Waste Management and Disposal

Correct:

• Properly manage used batteries by having them picked up by:
  • The wholesaler or retailer from whom you purchased the batteries.
  • A facility that recycles the batteries by extracting the lead.
  • A collection center that sends batteries to a smelter or recycler.
  • Smaller Lead Acid Batteries may be picked up using the hazardous materials pick-up request page.
• Avoid long term storage of batteries.
• Store batteries upright in a secure, covered location on a sealed surface. Check for leaks often.
• Tape or cap all terminals.
• Get a receipt from the recycling company and maintain records for at least five years.

Incorrect:

• Do not place lead acid batteries in the garbage.
• Do not pour battery acid onto the ground or into a drain.
• Do not take lead acid batteries to a landfill.
• Do not store batteries outside, unprotected from the weather.
• Do not pile batteries more than four high.

Correct:

• Recycle your used batteries by placing them in a container labeled “Batteries for Recycle”. Department of Transportation regulations require all batteries to have their ends or terminals taped or capped prior to transport. Keep the lid closed unless you are adding batteries. Separate them out by type. Then you should request a pick-up by using the hazardous materials pick-up request page.
• Purchase batteries that contain less hazardous ingredients. For example, use alkaline batteries instead of mercury button cells.
• Use rechargeable batteries whenever possible.
• Reduce battery usage. Consider purchasing plug-in products instead of battery powered products.

Incorrect:

• Do not place rechargeable nickel-cadmium, button cells, mercuric oxide, silver oxide, lithium, or lead acid batteries in the trash.

Autoclave Bags/Biohazardous Waste Disposal

If your research or teaching activities generate waste that is autoclaved, please

• Place all biohazardous waste to be autoclaved in an orange bag.
• Prior to autoclaving, crisscross the bag’s biohazard symbol and/or markings with heat sensitive autoclave tape, available from Fisher Scientific (15-999-34A) and other safety supply vendors.
• Provide biological indicator testing that meets regulatory requirements.

Landfill workers look for the tape to confirm that the waste has been properly treated. If the tape is not present, landfill operators may hold or reject the University’s entire waste load. To prevent undue disruption and higher disposal costs, we need your cooperation to properly treat, package and mark biohazardous waste.

Heat-sensitive tape or a sticker is required even if you use biohazardous waste bags that change to reveal the word “autoclaved” after autoclaving.

Do not use orange bags for any other waste.

Biohazardous waste contains infectious agents, blood or body fluids, including waste from research and teaching activities covered by biohazard levels 1, 2, or 3, or plant biohazard levels 1, 2, or 3. Chapter 10, Section 1 of the Biological Safety Manual explains the identification and disposal of biohazardous waste in further detail.

A different procedure is used to manage biohazardous waste from patient care areas.

Resources

• Sample Autoclave Standard Operating Procedures
• Autoclave Log

If you are unable to autoclave liquid waste potentially contaminated with any of the materials listed in the chart below, you will need to make application to the North Carolina Medical Waste Division to dispose of this chemically disinfected liquid microbiological waste down the sanitary sewer.

If you wish to obtain approval for chemical treatments of infectious liquids please submit the Request for Approval to Chemical Treat Liquid Microbiological Waste form and supporting documentation to Environment, Health and Safety (EHS). Contact the Biological Safety office for any questions.

To simplify this application process, your lab may be able to adapt an existing protocol. One example is adapting the approved protocol below for “Treating HIV waste with 10 percent bleach” to a lentiviral vector because HIV is classified as a lentivirus within the retrovirus family, having genetic and morphologic similarities to the engineered viral vector.

Obtained Approvals

• Treatment of Dengue virus, Zika virus, and the attenuated strains of Japanese Encephalitis and Yellow Fever virus with 10 percent bleach
• Treatment of HIV waste with 10 percent bleach
• Treatment of Dengue virus infected cell lines with one percent bleach
• Treatments of Pseudmonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus mixed culture waste with BacDown detergent disinfectant
• Treatment of Escherichia coli and Mycobacterium smegmatis mixed culture with Vesphene
• Treatment of Adenoviral tissue culture with 10 percent bleach
• Treatment of Coronavirus culture waste with 10 percent bleach
• Treatment of Hepatitis A virus and Hepatitis C virus culture wastes using Virkon antiviral solution
• Treatment of Histoplasma capsulatum wastes with Vesphene
• Treatment of Moloney Murine Leukemia Virus (MMLV)-based retroviral vectors with 10 percent bleach
• Treatment of Fusobacterium nucleatum with 10% bleach

Frequently Asked Questions

I can’t autoclave my liquid microbiological waste. Can I use the treatment procedures detailed in the approvals above?

