Laboratory hazardous waste management and disposal manual
Contents
Introduction
Health and safety at the university
The University of Toronto is committed to the proper management of hazardous wastes. Proper management of hazardous waste streams minimizes the risk to employees and members of the public, reduces the risk of release of hazardous material to the environment and enables U of T to better manage the costs of disposal.
A variety of hazardous wastes are produced at U of T, primarily from research and teaching laboratories. For generators of biological, chemical or radioactive wastes, U of T provides a hazardous waste management service through the Environmental Protection Services team within the Facilities & Services department under the Vice-President, Operations & Real Estate Partnerships. This team collects, processes and packages all biological, chemical and radioactive wastes generated at U of T.
If you have any questions about the disposal of these wastes, please call this team at 416-978-7000 or email eps.hazdisposal@utoronto.ca.
About this manual
This manual and the accompanying procedures apply to all hazardous waste operations on U of T campuses generating hazardous chemical, radioactive, biological or sharp wastes. The objective of the manual is to provide information to handle safely, and in an environmentally responsible manner, the hazardous wastes produced by U of T.
The basic elements of the hazardous waste management program include the following:
- waste minimization techniques
- packaging requirements
- labelling requirements
- storage requirements
The waste handling procedures are mandatory when preparing waste for disposal.
These procedures cover all students, faculty and staff, including teaching and research laboratory personnel working with hazardous materials. Private companies or individuals renting space and facilities from U of T must abide by all applicable environmental legislation as well as U of T procedures and arrange for the disposal of hazardous wastes through the Environmental Protection Services team. There may be a chargeback to the company for disposal services.
Environmental legislation
The proper handling, transport and disposal of hazardous wastes in Ontario are governed by a variety of municipal, provincial and federal items of legislation. These include:
Environmental Protection Act (Ontario)
- Air Pollution – General Regulation (O.Reg. 346)
- Waste Management – General Regulation (O.Reg. 347)
- Waste Management – PCB Regulation (O.Reg. 362)
Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act (Canada)
Environmental Protection Act (Canada)
Environmental Contaminants Act (Canada)
Guidelines for the Management of PCB Wastes
Nuclear Safety and Control Act (Canada)
Packaging and Transport of Nuclear Substances Regulation
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) Regulatory Guides
Pest Control Products Act (Canada)
Pesticides Act and Regulations (Ontario)
Metropolitan Toronto By-Law 457-2000: To regulate the discharge of sewage and land drainage
Policies, guidelines and manuals
U of T has several policies that impact hazardous waste management activities:
U of T health and safety policy (PDF)
Additionally, the Office of Environmental Health and Safety manuals and guidelines may be consulted for further information:
Responsibilities
Waste generator and department
- Preplanning experiments to include the provision for handling of hazardous waste because of the work.
- Classifying hazardous waste as chemical, radioactive, biohazardous or sharps. Help in the classification process can be provided by the Environmental Protection Services team upon request.
- Reducing wastes generated by devising new laboratory methods and ordering less product as necessary. All contribute to fewer wastes being generated.
- Complying with U of T’s labelling, packaging and storage procedures.
- Segregating incompatible and other waste types as required.
- Arranging to decommission areas no longer producing hazardous wastes.
Environmental Protection Services
- Removing waste from a generator’s building (where applicable) in a safe and timely manner.
- Advising waste generators of appropriate safety and disposal procedures.
- Regulatory liaison on behalf of U of T.
- Coordinating with external contractors to ensure proper recycling and/or disposal of hazardous wastes.
How to minimize waste
Waste minimization techniques can play a vital role in reducing the amount of hazardous waste generated annually at U of T. Waste generators are encouraged to actively investigate waste minimization techniques and incorporate these as an integral part of the teaching and research process.
Purchasing
Purchase hazardous materials in the smallest quantities needed. Stockpiling hazardous materials rarely works and results in excessive costs to the researcher and additional disposal costs to U of T.
Donations in bulk (for example, entire industrial laboratory inventories) to U of T can result in receiving unwanted hazardous materials and costly disposal problems. Accept only those hazardous materials that will be required by the laboratory within a year. Due to regulatory requirements, donations involving radioactive or biological agents require prior approval from the Office of Environmental Health and Safety.
Process modification
Examine experimental protocols to, if possible, eliminate materials that would result in the generation of hazardous wastes.
Review experimental procedures to see if quantities of hazardous materials can be reduced (for example, micro methods).
Product substitution
Evaluate experimental procedures to see if a less hazardous material may be used, for example:
- Toluene substituted for benzene
- A metal oven thermometer instead of a mercury thermometer in ovens
- Alcohol thermometers for mercury thermometers
- Phosphorus-33 for phosphorus-32
- Nonradioactive DNA labelling for radioactive DNA labelling
Good laboratory practice
- Hazardous waste disposal planning must be part of all experimental protocols.
- Record the date on containers upon receipt so that older ones will be used first. This may eliminate time-sensitive materials from being unnecessarily directed to disposal.
- Avoid storing excess hazardous material.
- Good housekeeping and tracking of hazardous material inventory can prevent waste and duplication.
- Ensure that all samples and containers are properly identified with the appropriate scientific (and not “coded”) name. Analysis of unidentified containers is costly, and disposal of these containers is illegal under WHMIS legislation.
- Do not mix hazardous with nonhazardous waste products. This contaminates the waste stream and unnecessarily adds to the cost of disposal.
- On termination of a research project, ensure all hazardous materials and containers are labelled and those no longer required are disposed of.
- For hazardous materials stored in ‘shared facilities’ such as cold rooms, etc., the research director, principal investigator or researcher should take responsibility for the disposal of these materials after a research project has been completed.
General requirements
Waste materials must be labeled and packaged in a way that allows them to be stored or transported without the danger of spillage, explosion or hazardous vapours escaping. Consult Section 5 for further requirements for specific hazardous wastes.
- The waste generator bears the primary responsibility for proper packaging and labeling.
- All safety precautions required for handling and storage of the hazardous material must also be observed with the subsequently generated wastes.
Any hazardous waste that is improperly packaged or labeled will not be removed.
Packaging laboratory hazardous waste
The researcher is responsible for providing waste containers for the laboratory generating chemical waste, although 20 litre green plastic pails are available in some situations. The Environmental Protection Services team provides containers to researchers generating radioactive and biological wastes. A limited number of 205 litre drums are available to researchers for chemical wastes such as waste oils.
