by lab process
• Training
– Feasibility of collection by EHS of all biowaste from
laboratories in burn-boxes:
• Too early to assess
– Efficiency of online pick-up requests similar to hazardous
and radioactive waste management:
• Is working ok. Need to update site with additional container
information
– Standardization and use of biowaste bench-top transfer
containers:
• Working well; investigating transfer containers for serological and
pasteur pipettes
– Standardization and use of bench-top “sharps” containers:
• Working well; investigating sharps containers for larger items
• Elimination of the current Stericycle biosharps collection containers:
– Almost complete. May always need a couple in buildings
• Elimination of the majority of lab processed biowaste via
autoclaving:
– Almost 100%
• Time saved by researchers
– Not only from autoclaving but availability of autoclaves for research
• Environmental impact from energy saved from reduced use of
autoclaves
– Trying to estimate. All bio burn-box waste is incinerated in a trash to
energy (electricity) facility
• Cost savings to the institute
– Burn boxes are one half the price for twice the volume
• Time commitment required to provide this waste management
service to predict expansion requirements for the global campus
– Still in the evaluation stage
Areas for consideration
• Liquids in burn-box
• Better transfer containers for serological and
pasteur pipettes
• Waste collection request website
• Clean broken glass disposal
• Evaluate energy saved form autoclaves
• Establishing biowaste collection schedules by
build/area
Questions