Waste Disposal
Guidelines for waste Disposal
Within the division there are six types of bins each of which should be used for the disposal of different waste material. The following guidelines are intended to clarify the situation:
Grey Microbiological Waste Bins
These bins are designed for the disposal of microbiological waste, such as bacterial agar plates, and cell culture waste material.
These bins are designed for the disposal of microbiological waste, such as bacterial agar plates, and cell culture waste material.
Yellow Bags
These are plastic bags that the cleaner removes daily. They are for the disposal of laboratory waste paper, empty eppendorf tubes, gloves and other general laboratory waste. They should never be used for the disposal of sharps. Liquid waste should also NOT be placed in these bins to prevent possible exposure of the cleaner to waste.
These are plastic bags that the cleaner removes daily. They are for the disposal of laboratory waste paper, empty eppendorf tubes, gloves and other general laboratory waste. They should never be used for the disposal of sharps. Liquid waste should also NOT be placed in these bins to prevent possible exposure of the cleaner to waste.
Yellow Limb Bins
Contrary to popular opinion, these bins are NOT for the disposal of sharps of any type. No scalpels, no needles, no broken glass plates should be placed in these bins. They should NOT be used for the disposal of the small sharps bins (see below) when the latter are full. Limb bins should NOT be over filled.
Contrary to popular opinion, these bins are NOT for the disposal of sharps of any type. No scalpels, no needles, no broken glass plates should be placed in these bins. They should NOT be used for the disposal of the small sharps bins (see below) when the latter are full. Limb bins should NOT be over filled.
A three-quarters full limb bin should be sealed and a replacement obtained.
These bins ARE for the disposal of pipette tips, plastic disposable pipettes and may also be employed for the disposal of liquid waste, if sealed in a 15-50ml screw-top tube. Small quantities of polymerised acrylamide are also suitable for disposal in these bins if sealed.
Paper waste, gloves, etc should not be put in these bins either.
Sharps Bins
Within the labs, we have two types of sharps bins:
Within the labs, we have two types of sharps bins:
a) Small, "holster" like bins with a flip top lid that are re-sealable
b) Large, yellow sharps bins with slide across red lids
Both of these bins are suitable for the disposal of needles, scalpel blades, glass Pasteur pipettes, etc. Neither are suitable for the disposal of large plastic pipettes as they DO NOT FIT - no matter how hard you try. When three-quarters full, sharps bins should be sealed and can be collected in the same manner as a "full" Limb bin.
Broken Glass Bin
This is a black plastic dustbin or wheelie bin. It is for the disposal of broken glass and empty glass bottles (including "winchester" type bottles). Bottles should be rinsed before placing in the bin.
This is a black plastic dustbin or wheelie bin. It is for the disposal of broken glass and empty glass bottles (including "winchester" type bottles). Bottles should be rinsed before placing in the bin.
Office Black Bags
These are for the disposal of office waste only. No laboratory waste should ever be placed in these bins for the protection of the cleaning staff.
These are for the disposal of office waste only. No laboratory waste should ever be placed in these bins for the protection of the cleaning staff.