Any waste that has come in contact with potentially-infectious materials should be placed in a red bag with the biohazard symbol.
Regulated medical waste should be autoclaved. If the waste cannot be autoclaved (e.g., mixed with a chemical, is an animal carcass, or is from a clinical space), it should be placed in a burn box for incineration offsite.
- Autoclave
- Use an autoclave meant to treat waste (will have a sticker on it that says “waste autoclave only”)
- Autoclave material for 2 hours at 121oC at 15psi.
- Fill in the logbook with date, time, your name, type of material treated, and approximate weight of treated waste.
- Place autoclaved waste in an orange bag.
- Affix a label indicating the waste has been treated and write the date on it.
- Take the waste to the dumpster.
- Burn box
- Tape bottom and side seams of box.
- Line with 2 red bags with the biohazard symbol.
- When 75% full, seal both bags.
- Do not fill more than 40 pounds.
- Close box and tape shut at seams.
- Contact EHS for pickup.