To avoid explosions, fires or spills, incompatible mixtures must not be mixed in a single waste container.
Chemical liquid waste containers should only be filled to approximately 75% capacity to allow for vapour expansion and to reduce the potential for spills occurring from moving overfilled containers.
Container material must be compatible with the stored hazardous waste (for example, sharps must be in puncture-resistant containers, hydrofluoric acid cannot be stored in glass containers).
Wastes must not be packaged in containers that improperly identify other non-existing hazards. For example, chemical wastes cannot be packaged in biohazard bags if no biohazard is present.
Non-hazardous waste (for example, materials that have not come into contact with hazardous substances), must not be placed in the hazardous waste containers the Environmental Protection Services team provides. Email recycling@utoronto.ca for information about how to dispose of non-hazardous waste. Disposing of hazardous waste materials is very expensive. It is the responsibility of each generator to ensure that wastes are properly segregated for disposal.
Labeling laboratory hazardous waste
Waste materials must be labeled in a way that will allow the hazards to be clearly and accurately identified.
Maintain an accurate inventory of the waste materials being added to the waste containers using the appropriate waste labels provided by the Environmental Protection Services team. Waste labels for chemical and radioactive wastes are available free of charge. Contact the Environmental Protection Services team to request labels.
Labels for hazardous waste containers must be attached to the packaging.
Specific names of the components in the waste container must be listed. No abbreviations, acronyms or trademark names are to be used. Vague categories (for example, inorganic waste) are not acceptable. Contact information such as building name, room number and individual producing the waste, or, in the case of biological and radioactive waste, a permit number must be listed.
The Environmental Protection Services team is responsible for removing hazardous wastes from buildings rely on properly labeled packaging. Their safety is dependent on the accurate identification of the contents and the labeling of the waste containers.
If you discover an unlabeled container in a laboratory and its contents are not known, contact the Environmental Protection Services team.
Storing laboratory hazardous waste
Containers must be in good condition and should remain closed unless waste is being added.
Hazardous waste must be stored safely prior to removal from the laboratory and should not be allowed to accumulate.
Materials with special storage requirements include organic peroxides, PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), non-returnable gas cylinders and explosives. Before disposing of these materials, contact the Environmental Protection Services team.
Liquid hazardous waste containers stored in laboratories should be periodically inspected for leaks.
Dispose of aging containers promptly.
Do not flush hazardous liquids down drains
Hazardous liquids must not be flushed down drains as a method of disposal. This practice is illegal in accordance with a City of Toronto bylaw and provincial legislation and may lead to dangerous reactions or damage to the drainage system. It can also create a potential hazard for trades personnel working on the water system.
Labels are available free of charge to display over sink areas warning of the danger in pouring hazardous chemicals down the drains. Contact the Environmental Protection Services team to request these labels for your lab. See Figure 1 for an example of a drain label.
Specific waste management requirements
Biological waste management
Who must follow these procedures
All laboratories that manipulate potentially hazardous biological agents and materials and generate waste containing such agents are responsible for separating, packaging and treating their laboratory waste before its removal and disposal.
These procedures apply to waste contaminated with or containing biological agents only.
If your lab waste is contaminated with chemical and/or radioactive materials, follow the procedure for mixed waste.
If your lab waste contains sharp or pointy objects, follow the procedure for sharp waste.
Biological Containment Level 2 labs
These biological waste procedures apply to any laboratory producing needles and Biological Containment Level 2 or greater laboratories.
Biological Containment Level 1 labs
Biological Containment Level 1 labs are to handle their waste as non-hazardous (except if they generate needles or their Risk Group 1 biowaste contains chemical or radiation hazards). Contact the Caretaking team to request garbage bags for non-hazardous waste.
A Containment Level 1 lab must autoclave and/or chemically treat their Risk Group 1 biowaste before disposal if it is genetically modified material and/or non-native.
This normally requires autoclaving because of Environment Canada regulations. Labs must use autoclave bags that do not have the biohazard warning symbol supplied by MedStores for their genetically modified material and/or non-native Risk Group 1 biowaste.
What is biological waste?
Biological waste includes:
- Liquids such as used cell culturing media, supernatant, blood or blood fractions (serum), etc., which contain viable biological agents
- Materials considered pathological, including any part of the human body, tissues and bodily fluids, but excluding fluids, extracted teeth, hair, nail clippings, and the like that are not infectious
- Any part of an animal infected [or suspected to be infected] with a communicable disease
- Non-sharp, solid laboratory waste (empty plastic cell culture flasks and petri dishes, empty plastic tubes, gloves, wrappers, absorbent tissues, etc.) which may be, or is known to be, contaminated with viable biological agents
- All sharp and pointed items used in medical care, diagnosis, and research, including the manipulation and care of laboratory animals, which should be considered potentially infectious
- Laboratory glassware that is known or suspected to be contaminated with hazardous biological agents
Packaging and treatment
Materials contaminated with hazardous biological agents must be collected in the appropriate containers and sterilized or disinfected before disposal.
In addition to the general packaging requirements outlined in Section 4, the specific requirements below for biological waste must be followed.
Collect liquids in leak-proof containers such as flasks or bottles.
Liquid waste containers designed to withstand autoclaving temperatures must be used when steam sterilization is used to treat the biohazardous liquid. To allow pressure equalization, they must not be sealed.
Non-sharp, solid laboratory waste (empty plastic cell culture flasks and petri dishes, agar plates, empty plastic tubes, gloves, wrappers, absorbent tissues, etc.), which may be, or is known to be, contaminated with viable biological agents, should be collected in a yellow bio waste plastic 20-litre pail. These plastic pails display the biohazard warning symbol.
To request these pails, please contact the Environmental Protection Services team.
For laboratories generating large volumes of risk group 1 agar gel in disposable petri dishes and tubes requiring sterilization:
Such waste should be double bagged in autoclave bags that do not have the biohazardous warning symbol. The bags should be put into an autoclavable pan or basin during the autoclave process. This will contain any agar that leaks from the bags during sterilization.
Any waste that has been autoclaved in Autoclave bags at the university must be double bagged, twist-tied or taped shut. Both the biosafety certificate number and room number must be marked visibly on them before they can be collected.
When necessary or for safety reasons, inactivate the biological agents by using either chemical disinfection or steam sterilization procedures.
