Which items are disposed of as regulated medical waste? When do “sharps” containers need to be used?
Each RWJMS laboratory is responsible for segregating, disinfecting (when needed), and packaging its medical waste. A complete description of the medical waste management program is available in the Laboratory Safety Plan. Use of gray “Medical Waste” containers: • Environmental Services provides 30-gallon gray containers to laboratories. • BL2 and higher materials must be disinfected (chemical disinfection or autoclaved) before being placed in a medical waste container. • Place disposable plastic serological pipettes and disposable plastic pasteur pipettes, petrie plates containing solid medium and other used disposable culture plasticware in the gray medical waste containers. • Fill gray containers about 2/3 full, tie up the red bag, and close the flaps. • Leave the gray container in a conspicuous area for Environmental Services to pick up. Medical waste containers are NOT to be used for regular trash or chemical waste of any kind. Use of red “Sharps” containers: • Red “sharps” contain