The treatment procedures listed in the approval documents may be used by your laboratory to chemically treat the waste prior to disposal in the sanitary sewer (autoclaving not required)only if you generate liquid waste as described in the approved procedures (e.g. concentrations and quantities that do not exceed those listed in the approval).Variations from the treatment procedures including quantity and concentration of waste being generated, disinfectant type, and contact time outlined in the approvals are not approved and will require a separate request for approval. If you choose to use one of the approved chemical treatment procedures in your laboratory, please document this in your Lab Safety Plan under Schedule F (Biological Hazards), submit the updated Schedule F to EHS (campus box #1650) with an explanation of the change, and place a copy of the approval documents in your laboratory safety notebook with your Schedule F.

• Review of Biohazardous Waste Containers
• Review of Economical Biohazardous Waste Containers
• Recommended Biological Indicators

Correct:

• Use drip pans, keep lids on and repair equipment leaks to prevent spills and avoid the need for absorbents.
• Use the minimum amount of absorbent to complete the job.
• Keep absorbent materials nearby or in a well-placed spill kit to quickly clean up any spills.
• Clean up any spilled material immediately. If the spilled material is hazardous, then submit the collected waste for pickup after labeling the container properly.

Incorrect:

• Do not put used absorbents into drains or on the ground.
• Do not mix non-hazardous material with absorbents containing hazardous waste.

• Recycle your antifreeze through a recycling service.
• Keep antifreeze containers closed at all times except when adding material.
• Keep antifreeze containers protected from the elements.
• Label antifreeze containers as “Used Antifreeze” or “Reconditioned or Recycled Antifreeze.”
• Use dedicated antifreeze collection equipment, including funnels, transfer pans or buckets, and well maintained storage containers.

Incorrect:

• Do not dispose of antifreeze on the ground, in a storm drain, septic tank or well.
• Do not mix radiator flush chemicals with used antifreeze. Dispose of it separately.

Correct:

• Consider replacing brake and carburetor cleaners that contain chlorinated solvents with non- or less hazardous cleaners.
• Keep brake and carburetor cleaner in their original containers, and keep them closed when not in use to avoid evaporation.
• Manage your spent chlorinated brake cleaners, carburetor cleaners and cleanup residue as hazardous wastes.
• Collect chlorinated brake cleaner residue separately from other waste to avoid cross contamination.
• Keep waste containers closed and labeled as “Chlorinated Waste.” Request a pickup of your container.

Incorrect:

• Do not dispose of brake or carburetor cleaner down any storm drain, septic system, sanitary sewer, dumpster, or on the ground.
• Do not use chlorinated brake or carburetor cleaners in or around other solvents. Do not mix them with any other solvents by spraying them near or over open parts washers, or open pans used to collect antifreeze or used oil.

Correct:

• Accumulate all sludges and spent solvents from caustic (alkaline) degreaser containers in a closed, labeled container.
• Consider alternative cleaning methods such as detergent-based (aqueous) parts washers.

Incorrect:

• Do not dispose of spent caustic cleaner down any drain or on the ground.
• Do not dispose of caustic cleaner in a dumpster.

Correct:

• Recover or recycle waste Freon on the premises using EPA-approved recycling/recovery equipment with a certified operator.
• Make sure technicians obtain EPA-approved training.
• Manage filters from Freon recovery equipment as hazardous waste.
• Keep records of the dates and quantities of Freon recovered and recycled.

Incorrect:

• Do not evaporate or vent Freon to the atmosphere.
• Do not perform service on motor vehicle air conditioners without the proper refrigerant recovery/recycling equipment.

Correct:

• Properly manage discarded solder and dross by placing the material in a container with a lid. Label the container as “Lead Solder Waste for Recycling.”
• Keep the lid on and closed unless adding material.
• Manage rags that have been used to wipe solder spills as hazardous waste.
• Use solder made from less hazardous materials, such as silver and nickel, whenever possible.
• Request the pickup of your containers of solder and dross waste.

Incorrect:

• Do not place lead solder and dross in the garbage.
• Do not place rags used for wiping lead solder spills in the garbage.

