UNIVERSITY OF BARCELONA PROCEDURE FOR MANAGING SPECIAL LABORATORY WASTE
1. INTRODUCTION
Around 85 tonnes of toxic and/or hazardous waste
is generated in UB laboratories each year.
Waste regulations specify
our obligations as waste producers.
The goal is to recover materials that can be used to make new products
and prevent the release of toxic products that enter the environment
or may harm our health.
In our workplace, we are the first link
in the waste management chain, and we have a key role to play
We must try to extend the useful life of products by applying the waste hierarchy:
first, prevent. Then apply the 3Rs: reduce, reuse and recycle.
Before thinking about where to leave waste, we must do everything we can
to avoid generating it.
The procedure for managing laboratory waste
can be found at the OSSMA website.
From the time when waste is generated, the following steps must be taken:
Identify the waste and classify it according to its
physicochemical properties and how hazardous it is
Select the appropriate container for the waste
Label the drum or container so that everyone knows what kind of waste it contains.
Store the waste in the appropriate place in the laboratory
Transport the waste to the storage area for the centre (if there is one).
After waste leaves the UB, it still has a long way to go:
An authorised transporter must collect the waste from the storage area.
The waste must be transported to an industrial waste management facility.
An authorized waste manager must apply the treatment required for each waste.
3. IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION
2. WASTE MANAGEMENT PROCEDURE FOR UNIVERSITY OF BARCELONA LABORATORIES
All waste must be identified and classified. Any unidentified waste will be classified
as highly hazardous, which increases the economic
and environmental cost of managing it.
Reagent containers should not be cleaned. Take empty containers to the storage area
with the caps on and leave them in the space for contaminated containers.
Keep glass containers separate
from plastic and metal ones.
Out-of-date or expired reagents should be put into a box.
A list of these reagents must be prepared by filling in the collection form
for out-of-date pure reagents.
Details of the waste classification system can be found on the OSSMA website.
You can also download and print a poster with information on classification of special waste.
Keep it on hand and post it in your laboratory
or workshop for reference.
If you are not sure how to classify a waste product, please email your query
to ossma@ub.edu, indicating the chemicals it contains
(scientific name and CAS number) and the concentration.
4. SELECTING A CONTAINER
For chemical waste, plastic drums,
which come in different volumes, must be used.
Wide-mouth drums are for solid waste; narrow-mouth ones are for liquid waste.
Plastic reagent containers can be reused for waste,
but glass and metal containers should not be used.
Neither should beverage containers.
Old filters from fume cupboards
must be put in approved boxes.
Alternatively, the used filter may be put into the box that the new one came in.
In the case of medical waste, different types of containers
are used depending on the type of material:
Sharps (such as needles and scalpel blades)
must be placed in a yellow safety box
Waste that is contaminated with hazardous biological agents
or genetically modified organisms must be placed
in containers for Group III medical waste.
Lids should not be put on Group III and IV containers
until they are closed permanently because these containers seal hermetically;
once secured, lids cannot be removed
These containers have a maximum authorized weight.
The weight limit is 9 kg for 30-litre containers
and 18 kg for 60-litre containers.
Old HEPA filters from biosafety cabinets
must be put in approved boxes.
Alternatively, the used filter may be put into the box that the new one came in.
5. LABELLING
All drums and containers must be labelled.
Labels are colour-coded by classification group.
They include hazard pictograms, H phrases indicating the risks associated with the waste,
and P phrases indicating the preventive measures that apply.
There is a space to indicate the main product in the container
and another to record who generated the waste.
It is very important to record the start date for each drum on the label
because they must betaken away after six months (at the most)
in the case of chemical waste
or after one month in the case of medical waste.
Labels are available at the waste storage area for each centre
and on the OSSMA website.
6. INTERNAL TRANSPORT
Waste must be moved from the laboratory to the storage area
for the centre periodically so that containers do not accumulate in the workspace.
Waste must be moved under conditions that ensure safety.
Before transporting waste, put on suitable personal protective equipment.
Make sure drums and other containers are securely closed
before moving them. Use a suitable trolley with side mesh.
Follow the guidelines for manual handling of loads
indicated on the OSSMA website
If there is no storage area for special waste at your centre,
leave the containers in the lab until collection by an authorised
waste transporter or manager is arranged.
7. STORAGE AREAS FOR SPECIAL WASTE
Special waste storage areas at UB centres
have safety features such as
forced ventilation and fire-detection systems,
fire-resistant spaces for waste,
impermeable non-slip flooring, and spill collection systems.
Storage areas are managed by OSSMA staff.
To drop off waste or pick up empty containers,
we recommend that you go on days
when there is in-person service. Check the opening hours for your centre.
If you need to enter the storage area when it is closed,
ask for the keys at the information point
and follow the access instructions established by your centre.
When you leave waste, make sure it is properly identified and left in the right place.
If you detect any incident in the storage area,
notify the staff responsible immediately.
8. CONCLUSIONS
We play a very important role in good waste management.
We can contribute by: Applying measures to generate less waste
and less hazardous waste.
Classifying waste properly and identifying all drums and containers.
All waste containers must be labelled, without exception.
Respecting maximum waste storage times
and managing purchasing and stocks effectively
to avoid having them expire.
Transporting waste safely
and ensuring that drums are always tightly closed.
Use equipment such as trolleys when appropriate.
Following the management procedure for special waste
is good for us, good for the UB, and good for the environment.