If in doubt, ask!
There are several types of waste created in the labs. These are summarised below. All lab users are expected to share the responsibility of disposing of waste safely. DO NOT just leave it for someone else to deal with.
General waste
General lab waste which is not sharp) goes into orange waste bags. These should be double bagged, tagged (see below) and taken out to the store immediately.
Packaging that cannot be identified as lab based (e.g. expanded polystyrene) and is clean (not contaminated) should be recycled in the bins in the corridor. Please make use of the recycling facilities for all non-lab waste.
Plastic sharps
These should be put into the orange cardboard bins. Plastic sharps includes pipette tips and other sharp plastic consumables.
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Sharps
Needles, blades, and small bits of broken glass etc., must go into a “sharps” bin. These will be clearly labelled as sharps bins and are generally yellow plastic with orange lids. Once full, follow the instructions on the bin to seal them and put them into the orange bag or if they are large attach a waste tag and treat them like orange bags (i.e. take them to the main orange waste skips).
Orange bag waste (and all of the above)
When an orange bag is full, you must.
- Place it inside another bag (“double bag”)
- “swan-neck” it (see picture below).
- Tie it using a waste-tag.
- Record the tag number in the logbook located in the level 9 corridor.
- Collect the key from 9.133.
- Disposed of in the orange waste skips by the gas cage.
- Record the tag number in the log book by the orange waste skips.
- Return the key to 9.133. Please do not forget to do this.
You will be shown this as part of your induction.
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Broken glass
Clean and unlabelled broken glass goes into the cardboard broken glass bins. Final disposal is in the appropriate skip in the brown zone car park.
Contaminated broken glass can go into any sharps bin. Please ask if the glass will not fit into the sharps bins.
Empty chemical bottles
Bottles for liquids
Once plastic 2.5 L chemical bottles are empty, ensure the labels are unreadable and rinse three times with tap water. Place in the stock room (9.132) to be reused for waste.
Glass bottles are placed in the stock room for recycling and/or reuse for solvent or halogenated waste.
When using bottles to store waste please ensure that you check that plastic is suitable for your waste. You may need a glass one, e.g. for halogenated waste.
Containers for solids
Once they are empty, ensure the labels are unreadable and rinse three times with tap water. Then place in the appropriate recycling bin.
Liquid chemical waste
Only dispose of chemical waste down the sink if your COSHH assessment permits you to do so. Only use a fume cupboard sink and ensure that it is flushed with copious amounts of water. If your COSHH assessment DOES NOT permit you to dispose of chemical waste down the sink then it must be collected in an appropriate container.
- Use a plastic container (found under the stockroom) for all aqueous solutions.
- Use a glass container (found in the stockroom) for organic solvents.
Label the container with what you have put inside (concentration and volume), the risk phase and your name and date using the appropriate form.
If you produce large amounts of waste quickly then ask for a larger container.
Solid chemical waste
Collect solid chemical waste in a suitable container and clearly label with your name, date, and concentration of what it contains using the appropriate form. Include the hazards relating to those chemicals. See the SOP if you are unsure of what to do.
Biological waste
It is permitted to dispose of biological waste up to and including class 2 materials in the orange bags. Note that this work is likely to be being carried out in 9.138 and additional local rules apply to what is covered here.
FERA licensed material
All licensed material must be disposed of via the yellow rather than orange bags. If you work with licensed material you must work in accordance with the SEE guidance for licensed material.
Written by Andy Connelly (2/9/2016)
Last updated by Andy Connelly (30/8/2018)