Although chemical disinfectants play a useful role in many situations where decontamination is required, when they are used to sterilize waste, the principal investigator must assure the U of T Institutional Biosafety and Biosecurity Committee that the routines and methods achieve the desired objective. See bleach as a disinfectant.
Autoclaving (steam sterilization) is the preferred (and generally regarded as the most reliable) method of sterilizing biological waste. Depending on the volume of waste to be sterilized, it may be necessary to extend the duration of exposure to high-temperature steam under pressure.
Steam sterilization is not recommended for laboratory waste contaminated with or containing a combination of viable biological agents and significant amounts of hazardous chemical or radioactive materials. Consult Section 5.4 for procedures.
Containers of liquid waste must be placed into an autoclavable tray or pan of sufficient capacity to contain all liquid in the event of vessel failure or breakage inside the autoclave chamber. Use extreme caution when handling autoclaved liquids since they are hot and may boil over.
Autoclavable bags of solid waste should be closed but not sealed airtight to allow steam penetration before they are placed into the autoclave chamber. After autoclaving and cooling, these bags of autoclaved waste must be double bagged, twist-tied or taped shut and both the biosafety certificate number and room number marked visibly on them.
Never autoclave yellow bio waste plastic 20-litre pails as it will damage the autoclave and ruin the integrity of the pail.
Labeling
To be collected, all filled yellow bio waste plastic 20-litre pails must have legibly and accurately written on the pail lid:
- The lab’s biosafety certificate number
- The lab’s room number
To be collected, all filled bio waste bags must have legibly and accurately written on the side:
- The lab’s biosafety certificate number
- The lab’s room number
Storage and disposal
Following steam sterilization or chemical disinfection, innocuous liquids may be disposed of via the laboratory drainage system. Flush with enough clean water to purge the drain immediately after disposal of all liquids.
Hazardous chemicals and radioisotopes must not be disposed of in this manner!
Do not pour melted agar into the sink or floor drains. Allow it to cool and solidify for disposal as bio waste unless produced in a Containment Level 1 lab, where it can be placed with non-hazardous waste. However, Containment Level 1 labs should use autoclave bags that do not have the biohazardous warning symbol. These autoclave bags are available from Medstores.
Biowaste collection schedule
Special pick-up and disposal of untreated biological laboratory waste
U of T has negotiated a contract with a commercial firm licensed to remove and transport biologically contaminated laboratory waste to a designated disposal site for steam sterilization and shredding.
Environmental protection technicians collect directly from the labs; therefore, don’t leave pails in hallways or corridors. They should be kept in your lab until collected.
Ensure all information on the biowaste container is completed, or the pail will not be collected.
Getting support
If you have questions, please contact the Environmental Protection Services team.
For more information about procedures for biological labs, you can also visit the biosafety program website.
Chemical waste management
Chemical waste is not treated on campus; the majority are recycled. Of the organic waste produced, 100% is recycled through various industrial processes. Depending on the composition, 50 to 75% of inorganic chemical waste is also recycled. Those chemicals that cannot be recycled are treated by external contractors.
What is chemical waste?
Chemical waste includes solids, liquids or gases containing or contaminated with any of the following:
- flammable solvents (for example, acetone, alcohols, acetonitrile)
- leachate toxic materials (for example, heavy metals, pesticides)
- corrosives (for example, hydrochloric acid, potassium hydroxide pellets)
- reactives such as oxidizers, cyanides, sulphides, explosives, unstable materials and water-reactive materials (for example, sodium metal, benzoyl peroxide)
- toxic materials, including mutagenic, carcinogenic, acute or chronic toxicity materials (for example, chloroform, ethidium bromide)
- polychlorinated biphenyls (> 50 ppm concentration)
- non-returnable gas cylinders
Packaging chemical waste
In addition to the general packaging requirements outlined in Section 4, these specific requirements for chemical waste must be followed:
Never mix incompatible materials in a single container (see Section 5.2.4.1).
Wastes must be stored in containers compatible with the chemicals stored. For example, hydrofluoric acid waste must not be stored in glass containers, corrosive chemicals must not be stored in metal containers, etc.
Solvent safety cans should be used to collect and temporarily store large volumes (10-20 litres) of flammable organic waste solvents. The researcher is responsible for providing these cans to the laboratory. Cans submitted for disposal will be emptied and returned promptly to the laboratory if identified with the building and laboratory room number. This occurs at Lash Miller Chemical Laboratories only.
Do not insert precipitates, solids or other non-fluid wastes into safety cans.
Package halogenated and non-halogenated solvents separately, if possible. The university pays a premium for disposing of halogenated solvents (for example, chloroform and carbon tetrachloride).
Do not package solid chemical waste into biohazard bags, because this incorrectly indicates a hazard that is not present.
Buildings with central waste storage have drums for contaminated glass and plastic. Lab staff can empty their containers into these drums (see picture below). No chemical liquids or dry chemical powders should be placed in these drums. Caps should be removed from contaminated bottles before being placed in the drums to show they do not contain chemical liquids.
Labeling chemical waste
In addition to the general labelling requirements outlined in Section 4, these specific requirements for chemical waste must be followed:
Attach a chemical waste label directly to the waste container. Chemical waste labels are available free of charge from the Environmental Protection Services team.
All information requested on the chemical waste label should be provided. Chemical generic names of the chemicals must be listed. No abbreviations, acronyms or trademark names are to be used. Vague categories (for example, inorganic waste) are not acceptable. See Figure 1 for a completed example of a chemical waste label. Download the PDF fillable version.
Storing chemical waste
In addition to the general storage requirements outlined in Section 4, these specific requirements for chemical waste must be followed:
Waste chemicals should be stored in the building’s central waste-holding facility. Should such a facility be unavailable, the chemical waste should be temporarily stored in the generator’s laboratory. To find the central chemical waste facility location in your building, please contact the Environmental Protection Services team.
All safety precautions required for handling and storing chemicals will also be observed for the generated wastes.
Waste should be segregated according to compatibility groups such as acids, bases, flammables, oxidizers and water reactives and not according to alphabetical order. See Section 5.2.4.1 for chemical compatibilities or contact the Environmental Protection Services team.
Dispose of aging containers promptly. Some chemicals are time sensitive and may degrade into very hazardous by-products; for example, ethers may degrade to form explosive organic peroxides.
