Sharps Container

Lab Container

Pathology Container

Pickup Container

Used for ─

All:

·      Needles with or without syringes or tubing

·      Blades (razors, scalpels, etc.)

Contaminated only with medical/biohazardous waste:

·      Broken glass

·      Glass pipettes

·      Microscope slides

·      Other sharp items

Used for ─

·      Any solid  contaminated with medical/
biohazardous waste that does not go into a sharps container or a pathology container

·      Can accept sharps containers

Used for ─

·      Animal carcasses

·      Large tissue specimens

·      Recognizable human or animal body parts and tissues

Used for ─

·     Red-bagged regulated medical waste from lab containers

·     Clear-bagged biohazardous waste from lab containers

·     Regulated medical waste sharps containers

·     Unregulated waste sharps containers

Bag color:

·      Regulated medical waste sharps must be deposited into a container lined with a red bag.

·      Unregulated waste sharps may go into a lab container lined with a clear bag or into the pickup container lined with a red bag.

Bag color:

·      Regulated medical waste must be deposited into a container lined with a red bag.

·      Unregulated biohazardous waste goes into a container lined with a clear bag.

Bag color:

·      Store regulated medical pathology waste in a closed red bag in the freezer.

·      Store unregulated pathology waste in a closed clear bag in the freezer.

·      Line the pathology pickup container with a red bag. This container accepts all pathological waste.

Bag color:

Line the pickup container with a red bag. This container accepts clear-bagged waste and red-bagged waste in the same pickup container.

Labels:

·      Regulated medical waste sharps must have the biohazard label or symbol.

·      Unregulated waste sharps are labeled “unregulated sharps.”

Labels:

Lab containers for medical/biohazardous must have biohazard labels or symbols.

Labels:

·      Write your name and extension plus the date waste is put into freezer on the bagged waste.

·      The pathological waste pickup container is labeled “biohazard” and “pathology waste.”

Labels:

Pickup containers must have biohazard labels or symbols.

Storage time limit:

Sharps containers may be used until they are 2/3 full. Dispose of the sharps container the same day it is closed.

Storage time limit:

·      Dispose of regulated medical waste (red bag) weekly.

·      Transfer unregulated biohazardous waste (clear bag) when the bag is full.

Storage time limit:

Best-management practice is to store pathological waste in the freezer for no more than 7 days. The maximum amount of time regulated pathological waste is allowed to be stored in the freezer is 90 days.

Storage time limit:

Pickup containers with waste must be removed for treatment every 7 days.

Disposal: Close the sharps container when 2/3 full. Dispose of in either a lab container or a pickup container. Fill out a Medical Waste Accumulation Log.

Disposal: Tie or tape the bag closed and carry it in the lab container to the pickup container. Fill out a Medical Waste Accumulation Log.

Disposal: Transfer bagged waste to a pathological pickup container for contractor to pickup for off-site treatment and disposal. Fill out a Medical Waste Accumulation Log.

Disposal: Contractor picks up the waste weekly for off-site treatment and disposal.