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THE
ORCBS > Hazardous
Waste
> Programs & Guidelines
> Waste Disposal Guide >
 Biohazardous
Waste
At Michigan
State University the term biohazardous waste is used to describe
different types of waste that might include infectious agents. Generally
speaking, infectious agents are classified in four risk groups with
risk group 1 being of no or very low risk and risk group 4 being
of high risk to the individual and the community. With the exception
of risk group 4, all others are used at MSU (predominantly risk
group 1 and 2 agents).
To provide for
a safe work environment, all infectious agents need to be handled
at a certain containment or biosafety level depending on: virulence,
pathogenicity, stability, route of spread, communicability, operation(s),
quantity, and availability of vaccines or treatment. The applicable
biosafety level not only defines the general handling procedures,
but also the treatment of biohazardous waste. Under normal circumstances,
a risk group 2 agent requires biosafety level 2 containment and
biohazardous waste procedures. Nevertheless, if a risk group 2 agent
is grown in mass quantities, biosafety level 3 containment is necessary.
Please refer
to the most recent editions of the CDC/NIH Biosafety in Microbiological
and Biomedical Laboratories, the NIH Guidelines for Research Involving
Recombinant DNA, or the ORCBS Biosafety training for a comprehensive
discussion on this matter.
Currently, the
following waste categories are considered to be biohazardous waste.
- Medical
waste, which means any solid waste which is generated in the
diagnosis, treatment (e.g., provision of medical services), or
immunization of human beings or animals, in research pertaining
thereto, or in the production or testing of biologicals, as well
as all categories defined by the Michigan Medical Waste Regulatory
Act (MMWRA).
- Regulated
waste as defined by the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health
Act (MIOSHA) on Bloodborne Infectious Diseases.
- Laboratory
waste and regulated waste as defined in the "Guidelines
For Research Involving Recombinant DNA Molecules" (NIH) and
the CDC/NIH "Guidelines on Biosafety in Microbiological and
Biomedical Laboratories".
According to
the MMWRA, Medical Waste includes:
- 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;
- Liquid human
and animal waste, including blood, blood products and body fluids,
but not including urine or materials stained with blood or body
fluids;
- Pathological
waste, which means 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, and not
fixed in formaldehyde;
- Sharps, which
means needles, syringes, scalpels, and intravenous tubing with
needles attached, independent of whether they are contaminated
or not;
- Contaminated
wastes from animals that have been exposed to agents infectious
to humans, these being primarily research animals;
In addition,
the MIOSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Standard regulates the following
waste:
- liquid or
semi-liquid blood or other potentially infectious materials;
- contaminated
items that would release blood or other potentially infectious
materials in a liquid or semi-liquid state if compressed;
- items that
are caked with dried blood or other potentially infectious materials
and are capable of releasing these materials during handling;
- contaminated
sharps which includes any contaminated object that can penetrate;
- pathological
and microbiological wastes containing blood or other potentially
infectious materials.
The CDC/NIH
Biosafety Guidelines cover contaminated waste that is potentially
infectious or hazardous for humans and animals. The same is true
for the NIH Guidelines on recombinant DNA which also includes contaminated
waste potentially infectious or hazardous for plants.
General Labeling,
Packaging and Disposal Procedures
Currently, biohazardous
waste is to be decontaminated before leaving MSU. Most of the waste
can be autoclaved prior to disposal, while some waste will be incinerated.
The responsibility for decontamination and proper disposal of biohazardous
waste lies with the producing facility (e.g., laboratory and department).
The ORCBS and ULAR assists only in the disposal of sharps and pathological
waste including animal carcasses.
All biohazardous
waste needs to be packaged, contained and located in a way that
protects and prevents the waste from release at any time at the
producing facility prior to ultimate disposal. If storage is necessary,
putrefaction and the release of infectious agents in the air must
be prevented.No biohazardous waste can be stored for more than
90 days.
If not stated
otherwise (see below), most biohazardous waste will be disposed
of in biohazard bags. Currently, MSU requires the use of orange
biohazard bags that include the biohazard symbol and a built-in
heat indicator with the word ("AUTOCLAVED"). Bags that
meet these requirements are available in various sizes at general
stores and biochemistry stores. All waste disposed of in these bags
is to be autoclaved until the waste is decontaminated. The built-in
heat indicator will turn dark. For specific autoclave procedures
please contact the ORCBS. All autoclaves used for the decontamination
of biohazardous waste will be tested by the ORCBS at least on an
annual basis. Please contact our office for more information. After
successful autoclaving (decontamination), all biohazard bags need
to be placed in opaque (black) plastic non-biohazard bags that are
leakproof. These opaque bags can be put in the lodal or picked up
by custodial services. Biohazardous waste that is decontaminated
is no longer considered hazardous and the biohazard symbol needs
to be removed or the waste labeled as decontaminated (e.g., "AUTOCLAVED"
Heat Indicator).
Waste
Procedures for Biosafety Levels 1, 2 & 3
Waste
Disposal Guide Table of Contents
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