THE ORCBS > Biological Safety > Programs & Guidelines > Biohazardous Waste Management Plan >

BIOHAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN

Biohazardous Waste at MSU

Types of Biohazardous Waste Generated and/or Handled On Campus

At Michigan State University the following types of biohazardous waste may be generated and/or handled:

1. Cultures and stocks of infectious agents and associated biologicals, including laboratory waste, biological production wastes, discarded live and attenuated vaccines, culture dishes, and related devices.
2. Liquid human and animal waste, including blood and blood products and body fluids, but not including urine or materials stained with blood or body fluids.
3. Pathological waste including human organs, tissues, body parts other than teeth, products of conception, and fluids removed by trauma or during surgery or autopsy or other medical procedure.
4. Sharps, which means needles, syringes, scalpels, intravenous tubing with needles attached; any item that is sharp enough to penetrate the skin and is contaminated with potentially infectious material.
5. Contaminated wastes from animals that have been exposed to agents infectious to humans or animals, these being primarily research animals.
6. Wastes generated in recombinant DNA research.
7. Animal carcasses and wastes (i.e. bedding) that have been generated in infectious disease research or recombinant DNA research. Refer to the MSU Hazardous Waste Disposal Guide for information regarding disposal of animal carcasses generated in other types of research.

Segregation, Packaging, Labeling and Collection of Biohazardous Waste at MSU

At Michigan State University the following procedures are used for segregation, packaging, labeling and collection of medical waste.

A. General methods

1. All biohazardous waste is to be packaged, contained and located in a manner that prevents and protects the medical waste from release at the producing facility at anytime before ultimate disposal.
2. All primary containers (other than approved biohazard bags) used for medical waste collection, storage and disposal are to be labeled with a biohazard symbol, or the words "Medical Waste," or "Pathological Waste" in letters not less than one inch high. The preferable background color of all primary containers is red or orange fluorescent (e.g., biohazard bags).
3. All waste containers that are picked up by the ORCBS and the University Laboratory Animal Resources (ULAR) should be labeled with a MSU Materials Pick Up Tag (Waste tag) in accordance with the MSU Hazardous Waste Disposal Guide.

B. Waste Type-Specific Management Methods

1. All liquid cultures and stocks of materials contaminated with an infectious agent and associated biologicals, including laboratory waste, biological production wastes, discarded live and attenuated vaccines, shall be stored in closable, puncture-resistant containers and decontaminated by autoclaving. After autoclaving, liquid decontaminated waste can be disposed of in a sanitary sewer if no other hazardous materials are present (e.g., chemicals and/or radioactive materials). For information on the special treatment of radioactive biohazardous waste, contact the ORCBS at 355-0153.
2. All solid cultures and stocks of materials contaminated with an infectious agent, culture dishes and related devices other than sharps, can be stored in leak-proof, biohazard bags prior to decontamination. If rupture of bags, or leakage is possible, the use of a secondary leak-proof container or bag is advised.
3. Biohazardous wastes, with the exception of liquids and sharps, that have been decontaminated by autoclaving, may be disposed of in the lodal (dumpster) if they are securely packaged in leak-proof containers and the biohazard warning labels have been removed or the container is clearly labeled as decontaminated biohazardous waste. Decontaminated waste in biohazard bags with an "Autoclaved" bag indicator must be placed inside a non see-through (opaque) plastic bag or other secondary non-transparent container (box) prior to disposal in the lodal. It is imperative that the waste is sufficiently autoclaved (darkening of the indicator) prior to disposal. Only biohazard bags with the "AUTOCLAVED" indicator are currently approved by MSU. These bags are available from MSU General Stores or MSU Biochemistry Stores.
4. All blood and blood products and body fluids shall be disposed of by one of the following methods:
   • Flushing down a sanitary sewer;
   • Decontaminated by autoclaving and disposed of in the landfill.
5. Human pathological waste shall be cremated or buried in a cemetery. Small pieces of tissue and fluids shall be ground until rendered unrecognizable and flushed down a sanitary sewer or incinerated. For disposal of animal waste (carcasses or tissue), refer to the MSU Hazardous Waste Disposal Guide.
6. Sharps shall be disposed of by incineration. Place discarded needles and syringes into an approved MSU sharps container. An approved sharps container is one that is leakproof, puncture-resistant, closable, bears the biohazard symbol and is manufactured as a sharps container. Sharps containers used on campus should also be labeled with the ORCBS "SHARPS" label to facilitate proper treatment and disposal of containers. Do not clip, bend, break, or recap sharps. A sharps container must be permanently closed and disposed of through the ORCBS when:
   • It is ¾ full, or
   • Within 90 days of the date that the first sharp was placed in it,

   whichever comes first. For pick-up request, refer to the MSU Hazardous Waste Disposal Guide.

7. Animal waste contaminated with organisms infectious to humans shall be collected in biohazard bags or other leak-proof containers labeled with a biohazard sticker and disposed of by incineration.
8. Animal carcasses generated in infectious disease research or recombinant DNA research will be stored in leak-proof containers labeled with a biohazard sticker and disposed of by incineration.
9. Wastes generated in recombinant DNA research will be stored, treated and disposed of in the same manner as comparable waste types (i.e. liquid, solid, sharps) generated in infectious disease research.

Methods of On-Site or Off-Site Storage

Biohazardous waste cannot be stored on the premises for more than 90 days. All containers and equipment (e.g., refrigerators) used for storage shall be labeled with the biohazard sticker or the words medical waste, or pathological waste in letters not less than one inch high. The preferable background color of all primary medical waste containers is red or orange fluorescent (e.g., biohazard bags).

Methods of On-Site or Off-Site Storage

Biohazardous waste cannot be stored on the premises for more than 90 days. All containers and equipment (e.g., refrigerators) used for storage shall be labeled with the biohazard sticker or the words medical waste, or pathological waste in letters not less than one inch high. The preferable background color of all primary medical waste containers is red or orange fluorescent (e.g., biohazard bags).

Exposure Minimization Methods for Employees Involved in Biohazardous Waste Generation, Handling and Disposal

Biohazardous Waste Management Plan Table of Contents