Biohazardous waste containers must be kept in good condition while in the lab. Biohazard boxes ("burn boxes") must be lined with bags provided by EHS.
Tape the bottom of the burn box with packing tape before using for waste disposal. If leaks occur, the box should be disposed of immediately. If the boxes are damaged because of flood or large spills, have them removed immediately. Damaged boxes can break open when handled by EHS personnel. Once the burn box is full, tie off the bag (using gloves), fold flaps over, and tape the top with packing tape. Never overfill a burn box. Overfilled burn boxes tend to rip apart at the seams. Do not leave burn boxes and sharps containers in the hallway when waiting to be removed by EHS. Please keep biohazardous waste in a secure lab or autoclave room. EHS can access your lab even if the lab is locked.
Sharps containers are not provided by EHS but can be purchased from various vendors. NEVER ATTEMPT TO RECAP A SHARP NEEDLE. Never overfill sharps containers. Make sure the lid stays on sharps containers at all times. Use packing tape to secure lids when disposing of sharps containers. If you dispose of your sharps in EHS bio carts, do not throw the sharps container in the cart. Please tape the lids of the sharps container and place them on top of or beside a gray bio cart, located in your facility's autoclave room. Full sharps containers also may be picked up by EHS by contacting us directly at (410) 706-7055 or filling out the Special Medical Waste Removal Form on the EHS website.; Additional burn boxes or biohazard waste bags may be requested.
Gray bio carts are only for autoclaved bags of waste and euthanized specimen. Do not place burn boxes inside of bio carts. Neatly stack burn boxes next to bio carts to await EHS disposal. Specimen must be bagged and secured to prevent the leaking of blood products. Do not overfill bio carts. Waste in bio carts is disposed of weekly on Mondays and Wednesdays. If a cart is full, call EHS at (410) 706-7055 to have it exchanged for an empty one or use another cart (if provided).
Common findings relevant to biohazardous waste containers:
Biohazardous waste containers are unlabeled:
Unidentified waste may result in injuries to employees, damage to the environment, and fines from regulatory agencies. All biomedical waste containers must be labeled with the universal biohazard symbol. For more information regarding the management of infectious materials, consult the Bloodborne Pathogen Control Plan.
Improper storage of biohazardous waste:
Do not store biohazardous waste on the floor, in hallways or in other areas accessible to the general public, where it may be mistaken for the regular trash. Waste must be stored in secondary containment or within lined biohazardous waste boxes (available from EHS). Do not overfill containers.
Liquid disposal in dry waste or sharps containers:
No liquid material is permissible in the biomedical waste containers.
Biohazard waste boxes are used improperly:
Biohazardous waste boxes are not built to contain other waste such as chemicals and radioactive fluid and may break and leak material. Only biohazardous materials may be disposed of in the biohazardous waste containers. Remove chemical or radioactive materials from the containers and dispose of them properly. Place paper towels, equipment wrapping, and cardboard boxes in the regular trash.
Biologically contaminated waste found in regular trash or glass recycling:
Broken glassware boxes must be lined with durable plastic bags. The boxes may only be used for the disposal of noninfectious, noncontaminated glassware. No biohazardous, chemical or radioactive materials can go into these containers. Paper towels, gloves, and other debris must be placed in the regular trash. Gloves, used paper towels, contaminated Petri dishes, etc., should not be disposed of in broken glassware boxes.
For the proper management of these waste streams, please consult the Special Medical Waste web page.