Bioohutus Veterinaarmeditsiini ja Loomakasvatuse Instituudis

BIOOHUTUSE JA BIOTURVALISUSE JUHENDlink opens in new page
Kinnitatud instituudi direktori 11. juuli 2018. a korraldusega nr 1-9.VL/15

BIOSAFETY AND BIOSECURITY MANUALlink opens in new page
Established by the Order of the Director of the Institute 1-9.VL/15 of 2.07.2018

Laboratory waste handling

Jäätmete käitluse  juhend loomakliinikuslink opens in new page
Koostaja: Ave-Ly Toomvap, Eda Leola, Silva Tedrema; koostamise kuupäev: 16.04.2014; 11.10.2022.

Waste management in the Animal Cliniclink opens in new page
Compiled by: Ave-Ly Toomvap, Eda Leola, Silva Tedrema; date of compilation: 16.04.2014; 11.10.2022

Updated: 08.03.2023

GUIDELINES FOR THE HANDLING OF LABORATORY WASTE

PURPOSE 

The purpose of these guidelines is to establish regulations for the classification, collection, and handling of laboratory waste in the Joint Clinical Veterinary Laboratory and in the laboratories of the Chair of Veterinary Biomedicine and Food Hygiene at Kreutzwaldi 62 at the Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science of the Estonian University of Life Sciences (EMÜ).

RESPONSIBILITY 

Employees conducting analyses in the laboratory and the heads of laboratories and research groups (principal investigators) overseeing compliance are responsible for adhering to the rules set forth in these guidelines.

1. Waste Classification 

Laboratory waste from facilities involved in the investigation of animal diseases falls under code 18 02 as defined by the Minister of the Environment Regulation No. 70 (https://www.riigiteataja.ee/akt/118122015014), The classification of waste and the waste list.

Code 18 02 — waste generated in human and animal healthcare or related research.

The classification of waste in this quality manual is based on waste type and primary disposal method. The classification structure by waste type is consistent across all sections.

1.1. Materials and Equipment 

Waste generated from laboratory examinations includes:

• Single-use plastic and other material accessories (reagent trays, spatulas, weighing dishes, etc.);
• Disposable pipettes and pipette tips;
• Gloves;
• Sharp objects: needles, knife and scalpel blades, microscope slides, glass waste, etc.

1.2. Used Media, Culture Environments, and Cultures

• Residues of microbiological and virological liquid media;
• Residues of agar and other solid media;
• Microorganism cultures and strains;
• Parasites (all forms, including preservation solutions).

1.3. Sample Residues 

Residual waste from materials (samples) submitted for laboratory analysis:

• Blood, serum, and plasma samples;
• Milk and other bodily secretion samples;
• Tissue and organ samples;
• Fecal samples;
• Urine samples.

1.4. Non-Hazardous Chemical Waste

• Residues of washing solutions that do not contain hazardous components;
• Non-concentrated inorganic acids;
• Non-toxic salts.

1.5. Hazardous Chemical Waste 

All chemicals labeled as toxic or environmentally hazardous, such as:

• Reagent mixtures used in biochemical analyzers;
• Molecular analysis gels treated with ethidium bromide;
• Staining solutions used in histology, cytology, hematology, and microbiology;
• Formalin.

2. Waste Collection, Storage, and Disposal at the Source

2.1. Materials and Equipment

• Sharp objects: Needles, knife and scalpel blades, microscope slides, etc., are collected at the point of generation in single-use, durable plastic containers or specialized containers. Once full, the container is sealed and labeled. Further disposal is covered in section 3.5.
• Used pipette tips and other disposable materials in contact with infectious material are collected in plastic bags and autoclaved before disposal as regular waste. Alternatively, materials may be disinfected and then handled as regular waste.
• Pipette tips and other disposable materials in contact with hazardous chemicals are collected in special containers and treated as hazardous laboratory waste (see section 3.5).

2.2. Media, Culture Environments, and Cultures

• Waste from microbiological investigations is collected in designated containers with special plastic bags and autoclaved. After autoclaving, it is treated as regular waste.
• Media and culture environments containing hazardous chemicals (e.g., antibiotics) are collected and disposed of according to section 3.5.

2.3. Sample Residues

• Blood, serum, and plasma samples
• Tissue and organ samples Sample residues are packaged, labeled with waste generator information, and stored in a cold chamber in the crematorium room. They are logged in a registry and sent for disposal at the Väike-Maarja waste treatment facility (AS Vireen) (see section 3.3). Small-scale samples may alternatively be autoclaved and disposed of as regular waste.
• Fecal samples
• Urine, milk, and other bodily secretion samples

Residues from microbiological, parasitological, serological, hematological, and biochemical analyzes are autoclaved together with test tubes and then disposed of as regular waste.

Residues from parasitological analyzes are packaged and handled like tissue and organ samples (see previous subsection). Residues from microbiological and virological investigations are autoclaved and then disposed of as regular waste.

Residues are autoclaved together with test tubes and then disposed of as regular waste.

2.4. Non-Hazardous Chemical Waste

• Liquid and solid water-soluble waste, including washing solutions, is poured into the sewer system. Insoluble solid chemical waste is handled as regular waste.

2.5. Hazardous Chemical Waste

• Handling is conducted according to the specific chemical safety data sheet instructions. All environmentally hazardous and toxic chemicals must be disposed of according to section 3.5.
• Chemicals collected at the source are stored in appropriately labeled collection containers, which are securely sealed and marked with the name of the responsible unit and waste type.
• Collection containers are stored in a designated storage room (a locked room in the basement of the B-wing of the institute building labeled "STORAGE") until transported to a waste treatment facility (see section 3.5).

3. Waste Disposal

3.1. Materials and Equipment

• Containers of sharp objects are taken to a designated collection point or waste treatment facility (see section 3.5).

3.2. Media, Culture Environments, and Cultures

• Generally decontaminated at the source and handled as regular waste (see section 2.2).

3.3. Sample Residues

• Tissue and organ sample residues, necropsy residues

Packaged, labeled, and stored in the crematorium cold chamber, these samples are collected by the AS Vireen (Väike-Maarja animal waste treatment plant) collection vehicle under an contract with EMÜ. Transport is arranged on order basis.

3.4. Non-Hazardous Liquid Waste

• Generally does not require special treatment and is poured into the sewer system.

3.5. Hazardous Chemicals

• Special waste transport is arranged for hazardous waste. The Estonian University of Life Sciences has an agreement with AS Epler & Lorenz ( http://www.epler-lorenz.eelink opens in new page ) for waste management services.
• The responsible unit generating the waste covers disposal costs based on the invoice issued by the waste management company.
• Appointed personnel handle the organization of hazardous waste disposal. Currently, this responsibility lies with the head of the Joint Clinical Veterinary Laboratory.

References: Waste Classification and List of Wastes. Minister of the Environment Regulation No. 70, adopted 14.12.2015, published in Riigi Teataja I 18.12.2015, 14 (https://www.riigiteataja.ee/akt/118122015014?leiaKehtiv).