The proper disposal of laboratory waste is important to ensure that we are not putting caretaking staff at risk and not discarding hazardous or environmentally damaging material into landfill. A number of incidents occur each year where we find material disposed of inappropriately or which have led to endangering caretaking staff.
The following procedures are to be used for these waste classes.
Chemical Waste:
All chemical waste should be disposed of through the Hazardous Chemical Waste system. For instructions on the proper disposal of hazardous chemical waste in »ESB, SC and CSB. For disposal of hazardous chemical waste in »DNA or LHS.
Biohazardous and Biological Waste:
Download the »Biohazardous and Biological Waste Procedures.
Radioactive Waste:
Download the specific procedures for »Radioactive Waste Disposal.
Sharps disposal:
All material which is considered sharp (such as blades, scalpels, syringes and needles) shall be placed in a yellow sharps container (available through Science Facilities). Plastic pipettes and pipet tips and glass pipettes, slides and coverslips are not considered sharp waste unless they include specimens or tissue which would be considered Biohazardous.
* New Program Coming Nov. 20, 2023 Sustainable Lab Program Overview
A new lab related recycling program will be implemented starting November 20, 2023. This program has two components.
Chemical Container Recycling Program:
Plastic and glass chemical containers can now be recycled. Each Science Building will have a Chemical Container Recycling station where plastic containers, clear and colourless glass containers and coloured glass containers can be recycled. Click here to see the poster
Broken Glass Recycling Program
As of November 20, existing Broken Glass Containers will be replaced with White 20L pails labelled Broken Glass.
These containers will be placed in labs and can be used for any broken glass, glass pipettes, microscope slides and glass petri dishes (no biohazardous material). Click here to see the poster
Questions on this program can be directed to Shannon Brockbank in Facilities Maintenance.
Battery Recycling
Small 12 volt and under batteries can be recycled by placing them in the battery containers at the recycling depots in each building. Facilities Management should be contacted to deal with larger 12 V (or greater) batteries (such as those used by boats and vehicles).
Electronic Waste
Computer or equipment containing a large amount of electronics for disposal can be disposed of in two locations.
In ESC, SC and CSB the material can be taken to SC 102 and left in the shelf or neatly on the floor. If you don't have access to this room, contact Science Facilities.
In DNA and LHS the material can be taken to the DNA loading Dock B area and placed in the shelf unit or neatly on the floor near the shelf.
Important: It is the responsibility of the owner of any computer equipment to be disposed of, to ensure that any and all sensitive data is removed from the computer prior to disposal.
From the Handling Sensitive Information Policy /Operations:
“Disposal of Confidential Information--Any media which has been used to store highly sensitive or sensitive electronic information must be either physically destroyed or brought to IT for secure disposal”
Lab Metal Waste
We are still working on this program. Contact Science Facilities if you have large quantities of this material.
Any additional questions on waste disposal can be addressed to Chris Williams or Angela Sikma.