1. How to handle laboratory waste?
Good Day ladies and gentleman/ Goeie dag dames en here
This presentation will be dealt with how to handle laboratory waste,
Hoe om laboratoriumafval te hanteer.
Department Botany & Zoology, US F Gordon

2. Introduction Safe, healthy & productive workplace environment
Responsible and effectively handling o hazardous waste
Good lab etiquette
Municipal and government laws exist to regulate and control hazardous waste disposal
Everyone wants to work in a safe, healthy and productive workplace environment and it also everyone’s responsibility to ensure that it is so. “word gehandhaaf”.
One of the key elements in a laboratory set up is the responsible and effectively handling of hazardous waste.
Die onus val op u om te sorg dat die korrekte riglyne vir die hantering van gevaarlike afval gevolg word.
Good lab etiquette includes proper handling of waste.
Municipal and government laws exist to regulate and control hazardous waste disposal

3. Waste Removal Cost enormous Contractor - Millenium Waste
( Enviroserv and Sanumed)
Waste removal is arrange via USRPS/USBD
The costs involve to remove the waste is enormous and which is covered by the university and not the departments.
Millenium waste (comprises of Enviroserv and Sanumed) is contracted out to remove the waste.
Enviroserv took hazardous chemical and radioactive waste and Sanumed for biohazard waste
The department contact USBD/USRPS which will then contact the contractors to pick up the waste.

4. Waste management Manage waste responsible:
Classification/ Characterizing hazardous waste
Proper packaging
Proper storage of waste
Effective labeling
Waste collection protocol in place
To manage waste responsible you need to do the following:
First –characterization of your waste
You must know what type of waste do you have,
What type of danger or hazard does it cause
Does it react with other agents
Second –Packaging
Is the waste properly package – if not ,it can lead to spills and explosions.
Third- Strorage
Proper storage of the waste.
Fourth- Labeling -is the labeling effective
Fifth- Is there a proper procedure/ protocol in place in collecting the waste and remove it.

5. Types of waste Normal Municipal waste (general) Recyclable waste
Broken Glass
Biological / Medical waste
Chemical waste
Sharps, Broken Glass
Radioactive material waste
Electronic and computer waste
First you need to know that there are different type of waste that labs can generate such as
Non-hazardous waste,-normal Municipal waste-paper,drink bottles of which can be recycle
Broken Glass can be recycle but if it is contaminated it is handle as chemical waste.
Hazardous waste which include dangerous Chemicals, biological waste ,sharps , radioactive and electronics/ computers
I will only talk about chemical, biological and sharp waste

6. Hazardous Waste
Any waste that directly or indirectly represents a threat to human health or to the environment by introducing one or more of the following risks:
Explosion or fire
Infections, pathogens, parasites or their vectors
Chemical instability, reactions or corrosion
Acute or chronic toxicity
Cancer, mutations or birth defects
Toxicity or damage to the ecosystems or natural resources
Accumulation in the biological food chain, persistence in the environment or multiple effects
What is hazardous waste ?.
Hazardous waste is any waste that directly or indirectly represents a threat to human health or to the environment by introducing one or more of the following risks:
Explosion or fire
Infections, pathogens, parasites or their vectors
Chemical instability, reactions or corrosion
Acute or chronic toxicity
Cancer, mutations or birth defects
Toxicity or damage to the ecosystems or natural resources
Accumulation in the biological food chain, persistence in the environment or multiple effects

7. CHEMICAL WASTE
The next few slides will be how to handle chemical waste.

8. SABS Code 0028 ID & classification dangerous goods and substances
Class 1 Explosives
Class 2 Gases
Class 3 Flammable liquids
Class 4 Flammable solids
Class 5 Oxidizing substances and organic peroxides
Class 6 Toxic and infectious substances
Class 7 Radioactive Substances
Class 8 Corrosives
Class 9 Other miscellaneous substances
The South African Beaura of standards code 0028 is a system which classify chemicals in different class of hazard.
You must be aware of which class the reagents you work with, belongs to.

