Mixed waste
Guidance on how to dispose of laboratory waste that may contain or be contaminated with a combination or mixture of biological, chemical and radioactive materials.
Overview
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.
- Follow disinfection procedures in the biological 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. Follow the radioactive waste procedure.
Cytoxic waste
Cytotoxic waste is a by-product of cytotoxic drug therapy and can also be generated through research. Cytotoxic waste typically includes all drug administering equipment as well as gowns, body fluids/waste from the patient and any leftover product.
Cytotoxic 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 (such as tissue samples) is occasionally stored in chemical preservatives (such as Formalin) for storage purposes. The preservative liquid helps maintain the cell composition and tissue architecture. This mixed waste stream contains biological (anatomical sample) and chemical waste (preservative liquid).
To properly dispose of this mixed waste, 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.