Biohazard Waste | Description | Storage & Packaging | Treatment and Disposal |
---|---|---|---|
Liquids | e.g., cultures of microorganisms, and viruses or infectious liquid media or broth waste |
Use a leak proof container with a lid. Store in a secondary container. Allow venting of container if there is continuing microbial growth. |
Based on your pathogen risk assessment, available options are:
|
Solid Debris |
e.g., paper towels, gloves, media plates & bench cover. *For plastics use bench top keeper to contain waste on lab bench. |
Store in a rigid, leak-proof lined container with a tight-fitting lid or lined cardboard box. Maximum storage time in the laboratory: 7 days. |
Based on your pathogen risk assessment, available options are:
|
Anatomical (animal) waste | anatomical waste infected or suspected to be infected with a communicable disease |
Refrigerate or freeze carcass in a clear bag or orange bag as applicable. For any questions regarding disposal of bedding or storage of anatomical waste etc. – contact Lab Safety Officer at labsafe@uoguelph.ca [1] |
|
Sharps | e.g., needles and blades |
Discard in a CSA-approved sharps collector (i.e. leak-proof, rigid, puncture resistant) that prevents sharps from falling out if the container tips over. Do not bend, break or remove needles from syringes or overfill sharps container |
|
Human Bodily Fluids and Tissues | Pathological waste | Use a leak proof, puncture resistant container or cardboard box (supplied by the external vendor) double lined with sturdy biohazard bags |
An off-campus incineration at an approved waste management facility treats this waste. Contact Lab Safety Officer at labsafe@uoguelph.ca [1] to be scheduled for a designated weekly or on call service for an external vendor “Biohazard” pickup (Offsite Treatment) |
Outdated Vaccines & Reagents | e.g. biologicals | Non-specific | Based on your pathogen risk assessment, available options are:
|
Biological Toxin | Biological toxins may or may not be inactivated by autoclaving depending on its chemical structure | Non-specific | Consult the Safety Data Sheet, available options are
|
Prions |
(Currently not handled nor included in the HPTA licence) Conventional methods cannot inactivate Prions. Rather, they require special treatment using an alkaline solution |
Consult the Biosafety Officer at bso@uoguelph.ca [3] for further information | Consult the Biosafety Officer at bso@uoguelph.ca [3] for further information regarding the treatment of prions |