• Red Biohazard Bags - Primary Containers for Solid Waste*
    • Solid waste collection bags must be RED in color, and labeled with the word “BIOHAZARD” and the universal biohazard
    • Red biohazard bags must always be in a secondary container that is rigid, labeled with the biohazard label, has a tight-fitting
    • Red biohazard bags are completely intact (e.g., no visible holes or waste poking out of the bag).
    • Hard plastic aspirating pipettes or other non-glass materials that may puncture a single autoclave bag must be double- bagged using the same color autoclave bag.
    • Red biohazard bags lining waste containers must fit the secondary container. Red biohazard bags must not be too big or too small for the container.
    • Do not use red biohazard bags for anything other than the collection of solid biohazardous waste. Do not use red biohazard bags to cover equipment, or to store anything other than solid biohazardous waste.
    • Discard only solid waste in solid secondary waste containers. Do not discard pourable volumes of liquid waste in solid waste containers.
    • Red biohazard bags must be certified by the manufacturer as having passed the impact resistance (ASTM D1709) tests.
    • For offsite transport by a medical waste vendor, red biohazard bags must be marked and certified by the manufacturer as having passed both the tear resistance (“ASTM D1922”) and impact resistance (“ASTM D1709”) tests.
    • Don't place red biohazard bags into clear/white autoclave bags, and don't place clear/white autoclave bags into red biohazard bags.
    • Tie closed red biohazard bags to prevent leakage or expulsion of contents (i.e., secure with an overhand knot, gooseneck, zip-tie, twist tie, or nonporous tape).
    • Close red biohazard bags prior to transport outside of the lab.
    • Do not overfill biohazard waste bags in order to allow room for proper closure of the bags.
    • Do not remove, compact, or pack down solid waste before closing the bag.
    • Treat or remove red biohazard bags that held above 0°C within 7 days from the start of waste accumulation.
    • Do not leave untreated red biohazard bags unattended in autoclave trays or on lab benches.

 

  • Secondary Solid Waste Waste Containers: Biohazard Bins*
    • Red biohazardous waste bags must be enclosed within a solid waste container that is rigid, puncture resistant, leak resistant, composed of a smooth cleanable material, labeled with biohazard stickers on all sides, and tightly lidded. Secondary containers are not color coded and they may be any color.
    • Biohazard bins must display the universal biohazard symbol with the word “BIOHAZARD”, and the biohazard label must be visible on the lid and from all sides.
    • If a secondary solid waste container has biohazard labels on it, then it must be lined with a RED biohazard bag—even if it is empty.
    • Biohazard bins must be intact, in proper working condition (no broken foot pedals) and sanitized after each use.
    • Close secondary solid waste containers when not in use.
    • Close the lids to secondary solid waste containers when not in use, even for those containers within a biosafety cabinet.
    • Do not use secondary waste containers made of cardboard, as these are not leak proof, nonporous or cleanable. This is specific to California's medical waste regulations.
    • Do not use ring stands with red biohazard waste bags. This is specific to California's medical waste regulations.
    • Do not place items on top of biohazard bins (e.g. ethanol spray bottle, notebook or Kimwipes). Biohazard bins may not be used as tables.
    • Biohazardous solid waste containers must be in a secured location (locked rooms) where only authorized trained personnel are permitted, e.g., no unattended biohazardous waste left in public hallways, autoclave rooms, or deposited outside of an authorized accumulation site.
    • Do not place items other than red biohazard waste bags in the secondary container when you prepare it for use, i.e., no absorbent pads or deodorizers.
    • Do not leave pipette tips or other biohazardous waste on the floor or bench top surrounding secondary containers.

 

  • Liquid Biohazard Waste*
    • Collect liquid waste in a container and decontaminate with a chemical disinfectant that is effective against the agents in the waste prior to disposal.
    • Equip vacuum aspiration lines with a HEPA filter and a secondary flask for accidental liquid overflow.
    • Aspirate liquid tissue culture waste into a container with full strength household bleach and add liquid waste until the bleach is diluted maximally to 10% final vol/vol. Allow the mixture to set for a minimum of 30 minutes before dispensing down the sink with an excess of water.
    • Do not dispose of pourable volumes of liquid biohazardous waste in solid biohazardous waste containers. Small volumes of liquid waste may be retained by surface tension within a disposable container, and those smaller volumes can be disposed of along with the disposable solid waste.
    • For mixed biological and chemical hazardous waste, deactivate the biological materials and then dispose of the mixture via the EHS Hazardous Waste Program.
    • Bleach-treated liquid waste is permitted for sink disposal with an excess of water. If you are using chemical hazards, including pharmaceuticals, chemotherapy agents or chemical disinfectants other than bleach, then dispose of the liquids through the EHS Hazardous Waste Program.

 

  • Sharps Waste*
    • Discard waste with acute rigid corners, edges or protuberances capable of cutting or piercing human skin in a sharps waste container (e.g. needles, glass pipets, fine wires and broken glass).
    • Do not line sharps containers. Sharps waste containers are single-use and unlined.
    • Do not recap biohazardous needles before disposal in sharps waste containers.
    • Maintain sharps waste containers in an upright position.
    • Do not overfill sharps waste containers above the fill line (typically 2/3 full).
    • Do not place items on top of sharps waste containers.
    • Biohazardous sharps waste containers that are securely closed may be carried by hand to the autoclave or accumulation area.
    • When 2/3 full, tape and secure shut, autoclave and submit a pickup request to the EHS Hazardous Waste Program, or bring it to the “Autoclaved Sharps Waste” accumulation site in Bio 2 room 4106, LSB room 2204, or LSB room 4218 where it is picked up without a request.
    • Mixed wastes such as liquid hazardous chemical or radioactive materials are not permitted in a biohazardous sharps waste container.
    • Re-package a cracked or broken sharps waste container inside of a larger sharps waste container.
    • Cover all biohazard markings and pre-applied labels to re-purpose a biohazardous sharps waste container.

