Laboratory hazardous waste management and disposal manual

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 contact the Environmental Protection Services team.

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 safely handle, 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 in this manual 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)
  • Environmental Protection Act (Canada)
  • Environmental Contaminants Act (Canada)
    • Guidelines for the Management of PCB Wastes
  • Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act (Canada)
  • Guideline C-4: The Management of Biomedical Waste in Ontario
  • 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:

Responsibilities

Waste generator and department

  • Preplanning experiments to include the provision for handling of hazardous wastes that will be generated.
  • 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.
  • 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 them into their teaching and research lab processes.

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 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
  • 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. The following practices can help to reduce the accumulation of hazardous materials in labs:

  • 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. 
  • Implement the Central Chemical Inventory Management System (HECHMET) into your lab operations.
  • Ensure that all samples and containers are properly identified with the appropriate scientific name. Refrain from using codes, acronyms and trademark names when possible. Analysis of unidentified containers is costly, and disposal of these containers is illegal under WHMIS legislation. 
  • Do not mix hazardous with non-hazardous waste. This contaminates the non-hazardous 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 (for example, cold rooms), the research director, principal investigator or researcher should take responsibility for the disposal of their 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 the Specific Waste Management Requirements section of this manual for waste-specific labelling, packaging and storage requirements.

The waste generator bears the primary responsibility for proper packaging and labelling of their hazardous waste.

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 for disposal.

Packaging laboratory hazardous waste

The researcher is responsible for providing waste containers for the laboratory generating chemical waste. In some situations, the Environmental Protection Services team can provide 20L plastic pails for solid and liquid chemical waste. The EPS team does provide containers to researchers generating radioactive and biological wastes. A limited number of 205L drums are available to researchers for chemical wastes such as waste oils and chemically contaminated glass and plastic. 

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. This reduces 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, non-hazardous laboratory glass and plastics) must not be placed in the hazardous waste containers the Environmental Protection Services team provides. Contact waste management and recycling for information about how to dispose of non-hazardous waste. It is the responsibility of each generator to ensure that wastes are properly segregated prior to disposal. 

Labeling laboratory hazardous waste

Waste materials must be labeled in a way that will allow their hazards to be clearly and accurately identified. 

Waste generators must maintain an accurate inventory of the materials being added to their waste containers. Chemical and radioactive waste labels are available free of charge. Contact the Environmental Protection Services team to request the waste labels you need. 

Fully filled out waste labels must be affixed to hazardous waste containers for disposal to occur.

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 must be listed. For biological and radioactive waste, a permit number must be listed on the waste container. 

The Environmental Protection Services team relies on properly labeled waste 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.

Hazardous waste containers stored in laboratories should be periodically inspected for degradation and 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. This practice 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 dangers of drain disposal of hazardous wastes. 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 biohazardous waste is contaminated with chemical and/or radioactive materials, refer to the Mixed Waste Management section of this manual. 

If your lab waste contains sharp or pointed waste, refer to the Sharp Waste Management section of this manual.

Biological Containment Level 2 labs

These biological waste procedures apply to Biological Containment Level 2 or greater laboratories as well as any laboratory producing needles. 

Biological Containment Level 1 labs

Biological Containment Level 1 labs are to handle their waste as non-hazardous unless the lab generates 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 contains genetically modified and/or non-native material. This is due to Environment Canada regulations. If a lab chooses to autoclave their genetically modified and/or non-native Risk Group 1 biowaste, autoclave bags that do not depict the biohazard warning symbol must be used. These autoclave bags can be purchased at the U of T MedStore.

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 Requirements (packaging) outlined earlier in this manual, 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, the liquid waste containers 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 biowaste 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 depict 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 steam sterilization.

Any waste that has been autoclaved in Autoclave bags at U of T must be double bagged, twist-tied or taped shut. Both the lab’s biosafety certificate number and room number must be marked visibly on the exterior of the autoclave bag before they can be collected. 

When necessary or for safety reasons, inactivate the biological agents by using either chemical disinfection or steam sterilization procedures.

Chemical disinfectants play a useful role in many situations where biological decontamination is required. However, when chemicals 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. For more information, please refer to the Waste Procedures and Information for Bio Labs document.

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 the Mixed Waste section of the Laboratory Hazardous Waste Manual for more information. 

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 the exterior of the bag. 

