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Dual Biological/Chemical Waste – Solid

Solids

Biologically contaminated solids with cell culture and microbial culture media additives cannot be disinfected through autoclaving or bleach treatment if contaminated with the following:

  • Heavy metals
  • Toxins
  • Stains (Ethidium bromide, trypan blue, Coomassie blue)
  • Methotrexate
  • Nanomaterials
  • B-mercapatoethanol
  • Hormones
  • Pharmaceutical drugs
  • Chemotherapy agents
  • Any additional materials that may be considered a potential chemical, biological, or environmental hazard. These additives are usually incorporated into the media after the organism’s growth as part of an experiment to affect metabolism, measure byproducts, or cellular activity.

The disposal method for these media plus additives must be discussed and approved by the EHS Hazardous Waste and Biological Safety Groups.  Every effort will be made to disinfect the biological component while avoiding chemical incompatibility.  If this is not achievable, then EHS Waste Staff will accept it as a dual waste. 

Container Type:

Items that are contaminated with potentially infectious materials or recombinant DNA materials that cannot be autoclaved must be collected in a biohazardous bag. While in use, these biohazard bags must be secured in a manner that will eliminate spillage and access by insect vectors. All bags must be stored in a solid leakproof secondary container with a lid (i.e. Rubbermaid container/trashcan with a lid).  The secondary container and lid must have a biohazard label. If you use a benchtop wire rack, it must sit in a secondary container and be covered when not in use or disposed of appropriately at the end of the work shift.

Metal bin on the floor with hinged lid and foot opener containing an orange biohazard bag and biohazard stickers on exterior. A benchtop plastic container with snap lid containing an orange biohazard bag and biohazard stickers on exterior.

A benchtop wire container with hinged lid containing an orange biohazard bag inside a plastic secondary container. A 5-gallon white bucket with snap lid containing an orange biohazard bag and biohazard stickers on exterior.

Red medical waste sharps containers must not be used for blood tubes or solid dual waste. 

Storage:

Waste containers must be kept free of any liquids or residue on their exteriors.  EHS Hazardous Waste Staff will reject any container with liquid or residue on the exterior until it has been cleaned. 

All bags MUST be closed once requested a Hazardous Waste Request has been submitted to EHS.

MSU Waste Tag Required:

Yes  - A MSU Waste Tag is required for all biohazardous solid waste.

MSU Waste Tags must be directly affixed to the waste container either with string, a twist tie, chain and clipboard, rubber band, or tape.  MSU Waste Tags are provided by EHS and can be requested through an EHS Hazardous Waste Request.

Labeling:

A MSU Waste Tag should be filled out and completed when the biohazardous solid waste cannot be autoclaved or chemically disinfected.  The contact information at the top of the MSU Waste Tag must be filled out to identify where the biohazardous waste was generated, the container size and type, and who to contact with questions regarding the waste container.

The Contents should be “Contaminated Lab Debris” with the specific biological components identified, and “100%” listed in the Volume column.  Check the Biohazardous Agents box at the bottom of the MSU Waste Tag.

Example of properly filled out MSU Waste tags for Dual Solid Waste:

Example of properly filled out MSU Waste Tag with 96 well plate used to grow human hepatocyte cell line treated with 2,3,7,8- Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin.  Dual Solid Waste 2” (Alt Text: Example of properly filled out MSU Waste Tag with a cell culture flask used to grow human hepatocarcinoma cell line treated with o’p’ – DDT.

Submit Hazardous Waste Request

When the container is full or close to the 90-day accumulation limit, submit a Hazardous Waste Request via the EHS Safety Portal as follows:

  • EHS Website: ehs.msu.edu
  • Login in the Safety Portal through a preferred web browser using your MSU Net ID and EBS Password
  • Select: Hazardous Waste Request

Blood Tubes (Biohazardous Solids) are found under the Common Process category