Chemical compatability
When preparing chemical waste for disposal, it is the generator’s responsibility to ensure that incompatible chemicals are not stored in the same container. Waste containers should be stored according to their compatible chemical reactivities. A few general examples are:
Acid-reactive compounds (such as cyanides and sulphides), which liberate gaseous products when acidified, should not be mixed with any inorganic acid (for example, sulphuric or hydrochloric acid).
Organic acids (such as glacial acetic acid) should be segregated from inorganic acids. Generally, inorganic acids are oxidizing agents, while some organic acids may be either reducing agents or combustible.
Water-reactive materials (such as sodium) should be kept away from any water source.
Oxidizers (that is, any inorganic compound that assists fire such as hydrogen peroxide, lead nitrate) should never be mixed with organic materials (for example, organic bases such as pyridine, aniline, amines, flammable solvents such as toluene, acetone) or reducing agents (for example, water-reactive chemicals such as sodium).
Note: Perchloric acid, although an inorganic acid, is a powerful oxidizing agent and should be considered a powerful oxidizer in its concentrated form.
For any wastes that require special handling, such as organic peroxides, PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) or explosives, consult the Environmental Protection Services team.
Special cases
The preceding procedure dealt with common teaching and research chemical wastes generated by U of T. Occasionally, chemical wastes are generated that require additional or special handling, as discussed below.
Asbestos
Asbestos-containing materials, such as Bunsen burner pads, gloves, etc., are disposed of by specially trained staff. Contact your building’s property manager.
Batteries
Household batteries should be placed into battery recycling containers placed around campus. Learn more about recycling batteries on campus. Please apply tape to all lithium battery terminals before dropping them off. The Environmental Protection Services team collect all other batteries (12 volt or larger).
Empty drums
The Environmental Protection Services team remove empty drums (20 to 205 litre capacity).
Ethidium Bromide
All materials contaminated with ethidium bromide, including solids such as gloves, should be packaged in a secure container, labelled and treated as chemical waste. Gels contaminated with ethidium bromide should be packaged in leak-proof plastic containers (no garbage bags) and disposed of as chemical waste.
Explosives
Do not handle explosive materials. Examples of explosives include materials such as trinitrated compounds (for example, TNT), dry picric acid (<20% by weight water content), fulminated mercury and heavy metal azides (for example, lead azide). These materials require special handling for disposal. These materials must be checked frequently for signs of deterioration and aging. These signs include ‘sweating’ of a container, bulging, crystal formation around the cap, etc. Deteriorating explosive materials are potentially more dangerous to handle than new explosives. Inform the Environmental Protection Services team immediately.
Gas cylinders
Follow our gas cylinder waste procedures.
Mercury thermometers
Mercury thermometers for disposal should be treated as chemical waste. Broken thermometers should be considered contaminated, and all free liquid mercury should be collected and packaged in a leak-proof container, together with all contaminated solids such as glassware, gloves used during the clean-up, etc.
Paint cans
Expired or spent paint cans are normally disposed of as chemical waste.
Peroxidizable compounds
These materials should be ordered in small quantities (less than six months’ supply) and dated when the container has been opened. Even if a commercial inhibitor has been added by the manufacturer, organic peroxide formation can begin within six months following exposure to air. Ordering smaller quantities and reducing the volume of these materials in storage encourages the quick turnover of inventory and reduces the likelihood of peroxide formation. Organic peroxides are explosive.
The following materials are potential organic peroxide formers:
- acetal
- decahydronapthalene
- dicyclopentadiene
- diethylene glycol
- dioxane
- ether isopropyl ether
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
Follow our PCB waste procedures.
Chemical waste collection schedule
Plan ahead when disposing of chemical waste materials. To arrange chemical waste collection, contact the Environmental Protection Services team.
Waste collection is done on a first-come, first-served basis and as quickly as possible. However, with service provided to more than 1,500 laboratories on the St. George campus alone, waste collection usually occurs within one week of a request.
If a building has a central waste holding facility, the individual managing the area is responsible for scheduling collection.
If hazardous waste is stored within a laboratory, it is the responsibility of the generator to schedule a waste collection.
Hazardous waste must not be allowed to accumulate. The frequency of collection depends on the type and amount of waste generated.
Radioactive waste management
Radioactive waste activities are carried out under the U of T consolidated NSRD licence.
All radioactive waste is either shipped to AECL Waste Management Systems or a licensed contractor for disposal or held for decay.
What is radioactive waste?
Radioactive waste includes:
- Surplus radioisotope material in any form (for example, surplus materials in supplied form, sealed sources, etc.)
- Material that has come into direct contact with radioactive material (for example, gloves, culture dishes, pipettes, flasks, etc.).
- Materials used for radioactive decontamination (for example, paper towels, sponges, etc.).
- Materials that have come into incidental contact with radioactive material (for example, bench top covering material, etc.).
- Contaminated equipment used during radioisotope handling procedures that is no longer required and cannot be cleaned (for example, centrifuges, gel electrophoresis equipment, etc.).
Packaging radioactive waste
In addition to the general packaging requirements outlined in Section 4, the following specific requirements for radioactive waste must be followed.
Radioactive waste must not be placed in non-radioactive waste containers. Likewise, non-contaminated items should not be placed in radioactive waste containers.
Separating radioactive waste
Radioactive waste must be separated in the laboratory. Solid waste must be separated from liquid radioactive waste. Solid and liquid waste must be separated according to individual waste blocks. Each waste block has a specific characteristic based on its physical state (solid or liquid), and in the case of liquid waste, the radioisotope’s physical half-life and type of solvent. Failure to comply with the separation scheme outlined below may result in waste being refused at the disposal facility and returned to U of T property.
Radioactive waste must be separated according to the requirements outlined in the table below.
Segregation requirements for radioactive waste
| Waste block ID | Description | Colour-coded jars for liquid wastes |
|---|---|---|
| 9100 | All solid waste containing all nuclides – no isotope segregation | Not applicable |
| 9101 | Liquid scintillation vials and fluids | Not applicable |
| 9102 | Aqueous radioactive liquids for delay-decay | Green label for isotopes such as |
| (<30 day half life) | P-32, P-33, I-131, Cr-51 | |
| 9103 | Aqueous radioactive liquids for delay-decay | Blue label for isotopes such as |
| (30-90 day half life) | S-35, Fe-59, I-125 | |
| 9104 | Aqueous radioactive liquids for delay-decay (>90 day half life) | Yellow label for isotopes such as C-14, H-3, Ca-45 |
| 9105 | Organic radioactive liquids | Consult with Environmental Protection Services |
| (all nuclides) |
Solid radioactive waste
- Solid non-sharp waste for disposal must be placed in yellow bags in the designated radioactive waste containers. Radioactive waste must not be placed in standard green or black garbage bags under any circumstances.