Never autoclave yellow bio waste pails as it will damage the autoclave and ruin the integrity of the pail.

Labeling

To be collected, full yellow biowaste pails must have the following legibly and accurately written on the pail lid:

  • The lab’s biosafety certificate number
  • The lab’s room number

To be collected, full biowaste bags must have the following legibly and accurately written on the exterior of the bag:

  • The lab’s biosafety certificate number
  • The lab’s room number

Storage and disposal

Following steam sterilization or bleach 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  solid biowaste. If your autoclaved agar was produced in a Containment Level 1 lab, it can be disposed of as non-hazardous waste. Containment Level 1 labs should use autoclave bags that do not depict the biohazardous warning symbol. These autoclave bags can be purchased at the U of T MedStore.

Biowaste collection schedule

U of T has 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 Risk Group 2 biological waste directly from the labs; therefore, don’t leave biowaste pails or bags in hallways or corridors. They should be kept in your lab until collected. 

Ensure all information on the biowaste container is completed, otherwise your waste will not be collected.

View the biowaste collection schedule.

Getting support

If you have questions, please contact the Environmental Protection Services team.

For more information about procedures for biological labs, you can visit the EHS Biosafety website.

Chemical waste management

Chemical waste is not treated on campus; the majority is 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 Requirements (packaging) outlined earlier in this manual, the specific requirements below for packaging chemical waste must be followed: 

  • Never mix incompatible materials in a single container. 
  • 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.
  • Package halogenated and non-halogenated organic 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, as this incorrectly indicates a hazard that is not present. 
  • Buildings with chemical waste storage rooms have drums for chemically contaminated glass and plastic. Lab staff can empty their pails of chemically contaminated glass/plastic 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 Requirements (labelling) outlined earlier in this manual, the specific requirements below 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. You can also download the PDF fillable version of the EPS chemical waste label for use in your lab.
  • If your chemical waste is in original packaging, do not affix the chemical waste label over top of the original product label.

Storing chemical waste

In addition to the General Requirements (storage) outlined earlier in this manual, the specific requirements below for chemical waste must be followed: 

  • Waste chemicals should be stored in your building’s Chemical Waste Room. Should such a facility be unavailable, the chemical waste should be temporarily stored in the generator’s laboratory until it can be collected by EPS for disposal. If you are unsure of the location of your building’s Chemical Waste Room, contact the Environmental Protection Services team for guidance. 
  • All safety precautions required for handling and storing chemicals will also be observed for the generated wastes.
  • 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.
  • Waste should be segregated according to compatibility groups such as acids, bases, flammables, oxidizers and water reactives. Chemical waste should not be organized and stored according to alphabetical order.

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/flammable. 

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 or lead nitrate) should never be mixed with organic materials (for example, amines, flammable solvents or reducing agents. 

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 (organic peroxides, PCBs or explosives, consult the Environmental Protection Services team prior to disposal. 

Special cases

The preceding procedure dealt with common teaching and research chemical wastes generated at U of T. Occasionally, chemical wastes are generated that require additional or special handling, as discussed below.

For any wastes that require special handling (explosives, organic peroxides, PCBs, etc.) contact the Environmental Protection Services team prior to disposal.

Asbestos-containing materials, such as Bunsen burner pads, gloves, etc., are disposed of by specially trained staff. Contact your building’s property manager.

Household batteries should be placed into battery recycling bins that are located around campus. Look for the beige, dome-topped battery bin in your building or consult the U of T map for battery bin locations. Please apply tape to all lithium battery terminals before dropping them off. Contact the Environmental Protection Services team to dispose of any large, irregular or damaged batteries.

Some empty drums (20 to 205L capacity) can be recycled while others require regulated disposal. Contact the Environmental Protection Services team for more information.

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.

Do not handle explosive materials. Examples of explosives include materials such as trinitrated compounds (TNT), dry picric acid (<20% by weight water content), fulminated mercury and heavy metal azides. These materials require special handling for disposal and 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.

Follow our gas cylinder waste procedures.

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.

Expired or spent paint cans are normally disposed of as chemical waste. Contact the Environmental Protection Services team for disposal options.

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
  • diethyl ether

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 two weeks of a received request. 

If a building has a central waste holding facility, the individual managing the area is responsible for scheduling a chemical waste service with the Environmental Protection Services team. 