9. Segregate chemical waste
Proper segregation =good chemical hygiene + safe workplace environment
Only put compatible chemicals in a container
Also do not store the following near each other
Acids and bases
Organics and acids
Powdered or reactive metals and combustible materials
Cyanide, sulfide or arsenic compounds and acids
Mercury or silver and ammonium containing compounds
Do not mix solids and liquids
Halogenated with non-halogenated chemicals
When you know what class type you worked with, you must segregate your waste properly.
Proper segregation of Lab waste is essential to good chemical hygiene and a safe workplace environment..
Therefore proper segregation of wastes involves making sure that wastes within a bottle are compatible but it also means that you NEVER store the following types of waste near each other
Acids and bases
Organics and acids
Powdered or reactive metals and combustible materials
Cyanide, sulfide or arsenic compounds and acids
Mercury or silver and ammonium containing compounds
Do not mix solids and liquids
Halogenated with non-halogenated chemicals

10. Chemical Waste Compatibility (1)
Incompatible chemical waste not be mixed or store together
If it must be store in same area – separated secondary containment
Container must be compatible with the waste:
Mineral acids - plastic
Bases -Plastic
Oxidizers - Glass
Organics (incl Acetic acid) - Glass
As mentioned before incompatible chemical waste must not be mixed or store together
If it must be store in same area, the waste must be separated with a second container.
Container must be compatible with the waste for instance:
Mineral acids - plastic
Bases -Plastic
Oxidizers - Glass
Organics (including Acetic acid) - Glass

11. Chemical Waste Compatibility (2)
Take special care
Nitric acid:
Reacts with organics-heat & gas
Be sure container is rinse thoroughly
Perchloric acid, Organic Peroxides:
Highly reactive with organics and organic material (wood). May react with metals
Hydrofluoric acid:
Dissolves glass containers
Take special care when you worked with
Nitric acid – it can reacts with organics which will cause heat and gas
Make sure that the container you use is rinsed thoroughly
Another danger is Perchloric acid and organic peroxides
It is highly reactive with organics and organic material such as wood , it may also react with metals.
And hydrofluoric acid dissolves glass containers.

12. Packaging of chemical waste (1)
Place hazardous waste in sealable containers
Enviroserv supply different plastic and metal containers
Sized from 25L to 200L, plastic or metal.
Containers must be kept closed.
Do not leave a hazardous waste container with a funnel in it.
Glass bottles with waste must be packed with vermiculite into bigger containers.
Place hazardous waste in sealable containers
Enviroserv supply different plastic and metal containers
Sized from 25L to 200L in plastic or metal.
Containers must be kept closed at all times.
Do not leave a hazardous waste container with a funnel in it.
Glass bottles with waste must be packed with vermiculite into bigger containers
Example of improper storage:
Storage of waste in a fume hood where reactions are being carried out.
Always remove waste bottles from hoods where reactions are being performed.
Using metal cans for waste
Storing flammable waste containers on a bench or floor.
Storing waste bottles in or near a sink or floor drain.
Only small amount of waste is allowed in the lab.
Extra waste has be in a ventilated store room, preferably far from the labs, on the ground floor.

13. Packaging of chemical waste (2)
The container should not react with the waste being stored (e.g. NO hydrofluoric acid in glass)
Similar wastes may be mixed if they are compatible
Wastes from incompatible hazard classes should not be mixed (e.g. organic solvents with oxiders)
Be aware that certain metals also cause disposal problems when mixed with flammable liquid or other organic liquids.
The container should not react with the waste being stored (e.g. NO hydrofluoric acid in glass)
Similar wastes may be mixed if they are compatible
Wastes from incompatible hazard classes should not be mixed (e.g. organic solvents with oxiders)
Be aware that certain metals also cause disposal problems when mixed with flammable liquid or other organic liquids.

