Biological Waste

Biohazardous waste in an autoclave bag.

All biological waste generated by teaching or research activities must be collected and rendered inactive prior to disposal. Inactivation of these wastes is limited to a few approved methods, contact EHS to see if your method is approved.

Refer to the Biomedical Waste Treatment Plan for details on how to handle biohazardous waste. Some frequently asked questions are included below.

Biological Waste includes any of the following when used in teaching or research activities:

  • Cultures of any microbes (bacteria, rickettsia, protozoa, virus, fungi, yeasts, molds, etc.) 
  • Cultures of human materials, including cells, blood, tissues.
  • Preserved anatomical specimens
  • Animals and plants that are used with recombinant/synthetic nucleic acids (i.e. are genetically modified). 
  • Sharps contaminated by the materials described above.

How to Handle Sharps Waste:

  • Biohazardous sharps waste generated in biomedical settings and biological labs includes "all hypodermic needles, syringes with needles attached, IV tubing with needles attached, scalpel blades, and lancets that have been removed from the original sterile package." (RCW 70.A.228.010) Additionally, the following are defined as biohazardous sharps waste if they are contaminated with biological hazards, including recombinant and synthetic DNA or RNA: broken glass, razor blades, glass slides, cover slips, and fragile glass items (ampoules, Pasteur pipettes).
    • Biohazardous sharps waste must collected on site in puncture resistant sharps containers, labeled with the universal biohazard symbol.  Sharps containers must not be filled more than two-thirds full. When two-thirds full, the lid must be closed and autoclave indicating tape placed over the lid and sides, taking care not to cover the vent holes. The PI’s name and room number should be clearly marked on the container. The sharps waste generator is responsible for ensuring proper sterilization with a registered autoclave (see Section 4). All closed and sterilized sharps containers are then collected by WWU EHS for final disposition. 
  • Non-biohazardous sharps waste are those generated in non-biological lab spaces and have never come in contact with biological materials. 
    • Non-biohazardous sharps waste must be collected on site in puncture resistant sharps containers, with the universal biohazard symbol defaced or in containers without a biohazard symbol. Sharps containers must not be filled more than two-thirds full. When two-thirds full, the lid must be closed. The PI’s name and room number should be clearly marked on the container. All closed sharps containers are then collected by WWU EHS for final disposition. If any biohazardous sharps enter a non-biohazardous sharps container, a biohazard symbol must be affixed and the entire container must be handled as biohazardous sharps waste.

To Request a Sharps Pick-up:

  • Use the Hazardous Waste/Surplus Chemical Collection Request for pick up.  
  • Please use a separate request for sharps pick-ups.  For record keeping purposes we need to keep chemical pick-ups on separate requests.
  • Sharps can be kept in the same area as the chemicals for hazardous waste pick-up. They do not have to be inside of secondary containers.
  • Radioactive sharps have to be segregated from all other sharps and collected in a separate container.  
  • No liquids should be put in the sharps containers.
  • Containers must be puncture resistant containers with a secure lid closure. Lids should be securely closed when ready for pick-up by EHS.
  • Containers ready for pick up should be free of damage (not cracked) and should be clean on the outside, (e.g. no sticky residue, spills, etc.)

We can accept sharps containers with mixed sharps waste, e.g. glass slides as well as needles, as long as they are in containers as described above. 

If there are any questions please contact ehs@wwu.edu or call 650-3064.

Clinical and Residential Waste are processed differently see the Waste Matrix for more information.