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Other Waste Disposal

Sharps in Shops, Offices, Warehouses, and other Non-Biohazardous Areas

Sharps are devices with sharp edges capable of piercing or cutting the skin. Sharps are disposed of as medical waste regardless of their origin. The following is a list of sharps found in shops, offices, warehouses, and non-biohazardous areas:

  • Drill bits capable of piercing or cutting the skin (thin bits like hypodermic needles)
  • Needles
  • Razor blades
  • Scalpel blades
  • Syringes – glass or plastic (with needles)
  • Small shards of plastic and glass

Sharps items in non-biohazardous areas must be accumulated in approved sharps containers labeled “UNREGULATED SHARPS WASTE” and disposed of as medical waste. These containers are leakproof, rigid, and puncture-proof.

Sharps containers can be purchased from Lab Safety Supply, and other vendor catalogues. When the containers are full, seal them and call your Generator Assistant for proper disposal.

Unbroken and Broken Glassware

Any unbroken glass such as lab beakers, drinking glasses, window glass, incandescent light bulbs, etc. may be placed in a rigid container and labeled “Glass”. Any broken glassware should be packaged similarly and marked with the words “Broken Glassware”. Both broken and unbroken glass, packaged appropriately, may be placed in the sanitary trash only if they are not contaminated with medical/biohazardous waste or did not previously contained acute or extremely hazardous waste.

Light Bulbs

Fluorescent tubes, high intensity discharge lamps such as mercury vapor or metal halide types (spectrophotometer lamps), and high-pressure sodium lamps are regulated as universal waste and may not be thrown in the trash. Contact the Facilities Work Request Center to request pickup for recycling.

Incandescent bulbs should be packaged per instructions under “Unbroken and Broken Glassware”

Lead-Acid Automotive Batteries

Unbroken lead acid batteries can be sent to 904 for recycling. Broken, leaking, or damaged lead acid batteries are hazardous wastes and must be disposed of properly. Contact your Generator Assistant for more details.

Waste Oil, Antifreeze

These are hazardous wastes and must be disposed of properly. Contact your Generator Assistant for proper management.

Batteries

Used batteries are toxic and potentially corrosive. They may not be disposed of in the regular trash. Place all batteries in the green buckets located in your building.

All terminals on 9V, lantern, disk type (Li), must be taped with electrical tape or its equivalent to prevent inadvertent fire. Batteries with external leads must have the leads removed prior to placing in the battery bucket.

The used batteries are picked up quarterly. Click here for a list of battery bucket locations.

Ballasts, Large Capacitors

These may contain PCBs. Contact Howard Hansenprior to removing them from service.

Lead, Mercury, Asbestos

These are regulated wastes. Contact Howard Hansen for assistance.

Computers, Computer Peripherals

In February 2003, the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) issued regulations for the management of electronic wastes (e-wastes), including nonfunctioning cathode ray tubes (CRTs) such as

  • Computer monitors
/
  • Televisions

  • Cash registers
/
  • Oscilloscopes

and nonfunctioning consumer electronic devices (CEDs) such as

  • Computers
/
  • Computer peripherals

  • Telephones
/
  • Stereo equipment

  • Tape players/recorders
/
  • Video cassette players/recorders

  • Compact disc players/recorders
/
  • Calculators, etc.

  • Microwave ovens

For more information, see the Electronic Waste portion of the Waste Generator Guides or Quick link to E-waste guidelines.

Solder Waste

Waste solder can be bagged and placed in metal recycling hoppers as long as the bag only contains the waste solder and not floor sweepings, dirt, leaves, and other debris.

If the bag contains other debris, label and store in your SAA.Contact Howard Hansen for assistance.

For more information on these wastes, contact your Generator Assistant.