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Regulated Medical Waste Management

Beata Clapp

Your EHS contact for Regulated Medical Waste Management
bqc5572@psu.edu
814-865-6391

Program Applicability

Pennsylvania Department of Environmental (DEP) regulations require that infectious waste (also known as regulated medical waste (RMW) or red bag waste) be handled, stored and disposed of properly.  Laboratory-generated waste that is or may be contaminated with disease causing organisms, or that has been in contact with recombinant DNA molecules, must be collected in a manner that prevents release or spillage of the material. 

Program Requirements

General Requirements:

RMW must be stored in manner that maintains container integrity and prevents spill, leakage, or pathogen spread. RMW may be stored for up to 30 days from the date the container is sealed. Waste that becomes putrescent must be moved offsite within 24 hours.

Responsibilities of Employees and Students:

  • Complete required online and work specific training. Online courses include EHS- Initial Laboratory and Research Safety Training or EHS-Laboratory Safety Refresher Training (LRN) and Yearly Biosafety Training and Bloodborne Pathogen Training (CITI).
  • Be familiar with and follow RMW Management procedures outlined in the Biosafety and Biosecurity Manual.
  • Follow procedures for waste management outlined in their Instiutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) Protocol or if applicable, Animal Hazard Safety Protocol for their Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) protocol.
  • Follow waste management requirements outlined in permits issued by USDA, CDC or additional agencies.

This information can also be found in the Biosafety and Biosecurity Manual.

Documents and Forms

Biosafety and Biosecurity Manual. Section 15. Biological Waste Management

University Park Regulated Medical Waste Pickup Schedule

Commonwealth Campus Regulated Medical Waste Pickup Procedure

-To arrange pickup of Regulated Medical Waste, contact the Biosafety Officer, Katherine Restori (khr114@psu.edu)

Additional Resources

PA Department of Environmental Protection Infectious Waste Regulations (Title 25, Chapter 284. Regulated Medical and Chemotherapeutic Waste)

Program-Specific Information

List of Procedures for this program.

Solid biohazardous waste disposal procedure

  1. Collect in plastic red, red-orange, orange, or clear autoclavable bags with a biohazard symbol; double bagging is recommended for petri dishes containing agar.
  2. Whenever procedures allow, collect waste in a biohazard bag placed inside the BSC. Secure the bag when full and transfer it to the designated floor container for proper disposal.
  3. Collect serological pipettes separately (i.e., placed in pipette keeper boxes, in a dedicated bag, or in a box lined with a biohazard bag) to prevent bag puncture during the waste handling process.
  4. Place the biohazard bag inside a solid-walled, leak-proof container. Close the container when not actively using it to ensure safe containment.
  5. Loosely tie bags before autoclaving to allow steam to penetrate. Place the bag in a secondary container for autoclaving (such as autoclavable polypropylene pans)

Sharps biohazardous waste disposal procedure

  1. Dispose of any items contaminated with biological materials that can puncture skin—such as needles, scalpels, razor blades, glass slides, glass Pasteur pipettes, and biologically contaminated broken glass—in approved sharps containers.
  2. Use sturdy, rigid, and puncture-resistant red, red-orange, or orange biohazard sharps containers with tight-fitting lids. Do not use cardboard boxes or repurposed food or beverage containers.
  3. Place sharps containers in easily accessible locations near the areas where personnel use sharps. Close the container opening when not in use.
  4. Permanently close the container when it reaches ¾ full or when items no longer fall freely into it. Do not force objects into the container or shake it to create more space.

Liquid biohazardous waste disposal procedure

  1. Collect liquid biohazard waste in a non-breakable container.
  2. Add chlorine bleach to achieve a final concentration of 10% (one part bleach to nine parts liquid). Charge vacuum flasks and pour-off containers with disinfectants before use to prevent contamination during the holding period.
  3. Label each collection vessel with a biohazard symbol and the name of the disinfectant used.
  4. Store vacuum flasks in a non-breakable, leak-proof secondary container when not kept inside a biosafety cabinet.
  5. Discharge and clean flasks weekly or when they reach half capacity—whichever comes first—to prevent overflow and contaminant growth.
  6. Allow the disinfectant solution to sit for at least 30 minutes after adding the last volume of liquid before disposing of it via the sewer. Follow disposal with a generous amount of water.
  7. Wear a lab coat, gloves, and safety glasses with a face shield when discharging waste. Minimize splash back and thoroughly rinse the sink after disposal.
  8. Contact EHS for guidance when using EPA-registered disinfectants other than bleach, as not all disinfectants are approved for drain disposal.
  9. Never autoclave liquid waste that has been pretreated with disinfectants.