Hazardous waste is subject to stringent state and federal regulations and requirements. EHS manages training, accumulation, pickup, disposal and tracking of chemical, biological, sharps and universal wastes generated on campus. USG Programs are responsible for managing chemical, biological, and sharps waste in the laboratory as described by the information below:
Chemical Waste
Individuals who have chemical hazardous waste management responsibilities take Hazardous Waste Generator Training annually through SciShield.
- Understand how regulations affect generation and disposal.
- Know how to appropriately dispose of chemical waste at the University of Maryland and Universities at Shady Grove.
- Identify materials that have special requirements for disposal.
- Understand measures to minimize generation of chemical waste.
Containers containing chemical hazardous waste must be stored in secondary containment within a fume hood. Hazardous waste containers without an attached properly filled out hazardous waste tag, both front and back, is a state violation.
To schedule a pick-up, or get blank green tags, contact us.
Biological Waste
Solid biological and special medical waste streams are disposed of by placing contaminated items in a biohazardous waste box lined with a red bag.
Liquid biological waste is suitable for drain disposal after it has been deactivated with household bleach - add household bleach to a final concentration of 10%, wait 30 minutes, then rinse down the sink with copious amounts of water.
To schedule a pick-up, or get biohazardous boxes and bags, contact us.
Sharps Waste
All sharps must be disposed of by placing them in a puncture-resistant sharps container.
- Needles, razor blades, scalpel blades, contaminated glassware, and other sharps
- Never discard sharps in the trash or biohazardous waste container.
- Do not lay sharps down on the bench or biosafety cabinet. Place in a sterile test tube in rack.
- Close sharps container when ¾ full; do not overfill.
Programs are responsible for supplying their own sharps containers. To schedule a pick-up, contact us.
Universal Waste
Individuals who have universal waste management responsibilities take Universal Waste Training through the SciShield.
Universal waste is a hazardous waste stream. Items generated on campus that can be disposed of as universal waste are:
- Florescent bulbs and tubes
- All batteries
- Pesticides that are part of a recall or collection program
- Fluorescent light ballasts that contain polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
- Items containing hydraulic oil, like door closers
Although aerosol cans are classified as a universal waste in some states, Maryland is not one of them. Aerosol cans that contain hazardous constituents can be properly disposed of through our chemical waste management system.