If hazardous waste is stored within a laboratory, it is the responsibility of the generator to schedule a waste collection with the Environmental Protection Services team. 

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 Nuclear Substances and Radiation Devices license.

All radioactive waste is:

  • Shipped to AECL Waste Management Systems
  • Shipped to a licensed contractor for disposal
  • Held for decay and disposed after falling below release thresholds

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 Requirements (packaging) outlined earlier in this manual, the specific requirements below for packaging 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.

  • Radioactive waste must be separated in the laboratory by onsite staff.
  • Solid radioactive 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.

Segregation requirements for radioactive waste

Radioactive waste must be separated according to the requirements outlined in the table below.

Waste block ID Description Colour-coded jars for liquid wastes 
9100All solid waste containing all nuclides – no isotope segregationNot applicable
9101Liquid scintillation vials and fluidsNot applicable
9102Aqueous radioactive liquids for delay-decay (<30 day half life)Green label for isotopes such as
P-32, P-33, I-131, Cr-51
9103Aqueous radioactive liquids for delay-decay (30-90 day half life)Blue label for isotopes such as S-35, Fe-59, I-125
9104Aqueous radioactive liquids for delay-decay (>90 day half life)Yellow label for isotopes such as C-14, H-3, Ca-45
9105Organic radioactive liquids (all nuclides)Contact Environmental Protection Services

Packaging solid radioactive waste

  • Solid non-sharp waste must be placed in yellow bags located in the EPS-provided radioactive solid waste containers for disposal.
  • Radioactive waste must not be placed in standard green or black garbage bags under any circumstance.
  • 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. The wrapped and taped material can then be placed in the radioactive solid waste container for disposal.
  • No sharp waste (glassware, needles and blades) should be placed in the radioactive solid waste containers. Please review the Sharp Waste Management section of this manual for further disposal guidance.
  • Solid waste must not contain any viable biological agents or chemicals. Please review the Mixed Waste Management section of this manual for disposal guidance.
  • Non-contaminated material, including foodstuffs or food containers, is not allowed in the radioactive solid waste container.
  • Following the addition of solid waste to the EPS-provided solid waste container, the attached solid radioactive waste tag must be fully completed.

Packaging liquid radioactive waste

This section applies to all liquids containing radioactive material except liquid scintillation counting fluid in vials. For scintillation vial disposal, see the Special Cases section below.

  • Radioactive liquid waste is segregated according to the half-life of the isotopes.
  • Colour-coded plastic jars, based on the segregation requirements for radioactive waste table outlined earlier in this manual, are distributed free of charge to laboratories by the Environmental Protection Services team for liquid wastes.
  • Liquids containing radioactive material must be poured into the EPS-provided colour-coded plastic jars, which contain an absorbent material. If the liquid is likely to dissolve the standard plastic container, the permit holder must contact the Environmental Protection Services team for guidance.
  • Following the addition of liquid waste to the bottle, the attached liquid radioactive 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.

This above section applies to all liquids containing radioactive material except liquid scintillation counting fluid in vials. For scintillation vial disposal, see the Special Cases section below.

Aqueous washes and release criteria

  • 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. 
  • The table below 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 the table below, the CNSC considers the hazard to be not radioactive and insignificant.
  • Any aqueous liquid waste meeting the criteria in column E in the table below  may be disposed of in the regular lab 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 the table below should be disposed of as chemical waste. Please review the Chemical Waste Management section of this manual for disposal guidance.
  • Activities discovered in any liquid waste above the levels in column E in the table below must be disposed of in the appropriate colour-coded liquid waste jar identified in column F. The liquid radioactive waste tag identifying the contents of the colour-coded liquid waste jar must also be completed.
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
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 colour-coded waste jar 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. Contact the Environmental Protection Services team for guidance.

Labeling radioactive waste

The following information must be legibly and accurately recorded on the accompanying radioactive waste tag as waste is added to the container:

  • The lab’s Radioisotope Permit number
  • Date of waste addition
  • Isotope name
  • Activity of the isotope

For radioactive liquid waste, the chemical solvent of the radioisotope (for example, water, ethanol, EDTA, etc.) must be noted on the accompanying radioactive waste tag.

Radioactive waste tag examples

See Figure 2 for an example of a completed radioactive waste tag. 

See Figure 3 for an example of a completed radioactive waste tag.

