Research and teaching activities in UB laboratories generate a wide variety of waste, which, if they contain substances and preparations with viable microorganisms or their toxins, can be potentially infectious to humans, animals and/or the environment. For this reason, it is of utmost importance to properly manage the waste generated during these activities.
A proper classification, as non-biohazardous or biohazardous waste, allows appropriate decisions to be made regarding disposal, treatment (inactivation) or specific management.
If you have any doubts about the classification or management of waste generated during your daily activities, please contact the CSBUB (cbsub@ub.edu) for further information.
In order to acquire basic knowledge on the correct management of waste, it is compulsory for research staff to take a training course on the management of special waste.
Non-biohazardous waste
The wastes that can be classified as non-biohazardous are the following:
- Those assimilable to group II of sanitary waste, such as crops and samples of biologically innocuous tissues, and dirty single-use material that has been in contact (Decree 27/1999).
- Those containing non-genetically modified Group 1 biological agents.
- Excreta, fluids, bedding and carcasses of non-inoculated animals.
- Organs, tissues and animal or human remains fixed.
- Autoclaved material.
When biological wastes are non-biohazardous liquids, they can be flushed down the drain with excess water. You must first check if the waste contains chemical products before filling it -the treatment would be different: special waste finder-, and verify that the water installation is working properly.
Biohazardous waste
The wastes that can be classified as biohazardous are the following:
- Those that can be assimilated to group III of sanitary waste, that is to say, sanitary waste capable of transmitting infectious diseases (Decree 27/1999): blood and blood products in liquid form, needles and used sharp and cutting material, live and attenuated vaccines, anatomical waste, cultures and stocks of infectious agents.
- Those containing biological agents of group 2 or higher.
- All genetically modified biological agents (also group 1).
- Biosafety cabin filters (except if only working with group 1).
- Excreta and remains of experimental animals inoculated with biological agents of group 2 or higher.
- Blood and body fluids of humans not guaranteed. Human remains with non-fixed entity
The University of Barcelona does not have containment level facilities above biosafety level 2. Therefore, type 3 and 4 activities cannot be carried out at the UB due to the lack of adequate facilities.
The University of Barcelona has a special waste management procedure. In this web link you will find all the information: Special waste management. You can consult all the documentation on the management procedure, tools to facilitate the classification and identification of waste, and information on the projects and actions carried out at the UB to reduce the quantity and hazardousness of waste.
According to the procedure, biohazardous waste is placed in the biohazardous waste container – sanitary group III, and sharp objects are rejected in the sharps container (chemobox).
These containers must be properly labeled with the label for biohazardous waste. It is important to follow the instructions for filling out the label and the treatment of the container according to the type of waste to ensure safe and appropriate waste management.
In addition, there is a group IV container. This container is intended for the collection of material contaminated with chemical products classified as carcinogenic or mutagenic, such as medication residues, cytotoxins and all material that has been in contact with these products, including needles, syringes, masks, single-use gowns, gloves, etc.
You can consult the document, Let’s make good use of sanitary waste containers, to learn more about it. Also, on the OSSMA website you can find different resources to support the management of special laboratory waste.
Further information
- Extra-central management of sanitary wastes. Generalitat de Catalunya. Environmental Dept. Residue Board.
- Laboratory Biosafety Manual, 4th Edition, and associated monographs, Descontamination and waste management. WHO.
- Appendix 7. Sanitary waste management. Technical Guide for the evaluation and prevention of risks related to exposure to biological agents. INSST.
OSSMA documents
General
- Special wastes in the Environment web section of the OSSMA.
- Laboratory waste search engine.
- Let’s make good use of the sanitary waste containers.