Almost everything left at the end of an experiment is
considered to be waste. Choosing the proper disposal route
for this waste is essential to insure the safety of others
and our environment. This section is dedicated to how
you should deal with your laboratory waste. If you are
unsure of how to dispose of any chemical item from your
laboratory, please contact the Environmental Unit.
All departments, staff and students must take into
consideration the disposal of waste arising from any
laboratory based practices within the University. It
has come to our attention that a number of breaches
have taken place in relation to waste disposal practices
being adopted and the guidelines outlined below are
an attempt to rectify this.
Waste is first classified into a number of ‘streams’;
hazardous, clinical, laboratory, electrical and biological
waste. These streams are then dealt with in accordance
with European and Dun Laoghaire Rathdown regulations.
Materials which are NOT permitted in municipal
waste skips
- Medical waste and waste contaminated by medical
and laboratory waste
Animal samples
- Syringes and equipment associated with laboratory
or medical waste.
- Lab Glassware, vials, beakers etc.
- Empty bottles which contained chemicals of any
sort
- Solvents and chemicals
All of the above
waste must be separated from the ‘normal’
municipal waste stream
The above items must be dealt with by a contractor
licensed to do so.
Below are examples of some companies licensed to handle
such waste:
Laboratory Waste:
- Ecosafe Systems Ltd. 01-6239135
- Sterile Technologies Ireland: 01-4564796
- Healthcare Waste Management: 0503-34811
- Cara Waste Management Ltd: 01-2601199
Hazardous Waste:
- Minchem Ltd. 01-2804534
- Cara Waste Management Ltd. 01-2601199
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) must
also not become mixed with municipal waste. If you have
any WEEE, please contact me in the Environmental Unit
(environment@ucd.ie), and I will facilitate the removal
of such waste from your department.
It is proposed that the waste from laboratories be
segregated into the following waste streams:
Sharps (Syringes, scalpels etc)
- Biological: Sharps bins with 6.2 Label (Waste Classification
for Infectious Substances)
- Non Biological: Sharps bins with no label
Glassware
- Broken Glassware (nominally clean e.g. Pyrex):
Stored in small drum in laboratory. Then transferred
to larger 200 litre drum in department storage area.
- Unwashed Winchesters: These should be separated
into drums based on class of chemical stored e.g.
Halogenated/Non Halogenated.
- Washed Winchesters: Winchesters that have been
triple washed should be kept separated from unwashed
Winchesters. Labels should be removed.
Biological Samples
- Petri dishes, animal parts etc: Should be put into
‘clinical waste’ bags, labelled Class
6.2 (Infectious Substances)
- Microbiological samples: Should be autoclaved and
put into ‘clinical waste’ bags as above.
General Laboratory Waste (wipes, gloves, tissue
etc)
- Biological: Waste from biological labs should be
segregated into yellow ‘clinical waste’
bags labelled 6.2 (Infectious Substances).
- Non Biological: This should be placed into clear
bags, with no labels.
Chemicals
- Solvents: It is cheaper to accumulate large volumes
of solvents (in 200 litre drums as opposed to numerous
winchesters). Halogenated solvents should be segregated
from non halogenated.
- Chemicals: These should be disposed of on a regular
basis (e.g. Annually or as a research project ends),
by a company licensed to do so. They should not be
allowed to stockpile or deteriorate/decompose with
age. Details required for disposal are: chemical name,
quantity and container type.
If you have any queries or suggestions, please do not
hesitate to contact me or if you would like me to visit
your laboratory, I am available to do so.
Issued December 2003
Rosaleen Loughman,
environment@ucd.ie
Tel: 01-716-1333
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