- Any long rigid plastic tubing, long plastic pipettes or similar material must be wrapped in several layers of bench topping or similar material and taped securely.
- No sharp waste (glassware, needles and blades) should be placed in the solid waste containers. View the waste procedures for sharp waste.
- Solid waste must not contain any viable biological agents or materials. View waste procedures for radioactive material containing a hazardous chemical or biological agent.
- Non-contaminated material, including foodstuffs or food containers, is not allowed in the solid radioactive waste container.
Liquid radioactive waste
This section applies to all liquids containing radioactive material except liquid scintillation counting fluid in vials (refer to Section 5.3.5(d)).
- Radioactive liquid waste is segregated according to half lives of the isotopes. Colour-coded jars based on the segregation criteria outlined in Table 1 are distributed free of charge to laboratories for liquid wastes.
- Liquids containing radioactive material must be poured into plastic bottles containing absorbent material, which are provided by the Environmental Protection Services team for the collection of radioactive liquid waste. If the liquid is likely to dissolve the standard plastic container, the permit holder must contact the Environmental Protection Services team for help.
- Following the addition of liquid waste to the bottle, the attached waste tag must be fully completed.
- The outside of the bottle must be clean and free of wet or dried liquids, and of any hazardous biological or chemical agents. Liquid wastes must not contain any viable biological agents.
- No liquid containing radioactive materials may be disposed of through the laboratory sanitary sewer system, except for water used to wash lightly contaminated glassware that meets the U of T guidelines outlined in Table 2.
Aqueous washes
- Aqueous liquid waste resulting from experiments with radioactive materials often contains insignificant amounts of activity, defined by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) as non-radioactive. Table 2 identifies commonly used radioisotopes found in such liquid waste. If the quantity of radioactivity is below the U of T release criteria outlined in column E in Table 2, the CNSC considers the hazard to be not radioactive and insignificant.
- Any aqueous liquid waste meeting the criteria in column E in Table 2 may be disposed of in the regular drain, followed by several litres of running water to ensure that the sink trap is flushed completely.
- Any non-aqueous waste meeting the criteria in column E in Table 2 should be disposed of as chemical waste. Refer to procedures in Section 5.2.
- Activities discovered in any liquid waste above the levels in column E, Table 2, must be disposed of in the appropriate liquid waste container identified in column F, and the tag identifying the contents completed.
U of T release criteria for individual radioisotopes in aqueous liquids
| A | B | C | D | E | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Radioisotope | LS counter efficiency (%) | CNSC C-222 release quantity (µCi) | CNSC limit 1% of CNSC limit/litre of wash (µCi) | U of T limit (For 1 litre or more aqueous flush) | Levels >column E must be disposed as radioactive liquid waste in colour-coded waste containers (see Table 1) |
| Calcium 45 | 95 | 10 | 0.1 | 2.1*10 5 cpm/litre of wash | Yellow |
| Carbon 14 | 95 | 100 | 1.0 | 2.1*10 6 cpm/litre of wash | Yellow |
| Chromium 51 | 35 | 100 | 1.0 | 7.7*10 5 cpm/litre of wash | Green |
| Hydrogen 3 | 50 | 1000 | 10 | 1.1*10 7 cpm/litre of wash | Yellow |
| Iodine 125 | 95 | 1 | 0.01 | 2.1*10 4 cpm/litre of wash | Blue |
| Iodine 131 | 95 | 1 | 0.01 | 2.1*10 4 cpm/litre of wash | Green |
| Iron 59 | 95 | 0.27 | 0.0027 | 5.7*10 3 cpm/litre of wash | Blue |
| Phosphorus 32 | 95 | 10 | 0.1 | 2.1*10 5 cpm/litre of wash | Green |
| Phosphorus 33 | 95 | 27 | 0.27 | 5.7*10 5 cpm/litre of wash | Green |
| Sulphur 35 | 95 | 10 | 0.1 | 2.1*10 5 cpm/litre of wash | Blue |
Radioactive liquids containing significant amounts of organic material
Any radioactive liquid waste containing significant amounts of organic solvents or material must be kept separate from non-organic liquid waste.
Using a separate plastic bottle to collect radioactive liquid waste is acceptable unless the solvent dissolves the plastic.
Separate arrangements may be required to collect radioactive liquid waste containing significant amounts of organic solvents or materials.
Labeling radioactive waste
Information (permit number, date, isotope and radioactivity) must be legibly and accurately recorded on the accompanying tag as waste is added.
If the liquid waste added to the bottle contains organic or aqueous solvents, complexing or chelating agents (for example, EDTA), this must be noted on the accompanying waste tag.
See Figure 2 for an example of a completed radioactive liquid waste tag. See Figure 3 for an example of a completed radioactive solid waste tag.
Storing radioactive waste
Each radioisotope laboratory should establish one location for the consolidation of radioactive waste. The location of the radioactive waste consolidation area(s) should be identified.
More than one location may be used if the laboratory is large, has more than one area in use, and these areas are widely separated. If more than one radioactive waste consolidation area exists in a radioisotope laboratory, it is the responsibility of the laboratory staff to ensure that the Environmental Protection Services team is aware of these locations.
Any form of shielding material used around a designated waste consolidation location must be designed, constructed and used in such a way that allows access by the Environmental Protection Services team.
Radioactive waste should not be stored beneath any working area, whether this is used for work with radioisotopes or not. Radioactive waste should not be stored in the vicinity of personnel who do not work with radioactive materials.
Special cases
Animal carcasses
- Radioactive animal carcasses must be completely and securely wrapped and have a label attached. The label must show the permit number, species, number of carcasses, date, isotope and maximum activity per animal carcass.
- Radioactive animal carcasses for disposal must be kept in an identified, designated freezer or cold room. It is the responsibility of the laboratory staff to transport the carcasses to that location until removed by the Environmental Protection Services team.
