Texas A&M Biological Waste
Management Facility
BESC 489-500
Biological Waste Facility
211 Sippel Road
Prepared by:
Timisha Neal
1.0 Introduction:
On October 29th our BESC 498-500 class toured Texas A&M’s Biological Waste Management Facility on 211
Sippel Road. The tour was facilitated by Monica Hartman an Environmental Safety Assistant Manager, who
informed “the site was built in 2000-2002 and has grown with the addition of new equipment”. The facility only
takes waste that’s from the internal department and/or things admitted into the hospital.
At this specific site, biological waste is defined as biological material from teaching, clinical, and research
laboratories and operations. While “bio hazardous waste means any solid or liquid biological waste that is hazardous
because of its physical and/or biological nature”. So, any waste that has potential to carry infectious material or
which, because of its biological nature, may be harmful to humans, animals, plants or the environment is bio
hazardous waste.
2.0 Primary Operation:
The primary operation of this facility is to manage, treat, and dispose of biological waste. According to Management
and disposal of biological waste, this includes:
(1) Segregating waste from other waste and storage.
a. The waste is separated into Infection or Noninfectious and stored in cooler at 8ºC
b. (Figure 1-4)
(2) Securely Package the waste
(3) Specifically label the waste to indicate the method of treatment
(4) Transport the waste to the point of treatment or disposal by appropriately trained personnel
(5) Treat waste to eliminate the biological hazard
a. The waste is either incinerated or digested depending on the type of waste and if it holds any
potentially harmful pathogens.
(6) Document by maintenance for appropriate records
3.0 Processes with Potential for pollution:
There are two different approaches to disposing biowaste in this facility, incineration and digestion. The
disease/exposure determines the type of disposal method, some animals such as mad cow suspects (or proven tested)
MUST be digested. The office of biological safety determines how a suspected case or disease is disposed of.
Bio digestion which is a heated alkaline hydrolysis tissue digestion usually performed by the Agri-Lyzer, a machine
that dissolves dead animals and purifies the remains. They also use an automatic Digester that was installed in 2004.
This digester runs on a steam generator and can hold 2000-7000lbs of material. After the materials are digested they
are then flushed down the shallow drain (figure 15) with Caustic NaOH and water. The water is used to help dilute
the NaOH+digest solution to help lower the pH since the Wastewater treatment plant cannot receive anything with a
pH of 10 or higher. Flushing with water also helps prevent clogging of the sanitation lines. (Figure 5-8)
“Incineration, is the combustion of hazardous waste primarily for destruction/disposal” and reduces the volume of
the waste by converting it to ash. The incinerator is used when certain waste cannot be digested certain “infectious”
waste is usually burned depending on the pathogen that it holds. The incinerator on site is run by is natural gas so in
the event of a power outage it still can run. The incinerator can burn 2000 pound maximum and burns 750 pounds an
hour. (Figure 14)
4.0 Chemicals Used:
The chemicals at this site include:
NaOH is used as a caustic agent added to aid in the digestion process. The purpose of the NaOH is to help bring the
alkalinity of the mixture down while making the process more efficient . (Figure 9)
Glacial Acetic acid is added to the digestion batch to also assist with further digestion by increasing the temperature
and pressure.
5.0 Pollution Control and Waste Minimization:

Low emission Incinerator on site “reduces pollution” because it reduces the volume of the waste so, that
there is less material to send to landfills.
 Agreement with Wastewater Treatment Plant to not overload the plant with high pH Digested waste and if
they do to notify the Wastewater Treatment Plant so they are prepared.
Contamination Control:
 Plastic Shoe covers
o Upon entering you can request shoe “booties” so that your shoes.
o (Figure 10)
 Foot dip
o When exiting the facility a dip of bleach to minimize the amount of contamination leaving the
facility.
o (Figure 11)
6.0 Permits









Need permission before running the incinerator.
Clean Air Act
o NSR Permit- permitting program that assures that new emissions do not significantly worsen air
quality. Regulate what emission limits must be met and how often the emission source is operated.
RCRA
o Ash Disposal Permit
RCRA standards and may need to be treated for metals or other inorganic constituents prior to land
disposal.
Air Operating Permit
o Type V or Part 70 permits issued under 40 CFR.
o Include all applicable pollution-control requirements from federal or state regulations that apply to
a source. Allow state and local agencies to collect emission based fees to help carry out their air
pollution control objectives
Operating Permit
Landfill Permit
NPDES
o Fall under the University’s NPDES plan.
TECQ
TCEQ’s Municipal Solid Waste Permit – Type V
7.0 Required Monitoring and Report Schedule

Sampling Requirements:
o If sampling is required the permit holder shall contact the Commissions of Office of
Compliance and Enforcement prior to sampling. All sampling must be approved.
o (Figure 12)

Equivalency Method:
o Must justify emission control methods.
Sample the digestion batch before it is flushed to the Wastewater Treatment Plant to ensure
that the pH doesn’t exceed 10.
Test Ashes for Heavy Metals before it is sent to the landfill.
Exceedance Report if the incinerator is run prior or after the hour.
Have to calibrate daily so CO and O2 percentage don’t exceed the permit requirement (monitor
emissions). Changed every burn part of record keeping this what temp. (Figure 13)




8.0 General Comparison
The Biological Waste Facility Vs. Wastewater Treatment Plant

Both serve: Texas A&M population (50,000+)
o BWMF specifically takes waste that’s from the internal department and/or things admitted into the
hospital ONLY.
o WWTP however serves the population in its entirety

Production/Function volume
o BWMF can treat thousands of pounds of waste daily but, are limited to the amount of waste that
comes in.
o WWTP treats 200,000 gallons of water per day
Fig. 1
Fig.3
Fig. 5
Fig. 2
Fig. 4
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15
Worked Cited:
Monica Hartman
Josh
Biological Waste Management Facility- Special Conditions
Tour Guide Handout (provided)
http://www.biosafelifesciences.com/tissue_digestion_vs_incineration
http://www.epa.gov
http://www.epa.gov/nsr/
http://www.epa.gov/osw/inforesources/pubs/orientat/rom37.pdf