14. Labeling Must be labeled as HAZARDOUS WASTE
Should be accurate, legible and fully explained
Contain name of the department, lab group name, contact person details, content and concentration, hazard class, date
Use Enviroserv /Sanumed self adhesive labels or your own.
Waste vs. used
No old labels
It is very important to label every thing you used and more important for waste.
Waste must be labeled as Hazardous waste
The labels must be accurate, legible and full explained
Smaller waste bottles must contain your name, content, concentration and the date.
Storage waste containers must contain name of the department, contact person, content, type of hazard, date.
Enviroserv supply self adhesive labels that can be put on the bigger waste containers.
If something isn’t really waste, don’t put the word waste on the bottle but label it as “used”.
Do not leave old labels on the bottles- prevent confusion.

15. Waste classification by Enviroserv
Specific codes for different departments (BOTZOO)
Code Type Disposal Method
3A Flammables ABW
3B Toxic compounds E
3C Polyethelene Glycols TA
3D Contaminated Broken Glass TC
3E Contaminated tips, tubes TC
3F Mineral acids ITP with Lime
3G Concentrated organic acids TWC
Enviroserv has also a waste classification system for each department/ building. This is an example for the JC Smuts . The number 6 is allocated to the department and the letter describe what hazard type the waste is. These codes must be put on the labels of the containers that Enviroserv picks up. The abbreviation I , E TC means the method of destruction by Envirnoserv.

16. Storage
Select the correct container (glass / polyethylene) for storage
Use original containers if possible
Use appropriate sized container
Do not make containers too heavy to lift by the contractors
Containers must be tightly sealed and not leak
Containers correctly labeled
Container compatible with chemical being stored -separate containers for each type of waste
Do not store longer than 90 days
Select the correct container for storage
Use original containers if possible
Container must be compatible with chemical being stored
Use appropriate sized container
Do not make containers too heavy to lift by the contractors
All containers must be tightly sealed and not leak
All containers must be correctly labeled
Use separate containers for each type of waste
Avoid combining chemicals
Do not store longer than 90 days
Always remove waste bottles from hoods where reaction are being performed
Store flammable waste containers in a cabinet, preferably an –explosion resistant solvent cabinet
Do not store waste bottles in or near a sink or floor drain.

17. Collection Procedures
Pack all waste in drums provided by contractors
Ensure glass bottles are prevented from breaking by adding vermiculite
All drums must be properly classified and labelled as HAZARDOUS WASTE
When drums are full, fill in a pick-up form and forward to USBD (Piet van Deventer,
USBD will arrange for contractors (Enviroserv) to pick up the drums at your department
Pack all waste in drums provided by the contractors
Ensure glass bottles are prevented from breaking by adding vermiculite
All drums must be properly classified and labelled as HAZARDOUS WASTE
When drums are full, fill in a pick-up form to forward to USBD (Piet van Deventer,
USBD will arrange for contractors (Enviroserv) to pick up the drums at your department

18. USBD form
This is a copy of the form that you fill in, it is available on USRPS website. The form include the contact details of the appointed departmental waste officer, what waste must be picked up and what empty containers must be delivered.

19. WASTETECH Pick Up, JANUARY 2006 Dept Botany and Zoology
Container Code
Disposal Method
Type of Waste/
Waste Description
Quantity to be REMOVED with size of container
Quantity to be REPLACED with size of container
Other Comments
3 A
ABW
Ethanol- 10% Formalin mix
1x 25 L Tight head Metal drum – OWN 3A
Ethanol,
1x 50L Open head drum, Plastic 3D TC
Broken Glass, some chemically soiled
3 E
Plastic Tips, Tubes, Gloves, Paper Towels soiled with Ethidium bromide, dried ethidium bromide gels
1x 200L Open head drums, Plastic
None
Plastic Tips & Tubes empty (Chemically soiled)
3x 200L Open head drums, Plastic
4x 200L Open head Plastic drum
2x 50 L Open head drum, Plastic
4x 50L Open head Plastic drum