Gas chromatograph units
- Gas chromatograph units may have a radioactive source incorporated into the unit. If a gas chromatograph unit is to be sent for disposal, the senior radiation safety officer must be notified in writing to arrange for the deletion of the unit from the associated permit. The Environmental Protection Services team will arrange for the removal of the source from the laboratory.
Gaseous radioactive waste
- U of T does not normally generate significant quantities of radioactive gaseous waste. Any process that is likely to produce radioactive gaseous discharges must be performed in a fume hood.
- A permit holder must submit all proposals that have the potential to generate significant quantities of gaseous wastes to the U of T Institutional Radiation Protection Committee for prior approval. Information on any planned control measures and personal protective equipment must also be supplied.
Liquid scintillation counting vials
- Liquid scintillation counting vials must be marked for disposal. Any vials not marked will not be accepted by the Environmental Protection Services team.
- Vials must have caps that are securely fastened. Vials must not be leaking or show evidence of leaking.
- Vials for disposal may be placed either in the original trays or in waste containers specifically identified for vials only. The construction and integrity of whichever container is used must be sufficient to withstand normal handling and contain any potential leakage.
- Glass and plastic scintillation vials must be kept separated for collection.
- Liquid scintillation counting vials must not contain any viable biohazardous agents. All biological agents must be inactivated. Refer to Section 5.1 for inactivation procedures.
Liquid scintillation counters
- Liquid scintillation counters may have a radioactive source incorporated in the counter. The requirements for the disposal of gas chromatograph units apply. If a liquid scintillation counter is to be sent for disposal, the senior radiation safety official must be notified in writing to arrange for the deletion of the counter from the associated permit. The Environmental Protection Services team will arrange for the removal of the source from the laboratory.
Radioactive material containing a hazardous chemical or biological agent
- Where the liquid contains radioactive material and hazardous biological agents, the latter must be inactivated before being released to the Environmental Protection Services team for collection. See Section 5.1 for information on inactivation procedures.
- Where the radioactive liquid contains significant quantities of chemicals, the chemicals must be inactivated or neutralized before disposal.
- If the hazardous chemical or biological agent cannot be inactivated or neutralized, the manager of the Environmental Protection Services team must be contacted for help.
Refrigerators, freezers and other equipment
- All refrigerators, freezers and other equipment that contain radioactive material, were previously used in radioisotope research and are no longer required must be thoroughly decontaminated. The permit holder is responsible for ensuring that all radioactive material is removed and the unit is free of any surface contamination.
- The permit holder must ensure that all radioactive warning labels are removed or defaced to eliminate any reference to radioactive material.
- Following decontamination, radiation protection services must be notified. They will confirm the decommissioning of the unit and arrange for its removal from the laboratory.
Sealed sources
- The Environmental Protection Services team will arrange for the removal and disposal of any unwanted sealed sources. The permit holder must notify the radiation protection services in writing of the intention to dispose of the sealed source to arrange its deletion from the associated Permit. The Environmental Protection Services team will arrange for the removal of the source. If the source is of a large activity or a unique nature, costs associated with its disposal may be charged to the department or permit holder. This includes the proper disposal of smoke detectors which contain a small radioactive source.
Sharps
- For sharps contaminated with radioactive materials, refer to Section 5.5.1.2 (c).
Shipping boxes
- Cardboard or other outer boxes used for the shipment of radioactive materials do not normally become contaminated. If the swipe test of the inner shipping containers (used to contain the radioactive materials), as received, is non-contaminated, it can be assumed that the outer shipping box is also non-contaminated.
- Any radioactive warning labels on the exterior of a non-contaminated shipping box must be removed or defaced in a way that eliminates any reference to radioactive material. The shipping box may be crushed or flattened and may be placed with non-radioactive waste for routine disposal or recycling. Interior packaging material designed to minimize impact damage (for example, foam chips, sponge rubber, etc.) may be recycled or placed with the regular non-radioactive waste for disposal.
- If a shipping box has become contaminated with radioactive material, it must be treated as radioactive waste, as per the requirements outlined for solid waste in Section 5.3.2.2. Any interior packaging (for example, foam chips, cardboard separators, etc.) must also be treated as radioactive waste.
Shipping containers (with lead shielding) from radioisotope shipments
- A radioisotope shipping container with lead shielding must be swipe-checked to ensure that it is free of radioisotope contamination. Containers must be clean and free of any obvious contamination by chemical or biological agents. Radioisotope shipping containers with lead shielding that are free of contamination will be collected separately by the Environmental Protection Services team.
- Any container that is contaminated must be marked as such and packaged separately before pick up. The container must not be placed together with the solid radioactive waste.
- Shipping containers must not contain free liquids. The liquid is to be disposed of according to the procedures outlined in Section 5.3.2.3.
Radioactive waste collection schedule
Mixed waste management
Occasionally, laboratory waste may contain or be contaminated with a combination or mixture of biological, chemical and radioactive materials. This type of waste poses a challenge for disposal. Inactivation and disposal will be considered on a case-by-case basis, as required.
Generally, for waste containing combinations of hazardous chemical, radioactive and biological agents, the biological hazard should be inactivated first.
- Steam sterilization is generally not recommended for waste containing combinations of significant quantities of hazardous chemical, radioactive and biological agents.
- Refer to disinfection procedures in the biologixcal waste procedure. After disinfection, the remaining waste can be disposed of as chemical or radioactive waste.
- Waste containing or contaminated with chemical and radioactive materials, will be treated as radioactive waste. Refer to radioactive waste procedure.
Cytoxic waste
Cytotoxic waste is a by-product of cytotoxic drug therapy and can also be generated through research. Cytotoxicity is the quality of being toxic to cells. Cytotoxic waste typically includes all drug administering equipment as well as gowns, body fluids/waste from patient and any leftover product. This type of waste must be collected in the red biowaste pails and labelled as ‘cytotoxic waste’. It will then be sent off through our approved contractor for incineration. Please contact the Environmental Protection Services team for supplies and collection.
For further information about procedures for waste containing hazardous chemicals or radioisotopes, contact the Environmental Protection Services team.