See Figure 4 for an example of a shared lab multiple user radioactive 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 should be identified in a conspicuous manner. 

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 to the shielded waste.

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

Radioactive animal carcasses must be completely and securely wrapped and have a label attached. The label must provide the following information:

  • The lab’s Radioisotope Permit number
  • Species of animal
  • Number of animal carcasses
  • Date
  • Isotope contained within the animal carcass
  • 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 laboratory staff to transport the carcasses to the designated freezer/cold room.

Carcasses will be disposed by the Environmental Protection Services team when enough have been accumulated to warrant a disposal shipment.

Gas chromatograph units may have a radioactive source incorporated into the unit. If a gas chromatograph unit is to be sent for disposal, Radiation Protection Services 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 disposal of the radioactive source once it has been removed from the gas chromatograph.

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 Radioactive 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 must be marked for disposal. Any vials not marked for disposal 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 scintillation 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 disposal to occur. 

Liquid scintillation counting vials must not contain any viable biohazardous agents. All biological agents must be inactivated. Refer to the Biohazardous Waste Management section of the manual for inactivation procedures. 

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, Radiation Protection Services 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 disposal of the radioactive source once it has been removed from the liquid scintillation counter. 

When a radioactive liquid is contaminated with hazardous biological agents, the latter must be inactivated before being released to the Environmental Protection Services team for collection. Please review the Biological Waste Management section of this manual for information on inactivation procedures.

When a radioactive liquid contains significant quantities of chemicals, the chemicals must be inactivated or neutralized before disposal.

For assistance with mixed hazardous waste disposal, contact the manager of Environmental Protection Services (gord.petre@utoronto.ca). 

All refrigerators, freezers and other equipment that contained radioactive material, or 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. 

The permit holder must notify 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 for disposal. If the source is of a large activity or of 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. 

For sharps contaminated with radioactive materials, please refer to the Sharp Waste Management section of this manual for more information.

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 also 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 radioactive waste. Any interior packaging (for example, foam chips, cardboard separators, etc.) must also be treated as solid radioactive waste.

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 as well.

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 collection. The container must not be placed together with other solid radioactive waste.

Shipping containers must not contain free liquids. The liquid is to be disposed of according to the procedures for liquid radioactive waste.

Radioactive waste collection schedule

View the 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 in terms of disposal. Inactivation and disposal methods for mixed waste will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

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 the Biological Waste Management section of this manual for disinfection procedures. After biological 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 the Radioactive Waste Management section of this manual for disposal methods.

For assistance with mixed hazardous waste disposal, contact the Manager of Environmental Protection Services (gord.petre@utoronto.ca)

Special cases

Cytotoxicity is the quality of being toxic to cells. Cytotoxic waste is a by-product of cytotoxic drug therapy and can also be generated through research activities. Cytotoxic waste typically includes all drug administering equipment as well as gowns, body fluids/waste from patient and any leftover product.

Although most cytotoxic material is chemical by nature, incineration is required for proper disposal of this waste stream. Therefore, cytotoxic waste must be collected in EPS-provided red biowaste pails and labelled as ‘cytotoxic waste.’

Contact the Environmental Protection Services team for cytotoxic waste supplies and collection.

Anatomical waste (for example, tissue samples) is occasionally stored in chemical preservatives (for example, Formalin).

This mixed waste stream contains both biological waste (anatomical sample) and chemical waste (preservative liquid).

The preservative liquid must be separated 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. It is the waste generator’s responsibility to conduct this separation process before disposal can occur. This separation process must occur in a certified fume hood.

If the anatomical samples are human, please contact the Environmental Protection Services team before beginning the separation process.

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:

  1. Needle and blade waste; and
  2. 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.

Autoclavable, yellow plastic containers, that comply 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. These yellow containers are available from the U of T MedStore 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 that have specialized requirements. In these situations, a sample of the preferred container can be submitted to the Biosafety Office to ensure compliance. All such containers must be CSA standard compliant, yellow, and sized so that they can be placed into a yellow biowaste 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. Doing so creates an unnecessary hazard that can lead to cut and puncture injuries. Needles and blades must never be forcibly pushed into a container. 

Needles should not be recapped, removed from disposable syringes or otherwise manipulated/bent/broken by hand. 

Loose needles and blades waste must not be placed directly into a yellow biowaste or green chemical waste pail. 

