Appendix F - HAZARDOUS WASTE CHEMICALS AND BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS Handling and Disposal

Disposal of hazardous chemicals must be in compliance with local (landfill regulations), state (VA DEQ) and federal (EPA) regulations. Under the Virginia Hazardous Waste Regulation, EMU's chemistry and biology laboratories are classified as Conditionally Exempt Quantity Generators (CESQG) of hazardous waste. To meet this classification the amount of hazardous waste generated per month must be less than 100 kg (220 lbs) or the acute hazardous waste generated in a month must be less than 1 kg (2.2 lbs). Also, the total amount of hazardous waste generated in one year may not exceed 1000 kgs (2200 lbs).
Should the threshold amounts designated above be exceeded, the VADEQ must be contacted for a generator reclassification. The CHO should make the DEQ contact.
A. Hazardous Waste Chemicals.
Minimize waste generation at the source by limiting the quantities of materials purchased and used.

1. Design experiments in ways that will reduce the amount of waste that will result.
2. All waste chemical containers must be labeled with the chemical name, accumulation date, concentration and initials of the generator.
3. Ensure identity of chemical at all times.
4. Hazardous waste may not be poured down the drain or put into the daily refuse.
5. Inorganic acids and bases may be neutralized and released to the drain. The pH range where drain release is permitted is between 5.5 and 9.5.
6. Allow 1 ½ to 2 inches of head room when filling liquid waste containers.
7. Avoid mixing chlorinated solvents with non-chlorinated solvents.
8. Silver containing photographic solutions may not be released to the drain.
9. Avoid mixing carcinogens, mutagens, teratogens with organic waste.
10. Avoid mixing aqueous reagents with organic solvents.
11. Do not accumulate more than 1000 Kgs of hazardous waste or 1 Kg of acutely hazardous waste on site. Larger quantities disqualify EMU for Very Small Quantity Generator (VSQG) status.
12. Special training for waste handlers is not required for VSQG status.
13. Consolidation of waste chemicals must be restricted to materials of like hazard class.
14. Use the original, or comparable containers, as a collection vessel for waste chemicals.
15. Use EPA approved waste packaging, transporting and disposal facilities for offsite disposal.

B. Infectious Waste and Contaminated Material Containers
1. Infectious Waste

1. 1. Infectious waste is defined as a waste capable of producing disease.
  2. This definition requires the following factors to be considered for induction of disease:
    1. 1. presence of a pathogen of sufficient virulence
      2. dose
      3. portal of entry
      4. resistance of the host
  3. For waste to be considered infectious, it needs to contain oncogenic viruses or pathogenic microorganisms with sufficient virulence and quantity so that exposure to the waste by a susceptible host could result in an infectious disease.
  4. Transport of infectious waste must adhere to Virginia Infectious Waste Management regulations.
  5. According to Virginia Infectious Waste Management regulations, the following wastes are designated as infectious:
    1. 1. Cultures and stocks of microorganisms and biologicals. Discarded cultures, stocks, specimens, vaccines and associated items likely to have been contaminated by them are infectious wastes if they are likely to contain organisms which are likely to be pathogenic to healthy humans. Discarded etiologic agents are infectious waste. Wastes from the production of biological byproducts and antibiotics are likely to have been contaminated by pathogenic organisms.
        
        Blood and blood products. Wastes consisting of human blood, human blood products (including serum, plasma, etc.) and items contaminated by free-flowing human blood are infectious waste.
        
        Pathological wastes. All pathological wastes and all wastes that are human tissues, organs, body parts, or body fluids are infectious wastes.
        
        Sharps. This includes used hypodermic needles, syringes, scalpel blades, Pasteur pipettes, broken glass and similar devices likely to be contaminated with organisms that are pathogenic to healthy humans. Always consider sharps used in a patient's care to be infectious wastes.
        
        Animal carcasses, body parts, bedding, and related wastes. When animals are intentionally infected with organisms likely to be pathogenic to healthy humans for the purposes of research, in vivo testing, production of biological materials or any other reason; the animal carcasses, body parts, bedding material and all other wastes likely to have been contaminated are infectious wastes when they are discarded, disposed of, or placed in accumulated storage. As is any residue or contaminated soil, water, or other debris resulting from the cleanup of a spill of any infectious waste. For guidance on the disposal of animal carcasses that are not intentionally infected with pathogens, and have been certified to be pathogen free, contact the DEQ representative for disposal at the local landfill.

1. 1. Containers for Contaminated Material
Containers for Contaminated Biological Material (CMC) may be procured from the EMU Health Center. They should be assembled according to instructions on the box side panel and placed in the laboratory area as needed.
As a result of increasingly stringent Federal and State regulations, it has become necessary to track the origin of infectious waste. The following information, found on the top panel of the CMC box, must be completed:

                DATE                          CONTACT
               PHONE                       DEPARTMENT
               BLDG/ROOM             WASTE TYPE
Sharps containers are placed in laboratory areas for needle collection. These plastic boxes must be deposited in a CMC box before transporting.

1. 1. DISPOSALi. Disposal of the CMCs will be arranged with EMU Health Services.