Anatomical waste stores in chemical preservative
Anatomical waste (for example, tissue samples) is occasionally stored in chemical preservatives (for example, Formalin) for storage purposes. The preservative liquid helps to maintain the cell composition and tissue architecture of the anatomical sample. This mixed waste stream contains both biological waste (anatomical sample) and chemical waste (preservative liquid). To properly dispose of this mixed waste stream, the preservative liquid must be decanted from the anatomical sample. The preservative liquid must be collected and disposed of as chemical waste. The anatomical sample must be collected in a red biowaste pail as biological waste requiring incineration. This separation process should occur in a certified fume hood. It is the lab’s responsibility to conduct this separation process before disposal. If the anatomical samples are human, please contact the Environmental Protection Services team before beginning the separation process.
For further information about this procedure or to request supplies or waste collection, please contact the Environmental Protection Services team.
Sharp waste management
What is sharp waste?
All laboratories that generate sharp or pointed waste are responsible for the separation, packaging and treatment of their laboratory waste prior to its removal and disposal.
‘Sharp’ is often used as a catch-all expression for all sharp or pointed items such as broken glassware, scalpel and razor blades, lancets, hypodermic syringes with needles, etc., which can cause cuts or puncture injuries.
In these procedures, sharp waste is subdivided into two categories:
- Needle and blade waste; and
- Glassware and plasticware (and other sharp or pointed) waste.
These categories are defined and addressed separately as the waste packaging requirements differ.
Needles, scalpels and blades
Needle and blade waste is:
- hypodermic, surgical, suture, or IV needles, syringes with needles, lancets, scalpels, blades and similar metallic sharp or pointed items for disposal that can cause punctures, cuts, or tears in skin or membranes.
All needle and blade waste for disposal must be carefully collected in an approved needle and blade waste container.
Three autoclavable, yellow plastic containers (B-D Guardian 300439, 300460, and 300466), all complying with CSA Standard Z316.6-95, have been selected and approved for the collection and disposal of needle and blade waste generated at U of T. Their capacities range from 1.4 litres to 7.6 litres.
These three yellow containers are available from MedStores in the Medical Sciences Building.
Using other containers manufactured for the collection of needle and blade waste may be preferred or necessary in some workplaces having specialized requirements. In these situations, a specimen of the preferred container must be submitted to the Biosafety Office. All such containers must be CSA standard compliant, yellow, and sized so that they can be placed into a 20-litre pail for disposal.
Needle and blade waste contaminated with or containing viable biological agents and trace amounts of hazardous chemical or radioactive material, singly or in any combination, can be collected in the same yellow container for needle and blade waste. In most cases, the quantity of potentially hazardous material adhering to used needles and blades will be minimal and present in trace amounts only. All liquids containing hazardous chemical or radioactive materials must be drained from disposable syringes and collected for appropriate disposal.
The yellow containers for needle and blade waste must not be filled beyond capacity, to prevent injuries due to overfilling. Needles and blades must never be forcibly pushed into a container.
Needles should not be recapped, purposely bent or broken by hand, removed from disposable syringes or otherwise manipulated by hand.
Loose needle and blade waste must not be placed directly into a 20-litre pail.
Empty 4-litre sodium hypochlorite bleach jugs and similar plastic containers are not acceptable for the collection and disposal of needle and blade waste.
Needle and blade waste for disposal must not be placed into office garbage containers or plastic bags of solid waste.
Biologically contaminated needle and blade waste
According to the principles of universal blood and body fluid precautions, all needles and blades used in medical care, diagnosis and research, including the manipulation and care of laboratory animals, should be considered potentially infectious.
Needles and blades pose a risk to those who use them, and needle and blade waste may pose a health risk to those involved in its handling, transportation, and disposal.
If the needle and blade waste is contaminated with or contains viable biological agents, it must be treated to inactivate the biological agents, as outlined in biological waste disposal procedure.
The designated yellow containers for needle and blade waste are autoclavable. The filled container may be steam sterilized along with other laboratory waste.
Caution: Although the yellow containers for needle and blade waste collection are puncture-resistant, care must be used when they are loaded into and removed from the autoclave chamber. After autoclaving, the plastic container will be very hot. To avoid the possibility of injury, never squeeze, push, or apply force to a container of needles and blades.
Steam sterilization is generally not recommended for laboratory waste contaminated with or containing a combination or mixture of viable biological agents and significant amounts of hazardous chemical or radioactive materials. These situations will be handled on a case-by-case basis. Contact the Environmental Protection Services teamTechnicians at 416–946–3473.
Chemical disinfection of needle and blade waste is generally not recommended since it requires additional handling, increasing the potential risk of injury. Consult Section 5.1 for procedures.
Chemically contaminated needle and blade waste
Needle and blade waste containing trace amounts of a hazardous chemical must be collected in a designated yellow container for needle and blade waste. All liquids containing hazardous chemicals must be drained from disposable syringes and collected for appropriate disposal. Autoclaving may be required if the waste is contaminated with viable biological agents.
For needle and blade waste contaminated with significant amounts of a hazardous chemical, the chemical should be deactivated in accordance with the procedures outlined in the chemical’s material safety data sheet, prior to disposal. Please consult the Environmental Protection Services team may be consulted for further chemical deactivation procedures.
Radioactively contaminated needle and blade waste
Needle and blade waste containing trace radioactive materials must be collected in a yellow sharps container. All liquids containing radioactive material must be drained from the disposable syringes and collected for appropriate disposal. Autoclaving of the sharps may be required if any of the needle and blade waste is contaminated with viable biological agents.
Needle and blade waste contaminated with significant quantities (any quantity greater than listed for select isotopes in Table 2 Column E) of radioactive materials must be disposed as radioactive waste.
Environmental Health and Safety will provide containers for sharps contaminated with significant quantities of radioactive materials. Contact the Environmental Protection Services team EPS at 416–946–3473 prior tobefore starting of any work for container drop off. The liquids must still be drained from the syringes into the appropriate colour-coded radioactive liquid waste container.
Needles and sharps must be placed into the provided plastic container. Do not overfill or force waste into the container. The collected waste must not interfere with the installation of the lid.
The container must be clearly labelled to indicate that it contains radioactive needle and blade waste. The activity, isotope, solvent, date and permit number should be indicated on the waste tag.
Labeling needle, scalpel and blade waste
No specific additional labelling is required. The yellow container for the collection of needle and blade waste is supplied with an affixed standard label indicating either a maximum safe capacity / full level or a statement warning against overfilling and forcing objects into the yellow container. The universal biohazard warning symbol (Figure 1) may also be displayed. In those situations where the biohazard warning symbol is inappropriate or unnecessary, this symbol should be covered or defaced with a black marking pen or equivalent.
