Chapter 9: Biohazardous and Medical Waste Disposal

In the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, biohazardous waste is governed by the Department of Public Health regulation 105 CMR 480, “Storage and Disposal of Infectious or Physically Dangerous Medical or Biological Waste, State Sanitary Code Chapter VIII.”

Boston University has biological waste management guidance documents for each campus which are reviewed annually and posted on the EHS website. The information below is a brief summary of the instruction provided in the guidelines.

The regulation defines biohazardous waste as infectious or physically dangerous medical or biological waste that because of its characteristics may cause, or significantly contribute to, an increase in mortality or an increase in serious irreversible or incapacitating reversible illness; or pose a substantial present potential hazard to human health or the environment when improperly treated, stored, transported, disposed of, or otherwise managed.

Types of Waste

The following types of waste are identified and defined as infectious or physically dangerous medical or biological waste, and shall be subject to the requirements of 105 CMR 480.000:

Blood and blood products

Discarded bulk human blood and blood products in free draining, liquid state; body fluids contaminated with visible blood; and materials saturated with blood.

Pathological waste

Human anatomical parts, organs, tissues, and body fluids removed and discarded during surgery or autopsy, or other medical procedures, and their containers.

Cultures and stocks of infectious agents and associated biologicals

All discarded cultures and stocks of infectious agents and associated biologicals, biotechnological by‑product effluents, cultures of specimens from medical and pathological laboratories, cultures and stocks of infectious agents from research laboratories, wastes from the production of biologicals, and discarded live and attenuated vaccines intended for human use.

Contaminated animal carcasses, body parts and bedding

The contaminated carcasses and body parts and bedding of all research animals known to be exposed to pathogens.

Sharps

Discarded medical/research articles that may cause puncture or cuts, including but not limited to all, used and discarded hypodermic needles and syringes, Pasteur pipettes, broken medical glassware, scalpel blades, disposable razors, and suture needles.

Biotechnological by‑product effluents

Any discarded preparations made from genetically altered living organisms and their products. Infectious or physically dangerous medical or biological waste shall be referred to as “Waste” in the subsequent provisions of 105 CMR 480.000.

Biohazardous Waste

Proper handling and disposal of biohazardous waste is necessary to prevent infection of personnel (laboratory workers, custodians, laboratory visitors, etc.) and release to the environment. OSHA and Commonwealth of Massachusetts regulations (105 CMR 480.000) require that biohazardous waste be properly labeled, stored, and disposed of.

Labeling Biohazardous Waste

At a minimum, all biohazardous waste must be labeled with the universal biohazard symbol and the word ‘Biohazard.’ Additional information, such as the type of waste (such as “sharps” or “liquid waste”) and origin of the waste, is recommended.

Handling and Disposal of Biohazardous Waste

Sharps

Sharps include all syringes, lancets, scalpels, and other similar medical instruments (whether or not contaminated), as well as contaminated Pasteur pipettes and broken glass, and other instruments or materials that can cut or puncture personnel.

• Sharps must be collected in rigid containers that are leak-proof and resistant to puncture from the sharps. Sharps containers must be designed so that sharps can be safely introduced into the container but not easily retrieved.
• Containers must be red or orange in color and labeled with the universal biohazard symbol and the word ‘Biohazard’. When the sharps container is approximately 3/4 full, personnel should seal the waste container and it will be picked up by the building facilities custodian or appropriate service personnel. CRC personnel should seal the waste container and fill out a pick-up request on the EHS website. Waste will be picked up by a waste management vendor that is contracted by EHS.

A licensed vendor retrieves the waste from each building at pre-determined intervals to process the waste with an approved sterilization method.

Uncontaminated Laboratory Glassware and Broken Glass

Collect uncontaminated laboratory glassware and broken glass in rigid containers (separate from other waste) that will prevent cuts and punctures to personnel. Containers should be labeled “broken glass.” Broken glass is to be disposed of as ordinary trash.

Solid Biohazardous Waste

Solid biohazardous waste includes cultures of microbiological agents, tissue culture, and contaminated material (such as petri dishes, pipettes, contaminated glass, etc.). These materials are collected in a cardboard box lined with two red bags with biohazard symbols. The cardboard box is labelled with the biohazard symbol.

• Personnel should close and seal the biohazard waste box with tape for pick up by the building facilities custodian or appropriate service personnel. Each box must be labelled with the building and room number (a Sharpie or similar permanent marker if appropriate) on the top of the box to identify its origin.
• CRC personnel should seal the waste container and fill out a pick-up request on the CRC website. The building and room number should be written (a Sharpie or similar permanent marker is appropriate) on the top of the box to identify its origin.

A licensed vendor retrieves the waste from each building at pre-determined intervals to process the waste with an approved sterilization method. Medical Waste Tracking forms are maintained by EHS.

Liquid Biohazardous Waste

Liquid biohazardous waste includes all blood and liquid waste from humans or animals, and all other liquid biohazardous waste (such as microbial cultures). Collect liquid waste in closeable, rigid, plastic, leak-proof containers labeled with the universal biohazard symbol and the word “Biohazard”.

• Human and animal blood and body fluids can be disposed of by flushing directly to the sanitary sewer (wear laboratory coat, safety glasses and face shield, and gloves, and be careful to minimize splashing).
• All other liquid waste must be autoclaved or treated with a disinfectant prior to sink disposal.
• Liquid waste treated with small quantities of bleach or other household disinfectants can be disposed of by flushing directly to the sanitary sewer after sufficient contact time. Liquid waste treated with other (wescodyne, for example) chemical disinfectants must not be disposed in the sink and must be collected and disposed of as hazardous chemical waste through EHS.

In BSL3 laboratories, liquid biological waste disinfection events must be documented on a log sheet provided by EHS.

Animal Carcasses, Body Parts, Tissue and Bedding

All animal carcasses and parts, regardless of whether they have been experimentally infected or not , are disposed of as pathological waste.

• Animal carcasses and parts should be stored in a freezer or cold storage area prior to disposal. Ensure to secure any bones, limbs and sharp parts from puncturing the bag and protruding to prevent injuries.
• Animal tissues and animal bedding must be disposed of as pathological waste if the source animal was infected with a BSL2 agent or higher.

All animal wastes that are collected as biohazardous must be sent for incineration via a licensed vendor who retrieves the waste from each building at pre-determined intervals. A yellow ‘pathological’ or ‘incinerate only’ sticker must be affixed to the closed biohazardous waste box if it contains animal carcasses, parts, tissues or bedding. Medical Waste Tracking disposal forms are maintained by EHS.

Animal carcasses from ABSL3/g are treated by autoclaving. Quality control of autoclaving is done prior to disposal as biohazardous wastes. Animal carcasses that are autoclaved from the ABSL4 are disposed by tissue digestion process or incineration via licensed vendor.