Empty hypochlorite bleach jugs and similar plastic containers are not acceptable for the collection and disposal of needle and blade waste. 

Needle and blade waste must not be placed into office garbage containers or plastic bags of solid waste for disposal.

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 the Biological Waste Management section of this manual.

The designated U of T approved 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 team for assistance.

Chemical disinfection of needle and blade waste is generally not recommended since it requires additional handling, increasing the potential risk of injury.

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. Chemical liquids 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, deactivation in accordance with the procedures outlined in the chemical’s Safety Data Sheet prior to disposal is required. Contact the Environmental Protection Services team for assistance.

Radioactively contaminated needle and blade waste

Needle and blade waste containing trace amounts of radioactive materials must be collected in a yellow container for needle and blade waste. 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 of radioactive materials must be disposed as radioactive waste. Please refer to Column E of the table i the Radioactive Waste Management (Aqueous Washes) section of this manual for release criteria limits of commonly used isotopes.

Contact the Environmental Protection Services team prior to generating this waste type for packaging and disposal options. The liquids must still be drained from the syringes into the appropriate EPS-provided colour-coded plastic jars for radioactive liquid waste. A fully filled out Solid Radioactive Waste Tag must accompany this waste type for disposal to occur.

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 a standard label indicating either a maximum safe capacity or a statement warning against overfilling.

The universal biohazard warning symbol may also be displayed on the needle and blade waste container.  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.

A full 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 for disposal.

The Environmental Protection Services team will collect full and sealed needle and blade waste containers during scheduled biowaste pickups.

If your lab is not regularly serviced for biological waste collection, contact the Environmental Protection Services team to schedule a needle and blade waste container pickup.

If your lab generates needle and blade waste contaminated with significant quantities of radioactive materials, contact the Environmental Protection Services team to schedule a collection of your waste.

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 Waste Management and Recycling team and are serviced by the Caretaking team. The orange bucket for decontaminated broken glass has been phased out.

Packaging non-contaminated glassware and plasticware waste

Broken glassware, intact small glass containers and tubes, and glass and plastic pipettes must be regarded as potentially sharp objects and placed into the appropriate colured toter as outlined in the  Non-Hazardous Laboratory Glass and Plastics Recycling Program. Glassware must not protrude such that the lid of the toter cannot be closed. Building service workers have been instructed to not remove overfilled toters.

Glassware waste must not be placed into regular office garbage containers or plastic bags of solid waste. Caretakers and 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 that 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 yellow biowaste pails supplied by the Environmental Protection Services team. 

Autoclaving of a yellow biowaste pail must not occur under any circumstances as it ruins the integrity of the pail. 

The yellow biowaste 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 their 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 Waste Management and Recycling. 

Should the lab staff determine that the rinse from the glassware cleaning is hazardous, the rinse liquid should be collected, packaged and labeled as a chemical waste.

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 appropriate coloured toter for disposal.

For empty chemical containers that cannot be triple rinsed because of hazard or size, contact the Environmental Protection Services team for disposal options.

Alternatively, labs can reuse empty containers to package chemical wastes generated 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 jar as outlined in the Radioactive Waste Management section of this manual. 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 non-radioactive glassware. If glassware cannot be decontaminated, contact the Environmental Protection Services team for disposal options. 

Labeling glassware and plasticware waste

Biologically contaminated glassware, packaged in yellow biowaste pails, require the lab’s Bio Certificate number, building name and room number written on the pail lid. If the biowaste pail contains a liner, this information should be written on the liner. 

Chemically contaminated glassware, if not deposited into a contaminated glass and plastic drum, should be placed into a green chemical waste pail and affixed with a fully filled out chemical waste label.   

Radioactive contaminated glassware must be identified as a radioactive waste on the container and a solid radioactive waste tag must be filled out and attached to the container. 

Laboratory closures (exit/renovation/decommissioning)

When a principal investigator is vacating a university laboratory, the laboratory and associated research areas, such as storage rooms, must be properly closed. Permits need to be decommissioned and hazards need to be removed or mitigated such that new tenants or contractors are safe to enter the space. Planning enables the university to effectively close research spaces and eliminates the need for costly emergency decommissioning of facilities. 

Please refer to the Environment Protection Services Laboratory Closure Guide for responsibilities, timelines, procedures and forms about laboratory closures.

For further information, contact the Environmental Protection Services team.