1. Solvents used in cleanup operations,
2. Leftover paint after completion of a project, and
3. Volatile Organic Compounds emitted to the atmosphere.

Correct:

• Use paint and solvents with the lowest possible VOC content. Avoid oil based paints and paints containing metals. Use latex paints whenever possible.
• Limit your use of thinner to the maximum extent possible. Use cleaning solvent the maximum number of times before disposal.
• Try to practice good inventory control. But only enough paint to complete the job.
• Keep all paint and solvent containers closed when not in use to minimize evaporation and prevent spills.
• Use an industrial rag service to avoid having to treat solvent rags as hazardous waste.
• Contact EHS for assistance with disposal of paint and paint related material.
• If you collect paint or solvent waste in drums, keep the lid closed at all times, unless adding material, and label the container “Used Paint” or another applicable name.

Incorrect:

• Do not discharge any paint, solvent, or paint cleanup wash water into storm drains, surface water or onto the ground.
• Do not dispose of paint filters in a dumpster if you are using oil-based paints.

Correct:

• Utilize the services of a reputable waste hauler.
• Call EHS for help in determining if the sludge and spent solvents are hazardous.
• If you have not already done so, consider switching to a water-based parts washer that does not use petroleum-based solvents.
• Keep accurate records of spent solvent shipments and disposal for a minimum of five years.

Incorrect:

• Do not dispose of spent parts washer solvents by pouring them on the ground or into drains, or by evaporating them in the air.
• Do not mix parts washer solvents with any other wastes, including used oil.
• Do not use aerosol spray cans near your parts washer.

Correct:

• Keep soiled rags in a closed container labeled “Used Shop Rags.”
• Use less hazardous cleaning solvents whenever possible.
• Keep lids closed on all containers to prevent spills.
• Set up a system to limit rag use and reuse whenever possible.

Incorrect:

• Do not use disposable paper towels, wipes, or rags if the materials are expected to come in contact with a hazardous waste.
• Do not throw dirty wipes or rags into a dumpster if they have come in contact with hazardous waste.
• Do not saturate rags.
• Do not add shop rags containing free liquids to the rag collection bin.
• Do not dispose of solvents by pouring them into containers of used shop rags.

Correct:

• Make sure you understand the chemical properties of the solvent you are using and whether safer, non- or less hazardous, solvents are available.
• Use solvents with the lowest possible volatile organic compounds (VOCs) content.
• Install drip racks, pans or other devices to prevent spillage.

Incorrect:

• Do not discharge any solvents into a septic tank, sanitary sewer, storm drain, surface water or on the ground.
• Do not clean parts unnecessarily.
• Do not mix hazardous and non-hazardous solvents.

1. it has not been mixed or contaminated with hazardous wastes and
2. it is sent offsite for recycling or burned for energy recovery.

The exemption is available only if proper records are maintained. Transmission fluid and most other equipment lubricants are crude-based petroleum products and therefore can be mixed with used oil. Used oil must not be contaminated with hazardous solvents. If used oil is not recycled, it must be tested to determine if it is a hazardous waste.

Correct:

• Keep used oil in a separate container, clearly labeled “Used Oil.”
• Recycle used oil through the services of a used oil recycler and transporter registered with North Carolina.
• Keep accurate records of used oil testing and shipping for five years.
• Clean up any spilled used oil immediately. Then submit the collected waste for pickup to EHS.
• Keep drums closed unless adding material.

Incorrect:

• Do not mix used oil with even small amounts of hazardous wastes or solvents, such as degreasers or carburetor cleaner.
• Do not pour used motor oil onto the ground or dispose of used oil in a storm drain, septic tank, sewer or a Dumpster.

1. Puncture the filter anti-drainback valve or the filter dome end and hot drain for 12-24 hours;
2. Hot drain and crush; or
3. Dismantle and hot-drain.

Filters that have been gravity hot-drained by one of these methods can then be placed in the trash.

Correct:

• Hot-drain, crush, split and/or process oil filters by other means to remove the oil from the filter.
• Keep processed filters in a separate container labeled “Used Oil Filters.”
• Put oil drained from filters into your used oil container.

Incorrect:

• Do not put undrained filters into the trash.
• Do not put terne plated (an alloy of tin and lead) oil filters in the dumpster. They are considered hazardous waste due to the lead content.