20. Special waste (1) Ethidium Bromide Mercury
Electrophoresis gels < 0.1% - trash
Electrophoresis gels >0.1% - biohazard box
EtBr solution- charcoal filtration
Mercury
Spilled-pooled droplets, gloves & paper-puncture resistant container –label “mercury spill debris”
I just want to mention some disposal methods of some reagents that most of you used everyday.
Ethidium bromide_
Especially used in the molecular labs, When the concentration of Etbr is less than 0.1% - it can go into the trash? –on a website, for gels with a content of more than 0.1% Etbr, it goes in the biohazard box for incineration.
Etbr solution can be deactivated chemically or by charcoal filtration -the recommended method.
Mercury
Spilled droplets from say broken thermometers are pooled and with a pipette put in paper-puncture resistant container. Gloves & paper used to clean up the waste is put together in a plastic bag and –label as “mercury spill debris”.

21. Special waste (2) Silica gel Batteries
Not grossly contaminated – normal lab trash
Heavy contaminated- disposed as hazardous waste
Batteries
Classified as universal waste rather than hazardous waste
Contain mercury, cadmium, lead, silver, lead-acid
Alkaline (no Hg) - not to be put in the normal trash.
South Africa Recycle program?
Silica gel
Not grossly contaminated – normal lab trash
Heavy contaminated- disposed as hazardous waste
Batteries
Classified as universal waste rather than hazardous waste
Contain mercury, cadmium, lead, silver, lead-acid
Alkaline (no Hg) - not to be put in the normal trash.
South Africa Recycle program?

22. Unidentified Chemical waste
Should be considered unknown hazardous waste.
Unknown waste cannot be legally transported or disposed.
To dispose them safely and properly it need to be characterised by Enviroserv which is a costly affair.
Find out as much as possible about how the waste was generated.
Please DO NOT
Pour unknown chemicals down the drain
Mix unknown chemicals with any other chemicals
Bring unknown chemicals to a regular waste pick up
Abandon unknown chemicals in the work area.
Chemicals that cannot be identified should be considered unknown hazardous waste.
Unknown waste cannot be legally transported or disposed.
To dispose them safely and properly it need to be characterised by Enviroserv which is a costly affair.
Find out as much as possible about how the waste was generated.
Please DO NOT
Pour unknown chemicals down the drain
Mix unknown chemicals with any other chemicals
Bring unknown chemicals to a regular waste pick up
Abandon unknown chemicals in the work area.

23. BIOLOGICAL WASTE
Definition: Waste generated from biologically-cultured stocks and plates, molecular material, blood, animal and plant tissues etc.
All sharps e.g. glass implements, needles, syringes, blades, glass Pasteur pipettes
Separate biological waste from chemical hazardous waste
Treat to eliminate biohazard by sterilization or incineration
Label correct, use biohazard tape
Definition: Waste generated from biologically-cultured stocks and plates, molecular material, blood, animal and plant tissues etc.
All sharps e.g. glass implements, needles, syringes, blades, glass Pasteur pipettes
Separate biological waste from chemical hazardous waste
Treat to eliminate biohazard by sterilization or incineration
Label correct, use biohazard tape

24. Biological waste cont. Animal Bedding waste Animal carcasses
Bagged – not be mixed with other waste
Labelled as animal bedding waste
Are to be autoclaved before being placed in medical waste boxes – disposed in the medical waste stream
Animal carcasses
Are kept frozen
Get an order number from Elmarie King –USBD
Department took the carcasses themselves to the Western Province Veterinary lab , Stb for incineration
Animal Bedding waste
Bagged – not be mixed with other waste
Labelled as animal bedding waste
Are to be autoclaved before being placed in medical waste boxes – disposed in the medical waste stream
Animal carcasses
Are kept frozen
Get an order number from Elmarie King –USBD
Department took the carcasses themselves to the Western Province Veterinary lab , Stb for incineration

