Introduction to the Disposal of Regulated Medical Waste
Appropriate disposal of Regulated Medical Waste (RMW) is everyone’s responsibility, from the laboratory worker who generates the waste to the hauler who transports that waste to its final destination. Proper management reduces the level of concerns with respect to public health and environmental hazards associated with improper disposal of RMW.
In an effort to assist waste generators, Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) has a program to manage RMW produced on the Cornell University campus. Personnel from EH&S will pick up properly packaged and tagged waste and transport it to Schurman Hall where it will be prepared for offsite shipment and disposal, at no cost to the individual laboratories. However, to ensure the safety of the personnel handling and packaging the waste, we request that each generator specify the type of biohazard created in their laboratory, on the Biohazard Identification Form. This form also lists the various subcategories of RMW as well as the necessary actions needed to comply with state and federal regulations and to guarantee safe handling of the waste.
Please refer to What is Regulated Medical Waste and How it is Handled for more complete information on the various categories of RMW and how they should be segregated and disposed.
To summarize the requirements of waste generators:
- Culture and pathological wastes should be contained in red biohazard bags (double bag if necessary), whereas sharps materials should be discarded in appropriate sharps containers. Liquid waste can be treated with a 1:10 dilution of household bleach for 10-15 min and discarded in the sanitary sewer.
- Biohazardous waste must not be mixed with chemical or radioactive waste, or with other laboratory trash
- Accumulated RMW should be stored in a cool place, with limited access to unauthorized personnel, and disposed of promptly so as not to create aesthetic (visual or odor) problems
- Small animal carcasses contaminated with infectious agents (pathological waste) should be packaged in biohazard bags and refrigerated or frozen until they can be transported
- Biohazard bags or sharps containers must have completed and attached medical waste tracking tags. Please contact the Biosafety Office to obtain copies of the tags.
- Laboratory personnel must complete and submit the Biohazard Identification Form (complete the form only once) to the biosafety office at EH&S to register their laboratory, prior to pickup and transport of RMW. Please submit any subsequent changes (e.g., different infectious agents, contact people, etc.) to the biosafety office.
- Pickups will be on Thursdays from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Calls must be made to EH&S (5-8200) by Wednesday of each week to schedule a pickup, or you can submit the request electronically (Forms and Documents page at http://www.ehs.cornell.edu/).
Please complete and return the Biohazard Identification Form to the Biosafety Office at Environmental Health and Safety, and thank you for your assistance and cooperation in creating a safer campus for all.
