Waste Management
All wastes must be segregated at the point of generation.
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Infectious Agents
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Infectious agents refers to identified and uncharacterised isolates of the following: (a) viruses, (b) bacterial, (c) fungi, and (d) protozoa. All microbial agents belonging to Risk Groups 1 and 2, must be deactivated or decontaminated prior to disposal.
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Microorganisms in solid media
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Microbial agents in solid media must be placed in labeled heat-resistant plastic containers and decontaminated by autoclave or pressure cooker for 30 minutes. Plastic containers must be checked for leaks after decontamination prior to disposal as regular trash.
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Microorganisms in liquid media
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Microbial agents in liquid media must be decontaminated by autoclave or treatment with sodium hypochlorite to a final concentration of 10%. If decontamination is by sodium hypochlorite, waste should be collected in labeled leak-proof containers. The container must be sealed once it is about 75% filled, and request for pick-up should be made to the Pollution Control Officer, unless regular pick-up of is scheduled.
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Contaminated Materials
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Contaminated materials refer to Personal Protective Equipment like gloves that have been used in the manipulation of infectious agents. These should be decontaminated by autoclave or pressure cooker for 30 minutes in labeled heat-resistant plastic containers, and disposed as regular trash.
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Vertebrate Remains
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Vertebrate (small mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibian, and fish) remains and animal parts should not disposed as regular trash, but must be stored in a freezer unless immediately collected by a registered transporter. If a registered transporter is not available, the animal carcass can be disposed by burial or other methods that are not otherwise prohibited by national law or regulation.
If the carcass is disposed by burial, it must be at least three feet below the ground level but no more than eight feet, and must not have less than three feet of earth over the carcass. The location where animal is buried must be at least 100 feet away from any well, spring, stream or other surface waters, and must not be in a low-lying area subject to seasonal flooding, and not in any manner likely to contaminate groundwater.
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IMPORTANT! Animals deliberately inoculated with infectious agents for experimental purposes must be decontaminated prior to disposal.
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Sharps
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Sharps refer to instruments and materials with sharp edges and points that can cut and puncture the skin.
Examples include: (a) Needles, (b) Syringes, and (c) Lancets. Sharps for disposal should not be mixed with regular trash. It should be placed in a labeled sharps disposal container, which must be made of puncture-resistant plastic with a tight fitting, puncture-resistant lid.
The sharps disposal container must be sealed once it is about 75% filled, and request for pick-up should be made to the Pollution Control Officer, unless regular pick-up of sharps is scheduled.
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Broken Glass
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Non-contaminated broken glass should not be mixed with other trash. It should be placed immediately in a labeled broken glass disposal container, which must be made of puncture-resistant plastic with a tight fitting, puncture-resistant lid. If the broken glass is contaminated, it should not be mixed with non-contaminated broken glass, and should be stored in a separate container. Do not mix broken glass with intact glass.
The broken glass disposal container must be sealed once it is about 75% filled, and request for pick-up should be made to the Pollution Control Officer, unless regular pick-up of sharps is scheduled.