25. Containers (1) –Biological
Biohazard/medical waste boxes
Disposal of non-sharp bio hazardous waste
Cardboard box lined with a red 45 micron plastic bag
Two sizes 50 and 142 litre-max 15kg
Seal bag with cable tie, seal box with biohaz .tape
Sanumed destruct it by high temp. incineration
Sanumed supplies a range of containers, specific for the type of biohazard waste.
This is cardboard boxes lined with a 45 mikron plastic bag –this is suitable for the disposal of non-sharp biohazardous waste such as gloves, tubes, culture plates.
The bags are filled to 3/4 and then sealed with a cable tie and the box sealed with biohazard tape. The waste boxes are destroy by high temperature incineration

26. Containers (2) –Biological
Biohazard Sharp containers
Disposal sharp bio-hazardous waste
100% puncture proof
Available in 4, 7.6, 10, 15 and 25 l
Destruction by high temp
This containers are for all the biohazard sharps.
They are all 100% puncture proof,
Available in 4, 7.6, 10, 15 and 25 litre
Destroy by high temp. incineration

27. Containers (3) –Biological
Specimen bins
For safe human and animal tissue disposal.
Ideal for wet waste
Available in 2.5, 5 and 10 l bin
Destruction by high temp
Specimen bins are safe for human and animal tissue disposal.
Ideal for wet waste
Available as a 2.5, 5 and 10 litre bins
Destruction by high temp

28. Points to remember
No bio-hazardous waste shall be stored for longer than 24 hours without being decontaminated
Decontaminated bio-hazardous waste stored up to 30 days
No storage public areas
Store under refrigeration if necessary to prevent odors
Sharps containers treated as regular bio-hazardous waste
No bio-hazardous waste shall be stored for longer than 24 hours without being decontaminated
Decontaminated bio-hazardous waste may be stored up to 30 days if the material is red bagged and in a labeled closed container
No containers of bio-hazardous waste to be stored in public areas
Store under refrigeration if necessary to prevent odors
Sharps containers treated as regular bio-hazardous waste

29. Bio-hazardous waste Pick-up Procedures
Seal red bags when ¾ full with cable ties provided by contractor
Seal Biohazard/Medical waste boxes with biohazard tape
Complete chemical/biological waste pick-up request form
Forward electronically to USBD
USBD will arrange for contractor (Sanumed) to pick up waste and replace containers as needed
Seal red bags when ¾ full with cable ties provided by contractor
Seal Biohazard/Medical waste boxes with biohazard tape
Complete chemical/biological waste pick-up request form
Forward electronically to USBD
USBD will arrange for contractor (Sanumed) to pick up waste and to replace the necessary containers.

30. Ways to minimize waste Good housekeeping Document Procedures
Maintain Chemical inventory
Centralize purchasing
Spill Preparedness
Neutralize corrosives
Minimize use of solvents
Use alternative products
Good housekeeping enables the efficient use of material and time, minimizes accidents, reduce the need for repeating experiments
Include waste disposal procedures in your documentation of experimental procedures. It makes it easier to see what waste is generated when looking for waste minimization and pollution prevention opportunities.
Knowledge of the kinds and amount of reagents in storage is necessary for efficient use of these resources – chemical inventory
Centralize purchasing if possible to avoid duplicate or excessive purchases
Spills are occasional events, but cause significant sources of waste from labs. In labs where spill preparedness is addressed, spills are less likely to occur and waste is minimized.
Neutralize corrosives for acids and bases that do not have other hazardous constituents
Minimize the use of solvents for cleaning or drying glassware- use chromic acid alternatives detergents
Use alternative products which are not harmful.

31. Information http://www.sun.ac.za/usbd/forms
Minimum requirements for the handling, classification and disposal of hazardous waste. Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, RSA, 2nd edition 1998
CRC Handbook of Laboratory Safety 5th Edition-Keith Furr
Laboratory Safety: Practice and Principles-Flemming Diane