 

  • Pathology Waste*
    • Discard infectious animal carcasses as pathology waste.
    • Collect pathology waste in red biohazard bags in secondary containers labeled with “PATHOLOGY WASTE” or “PATHOLOGY, INCINERATION ONLY”.
    • Decant and discard of liquid fixatives and preservatives through the EHS Hazardous Waste Program.
    • Dispose of fixed tissues to the original tissue source or via the EHS Hazardous Waste Program.
    • Store pathology waste in a secured freezer.
    • Label transport and secondary containers with “Pathology ONLY” and the biohazard symbol.
    • Hand-carry pathology waste to the pickup location used by the licensed commercial medical waste hauler in a rigid and lidded container labeled with “PATHOLOGY WASTE” on the lid and sides so as to be visible from any lateral direction.
    • Retain pathology waste stored frozen (below 0°C) for no more than 90 days from the start date of accumulation.
    • Store pathology waste in a dedicated freezer with signage on the freezer OR store pathology waste in a shared freezer with signage on the secondary container within the freezer.
    • Send back recognizable human tissues through the original tissue source or dispose of as pathology waste.

 

  • Medical Waste Transport *
    • Prepare red biohazard bags for transport outside of the lab with a gooseneck or overhand knot.
    • Close bags inside the lab before transporting to the medical waste accumulation or treatment area. Place the bags inside a labeled, rigid, lidded secondary container. Secure the lid and decontaminate the exterior of the container before leaving the lab.
    • Transport solid medical waste in a clean, tightly lidded secondary container using a cart or dolly. Do not hand-carry or transport in open trays.
    • The secondary transport container needs to be rigid, puncture-proof, leak-resistant, and labeled with the biohazard symbol and the word “BIOHAZARD” on the lid and all sides.

 

  • Accumulation Site*
    • Signage: the accumulation area has signage reading “CAUTION - BIOHAZARDOUS WASTE STORAGE AREA — UNAUTHORIZED PERSONS KEEP OUT; CUIDADO — ZONE DE RESIDUOS BIOLOGICOS PELIGROSOS — PROHIBIDA LA ENTRADA A PERSONAS NO AUTORIZADAS,” the word “BIOHAZARD” and the universal biohazard symbol.
    • At the accumulation site, bags containing biohazardous waste (but not pathology waste, trace chemo or pharma) are transferred into a container labeled “BIOHAZARD”.
    • Only Medical Waste (biohazard, biohazard sharps, pharma, pathology, trace chemo) is deposited in the accumulation site. No municipal, chemical/hazardous, radiation or mixed waste is permitted.
    • The accumulation site space, floors, and waste containers are visibly clean and sanitary. There should be no evidence of spills, leakage or expulsion of material at the accumulation site.
    • UCSB is considered a Large Quantity Generator and the medical waste holding times are as follows: Red biohazard bags above 0°C are treated or removed from the facility within 7 days from the start of waste accumulation. Red biohazard bags stored at or below 0°C are treated or removed from the facility within 90 days.
    • All biohazard waste containers must be in a secured location where only trained personnel are permitted. Do not leave solid biohazardous waste bags unattended in public hallways, autoclave rooms, or otherwise outside of an authorized accumulation site.

 

  • Onsite Medical Waste Treatment Documentation for Annual Review*
    • Records of Attainment, i.e., the print outs or analog graph papers that have recorded the temperature and autoclave run duration, indicating treatment for at least 30 minutes and 121 degrees Celsius. Please hold onto these for 2 years.
    • Monthly spore test results; the person responsible for this test varies by autoclave
    • Annual calibration records for the autoclave for the current and previous year
    • Annual training records for those operating the autoclave

 

  • Offsite Medical Waste Treatment Documentation for Annual Review*
    • Tracking documents will be collated by building and/or pick up site and provided to CDPH by the Biosafety Officer.
    • For offsite transport, biohazard bags must be marked and certified by the manufacturer as having passed both the tear resistance (ASTM D1922) and impact resistance (ASTM D1709) tests. Smaller bags that lack this wording must be placed into larger bags with the wording before they are deposited in the accumulation bin.

 

  • Pharmaceutical and Trace Chemotherapy Waste*
    • Dispose of pharmaceutical waste that isn't a Controlled Substance through the EHS Hazardous Waste Program.
    • Dispense and/or inject pharmaceutical waste that is pre-loaded in sharps into a pharmaceutical waste vial, or dispose of the sharps and pharmaceutical waste in a rigid and lidded sharps waste container that is labeled for pharmaceutical waste and sent out through the EHS Hazardous Waste Program.
    • Dispose of chemotherapy agents that can be scraped or poured as chemical hazardous waste through the EHS Hazardous Waste Program.
    • Segregate trace chemotherapy and pharmaceutical sharps waste from biohazardous sharps waste.
    • Dispose of trace chemotherapy and pharmaceutical waste within 9 months.