L ABORATORY WASTE MANAGEMENT
Jan. 2015
Type of Waste:
Examples:
 gloves
 paper towels
 bacteria/fungi on
SOLID BIOWASTE
Biosafety Level 1
SOLID BIOWASTE
Biosafety Level 2
LIQUID BIOWASTE
Biosafety Level 1
Biosafety Level 2
CONTAMINATED
SHARPS
Biosafety Level 1
Biosafety Level 2
Collect
Clear autoclave
bags (NO symbol)
In:
Bags must be inside
“Solid Biowaste BSL1”
lidded cans.
solid media
 tissue culture
plates
 vials, tubes
 NO LIQUIDS
 NO CHEMICALS
Bags: PI lab
Waste cans: EHS can supply an
initial receptacle on a limited
basis; PI lab supplies additional
receptacles.
Disposal Steps:
1. Autoclave in Nalgene pan using designated
WASTE cycle.
2. Disposal: Reg. Trash WITH BLACK LINER or RMW.
Nalgene pans: PI lab or
department
 gloves
 paper towels
 bacteria/fungi on
solid media
 tissue culture
plates
 vials, tubes
 NO LIQUIDS
 NO CHEMICALS
Orange autoclave
bags WITH biohazard
symbol
 used tissue
culture media
 broth for bacterial
culture
 biological fluids
 bio-liquid extracts
 bio-supernatants
 NO CHEMICALS
Glass or
autoclavable
plastic containers
with vented closures
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Containers Provided
by:
Virginia Tech Environmental Health & Safety
Bags must be inside
red “Solid Biowaste
BSL2” lidded cans.
Bags: PI lab
Waste cans: EHS can supply an
initial receptacle on a limited
basis; PI lab supplies additional
receptacles.
1. Autoclave in Nalgene pan using designated
WASTE cycle.
2. Dispose in Regulated Medical Waste (RMW).
3. To schedule RMW pickup by EHS, go to:
http://www.ehss.vt.edu/programs/waste_regulated_
medical.php
Nalgene pans: PI lab or
department
pipette tips
Red Sharps containers
wood sticks
with lids (several sizes
needles, syringes available)
scalpels
razor blades
glass slides
cover slips
NO LIQUIDS
NO CHEMICALS
Containers: PI lab
Nalgene pans: PI lab or
department
EHS; use online request system for
Sharps & RMW supplies.
1. Autoclave in Nalgene pan on LIQUID cycle, OR:
 Add undiluted household bleach to 1:5 final
vol/vol concentration & wait 20 min. OR
 Add other appropriate disinfectant to
proper vol/vol concentration.
2. Pour down drain after time for disinfection.
1. Autoclave on solid WASTE cycle.
2. Dispose in Regulated Medical Waste.
3. To schedule RMW pickup by EHS, go to:
http://www.ehss.vt.edu/programs/waste_regulated_
medical.php
 UNCONTAMINATE
D Broken glass
ONLY
GLASS WASTE
Uncontaminated
 NO LIQUID
CONTENTS
GLASS WASTE
Contaminated
 beakers, flasks
 glass pipettes
 bottles, tubes
SOLID WASTE
Contaminated with
Hazardous Chemicals
(including
nanoparticles)
 gloves
 paper towels
 bleach-soaked
Chemically
Contaminated
(including
nanoparticles)
Contaminated with
Hazardous Chemicals
(including
nanoparticles)
EMPTY CHEMICAL
CONTAINERS
Blue bags
 pipette tips
 serol. pipettes
 NO SHARPS FROM
 Clear jars (as above) for
solutions
 compatible
solvents
 stains
 NO BIOWASTE
 Empty metal cans
 Empty plastic/glass
bottles
Sharps containers: EHS

Bags should be
inside “Chemical
Hazardous Waste”
lidded cans
Bags: EHS
Lidded cans: EHS
Pans (secondary containers):
PI lab
 Labeled, clear rigid jars +
 ethidium bromide
LIQUID WASTE
Sharps containers in
appropriate waste stream
syringes/needles
blades/scalpels
pipette tips
glass slides/slips
glass pipettes
NO LIQUIDS
NO BIOWASTE
ABOVE LIST
 NO LIQUIDS
 NO BIOWASTE
Glass Disposal Boxes & plastic
bag liners: PI lab
 Line box with CLEAR
plastic bag
items
 vials, tubes
 NO LIQUIDS
 NO BIOWASTE
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SHARPS
 Glass disposal box
 GLASSWARE DISPOSED OF IN THIS STREAM CANNOT
BE CONTAMINATED WITH HAZARDOUS MATERIAL-No radioactive (any amount), no biological (any
amount), no chemical (more than a trace
amount—if unsure, discard in Chem Sharps waste).
 When box is full, close & tape securely. Take
taped box to dumpster for disposal.
 Contact EHS if you have further questions:
chemwaste@vt.edu
1. Fill out the online Chemical Waste Pickup form
through The EHS Safety Management System for
research laboratories, or by using this link:
https://secure.hosting.vt.edu/www.ehss.vt.edu/programs/LMS/
waste_management.php
Small clear jars suitable for
bench: EHS
lids
 DO NOT COLLECT SHARPS
ON THIS LIST IN BLUE BAGS
DUE TO PUNCTURE
POTENTIAL
Bags : EHS
small volumes of tips
Lidded cans: EHS
 Blue bags inside lidded
can for large volumes of
tips & serological pipettes
 Leak-proof, lidded
containers:
-- 5 gal carboys
-- Empty solvent bottles*
with original label
defaced; relabel ‘Haz.
Waste’ & include
specific contents +
proper hazard warning.
No need to rinse if dry.
Keep lids on liquid
waste containers.
5 GAL carboys: EHS
2. Print out a copy of this form & attach it to waste.
3. Store waste in safe place in appropriate
secondary container until pickup. Allow 2
weeks for pickup.
Recycled bottles: PI lab
1. Use empty chemical bottles
for collecting like-waste.
2. Mixed liq. waste: Use empty
solvent bottles*--acetonitrile,
methanol, isopropanol,
acetone, ethanol, hexane,
cyclohexane, chloroform
CONTAINERS OF ACCUTELY HAZ. WASTE (“P LIST” CHEMICALS, STRONG OXIDIZERS,
AGGRESSIVE ACIDS/BASES, ETC.) --- SUBMIT A HAZ. WASTE FORM FOR EHS PICKUP.
Containers of less hazardous chemicals --- deface labels, place in cardboard
carton, close & tape carton securely; take taped carton to dumpster for disposal.
Questions? Contact EHS at
chemwaste@vt.edu
 Contact EHS if you have further questions:
chemwaste@vt.edu
WHEN WASTE HAS BOTH CHEMICAL & BIOLOGICAL COMPONENTS, CONTACT E.H.S. FOR ASSISTANCE: chemwaste@vt.edu