Storing and disposing of needle, scalpel and blade waste
Sterilization, disinfection or decontamination of needle and blade waste may be required prior to disposal.
The filled yellow plastic container of needle and blade waste must be closed by securing the attached cap over the top opening. The yellow container should be placed with the other biological waste pails for disposal.
The Environmental Protection Services Technicians team will collect them during their scheduled pickup. If you have containers with chemically contaminated needles and blades, please contact the Environmental Protection Services team to request a pickup as only permitted biosafety laboratories are on a regular schedule. The only exception is for those containing radioactive waste. Contact the Environmental Protection Services team at 416–946–3473 but identify as radioactive waste for a pickup.
Glassware and plasticware waste
Glassware and plasticware waste is any disposable:
- intact or broken laboratory containers such as flasks, beakers, bottles, etc.;
- small glass containers, ampoules and tubes;
- glass and plastic pipettes and micropipette tips.
All laboratories that generate glass and plastic waste are responsible for the packaging of their laboratory waste prior to its removal and disposal. Glassware, plastic pipettes and micropipette tips should not be disposed of as regular garbage as they can puncture plastic garbage bags and may present a risk of injury.
U of T has a Non-hazardous Laboratory Glass and Plastics Recycling Program. Clean, non-hazardous material should be separated into glass and plastic and placed in the appropriate toter. Gloves and all other garbage should be kept out of the recycling toters. Amber glass should be recycled separately. Bottles must be clean and empty. They may be placed in the brown toters (if available) or set aside for pick up by caretaking.
Toters for disposal are provided by the Recycling Department and are serviced by the caretakers/building service workers. The orange bucket program has been phased out.
Contact the Manager, Environmental Protection Services team at 416–978–7000 or email eps.hazdisposal@utoronto.ca with any questions.
Packaging glassware and plasticware waste
Broken glassware, intact small glass containers and tubes, and glass and plastic pipettes must be regarded as potentially sharp and pointed objects and placed into the appropriate cloured toter as outline in the Non-hazardous Laboratory Glass and Plastics Recycling Program. Glassware must not protrude such that the lid cannot be closed.
Glassware waste must not be placed into regular office garbage containers or plastic bags of solid waste.
Service workers have been instructed to not remove loose, broken glass on bench tops or floors and to not remove bags of solid waste containing glassware.
Do not put laboratory glassware into the general recycling bins. Its composition may differ from that of recyclable glass containers.
Very long or large glassware for disposal which does not completely fit into a toter may be placed into a cardboard container after any necessary disinfection or decontamination. The glassware must be fully enclosed by the cardboard container.
The cardboard container must be closed, taped shut and labelled ‘GLASS for DISPOSAL – CAUTION.’
The sealed and labelled cardboard container may be placed beside other waste awaiting removal by building service workers.
The glassware must be free of biological, chemical or radioactive contaminants and liquids.
Biologically contaminated glassware and plasticware waste
All containers must be empty and placed into the 20 litre bio waste pails supplied by the Environmental Protection Services team.
Autoclaving of the 20-litre bio waste pail is not to be done at any time as it ruins the integrity of the pail.
The pail must be placed with the other biological waste awaiting removal by the Environmental Protection Services team.
Laboratories using large amounts of bottled cell culturing media and animal serum should contact the Environmental Protection Services team to review other methods of packing the waste.
Chemically contaminated glassware and plasticware waste
Chemically contaminated glassware should be triple rinsed and/or decontaminated and placed into the appropriate coloured toter supplied by Facilities & Services and available from the caretakers/building service workers.
Should the lab staff determine that the rinse from the glassware cleaning is hazardous, it should be collected, packaged and labeled as a chemical waste.
For empty chemical containers that cannot be triple rinsed because of hazard or size, contact the Environmental Protection Services team at 416–946–3473 or email eps.hazdisposal@utoronto.ca for the location of drums for contaminated glassware and plasticware.
Small, empty chemical containers that did not contain hazardous materials must be thoroughly rinsed. The original label must be defaced or removed, and the container must be placed into the teal coloured toter along with other glassware for disposal.
Alternatively, use the empty container to package chemical wastes for disposal. This eliminates the problem of finding suitable containers to package chemical waste as well as the disposal of an empty container.
Do not put empty chemical containers and laboratory glassware into the general recycling bins.
Radioactively contaminated glassware and plasticware waste
No flasks, bottles, tubes, etc., containing any amount of free liquid are allowed in the solid waste containers.
Do not put laboratory glassware into the solid radioactive waste containers or into the general recycling bins.
All free liquid from glassware must be drained into the appropriate colour-coded radioactive liquid waste container as outlined in table 1. No liquid scintillation counting vials containing counting fluid are allowed in the radioactive solid waste container.
Empty glassware, including glass pipettes must be decontaminated and free from contamination, prior to disposal as nonradioactive glassware. If glassware cannot be decontaminated, consult with the Environmental Protection Services team at 416–946–3473 before disposal.
Labeling glassware and plasticware waste
Biologically contaminated glassware in pails require the lab’s bio certificate number and room number written on the lid of the biowaste pail. If the biowaste pail contains a liner, this information should be written on the liner.
Chemically contaminated glassware, if not dropped off at the contaminated glass and plastic drum location, should be placed into a green chemical waste pail and affixed with a fully filled out chemical waste label.
Radioactive contaminated glassware has no standard label but must be identified as a radioactive waste on the container.
Storing and disposing of glassware and plasticware waste
Do not overfill the coloured toters (Non-hazardous Laboratory Glass and Plastics Recycling Program); allow a minimum 2″ head space below the brim to allow installation of the lid. Building service workers have been instructed to not remove overfilled toters and to not remove bags of solid waste containing glass.
Laboratory decommissioning
When a principal investigator is vacating a university laboratory due to retirement or a move, or the lab is undergoing renovations, either partial or complete, the laboratory and associated research areas, such as storage rooms, must be properly closed. Permits need to be decommissioned and the lab space closed so that new tenants or contractors are safe to enter the space. Planning enables the university to effectively close research space and eliminates the need for costly emergency decommissioning of facilities.
For further information, contact the Environmental Protection Services team by phone at 416-978-7000 or email eps.hazdisposal@utoronto.ca.
Permits for biosafety, radiation or chemical need to be decommissioned before the laboratory itself can be closed. U of T has established a Guideline for Laboratory Closures.