San Diego State University
Environmental Health and Safety
Biohazardous and Sharps Waste Disposal Policies and Procedures
(Pursuant to the requirements of the Medical Waste Management Act of the CA Health and Safety Code, Sec. 117600 – 118360)
ITEMS TO BE DISPOSED
NON-BIOHAZARDOUS CONTAMINATED SHARPS
 Needles (hypodermic, suture, etc.) with or without
syringes or attached tubing
 Blades (scalpels, razors, lancets)
BIOHAZARDOUS CONTAMINATED ITEMS
 Needles (hypodermic, suture, etc.) with or without
syringes or attached tubing
 Blades (scalpels, razors, lancets)
 Small glass items (vials, slides, pipettes and tips, test
tubes, ampules, etc.)
 Capillary tubes








Human and animal (tissue, blood, blood products, body
fluids, specimen culture)
Animal parts or carcasses – store in freezer
Cultures and stocks of infectious agents
Discarded live and attenuated vaccines
Culture dishes and other container used to transfer,
inoculate and mix cultures
Wastes from production of bacteria, viruses and spores
Wastes including gloves, paper towel, absorbent pads
with biohazardous contamination
Wastes including specimen cups or containers (plastic
only) containing recognizable fluid blood, fluid blood
products, or body fluids
NON-BIOHAZARDOUS CONTAMINATED ITEMS
 Dry broken or unbroken lab glassware (clean of
chemicals; trace amount of fluid ok)
CONTAINMENT
FOR DISPOSAL*
LABEL**
DISPOSAL
METHOD
Red sharps
container
Note: Dispose of
closed containers
within 7 days
“Sharps Waste”
or international
biohazard symbol
and the word
“BIOHAZARD”
Designated
biohazardous/sharp
wastes accumulation
site
Red sharps
container
Note: Residual
fluid only; dispose
of closed
containers within
7 days
“Sharps Waste”
or international
biohazard symbol
and the word
“BIOHAZARD”
Designated
biohazardous/sharp
wastes accumulation
site
Red biohazard
bag
Note: Items must
not be in glass
container;
residual fluid
only; dispose of
tied red bag
within 7 days of
initial use, or
more frequently if
odor poses a
nuisance.
“Biohazardous
Waste” or
international
biohazard symbol
and the word
“BIOHAZARD”
Designated
biohazardous/sharp
wastes accumulation
site
“Broken Glass
Box” with lid
Non-hazardous
waste
Regular trash

Dry lab waste including gloves, paper towel, absorbent
pads, containers (plastic and glass) , pipette tips
Rigid container or
cardboard box
with plastic liner
Hazardous waste
label indicating
for example, “Lab
Debris: pipette
tips”
Call EHS @x46778
for pick-up

Dry clinical waste including gloves, gauze, swabs,
specimen cups, etc.
Trash bag
Medical solid
waste
Secured/locked
regular trash
dumpster
7/07
EHS, SDSU
ITEMS TO BE DISPOSED
CONTAINMENT
FOR DISPOSAL*
LABEL**
DISPOSAL
METHOD
Red biohazard
bag
Note: Items must
not be in glass
container;
residual fluid
only; dispose of
tied red bag
within 7 days of
initial use, or
more frequently if
odor poses a
nuisance.
“Biohazardous
Waste” or
international
biohazard symbol
and the word
“BIOHAZARD”
Designated
biohazardous/sharp
wastes accumulation
site; call EHS
@x46778
to dispose fixative
Hazardous waste
Call EHS @x46778
Call EHS
@x46778
Call EHS
@x46778
Call EHS @x46778
Original
packaging or
container
Hazardous waste
Call EHS
@x46778
Original
packaging or
container
Call EHS
@x46778
Call EHS @x46778
FIXED IN FORMALDEHYDE OR OTHER FIXATIVES

Tissues or specimens
 if fixative decanted from tissue or specimen –
Store tissue in freezer

if fixative not decanted from tissue or specimen
Original container
WITH RADIOACTIVE AND/OR CHEMICAL
CONTAMINATION
 Biohazardous or Sharps waste
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS
 Pharmaceuticals

Controlled Substances
For all other conditions not listed here, call EHS @x46778. Exemptions to the policies and procedures may be granted on a
case-by-case basis.
*Red biohazard bag must be placed during storage, handling, and transport in a container that is rigid, leak-proof and
puncture resistant with tight fitting lids (no cardboard boxes). Containers may be of any color and shall be labeled with the
words “Biohazardous Waste” or with the international biohazard symbol and the word “BIOHAZARD” on the lid and the
sides so as to be visible from any lateral direction. Container including inside compartment and under lids must be kept clean
and disinfected when soiled and contaminated. Double bagging red biohazard bag is not required unless bag is punctured,
torn, or cut. Red bags cannot be overfilled to allow proper closure, prevent leakage, and avoid the expulsion of contents.
*Red sharps container must be rigid, puncture and leak resistant. Red sharps container cannot be overfilled to allow for
proper lid closure. Do not break plastic locking tabs and re-open red sharps container after container is full and lid is closed.
Cracked red sharps container must be contained in a bigger red sharps container.
** All red biohazard bags and red sharps container must also be labeled with the generator address label: San Diego State
University, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA 92182-1243, (619) 594-6778. Accumulation start dates are not required on
the red bags or sharps containers.
7/07
EHS, SDSU