Infectious wastes are generally rendered noninfectious by autoclaving, although incineration is occasionally used. After sterilization, previously infectious wastes are disposed of as noninfectious. They may be placed in noninfectious trash collection containers and sent to a sanitary landfill. Treated wastes in red or orange bags shall be overpacked into opaque plastic bags of another color (not yellow) for noninfectious disposal. The custodial staff has been instructed not to touch or remove red, orange, or yellow bags. Sterilized liquid wastes may be discarded to the sewer.

Syringes and needles shall be handled with extreme caution to avoid autoinoculation and the generation of aerosols. Needles shall not be bent, sheared, replaced in the sheath or guard, or removed from the syringe following use. The needle and syringe shall be promptly placed in a puncture-resistant container and decontaminated, preferably by autoclaving. Needles may be rendered unusable following sterilization. Grinding, compaction, or clipping in a destruction device are acceptable techniques for destroying sterile needles.

All human blood, blood products, nonfixed human tissues, and other potentially infectious materials are considered infectious and shall be disinfected, steam sterilized, or incinerated. Sterilized blood-related waste materials are discarded as nonhazardous.

Infectious wastes, including cultures and stocks of etiologic agents, shall be made noninfectious by steam sterilization. Sterilized wastes are disposed of as nonhazardous.

Pathological wastes are generally incinerated. Steam sterilization is acceptable, although after sterilization, pathological wastes shall be either incinerated or ground and flushed to a sewer.

Animal carcasses, bedding, and wastes are generally incinerated as directed by the Center for Experimental Animal Resources.

Steam Sterilization

Most infectious wastes are sterilized, based on the type of waste, load volume, packaging material, and load configuration. It is recommended that the efficacy of the autoclave be monitored using Bacillus stearothermophilis. The frequency of monitoring depends on the hazard of the organism being used and the frequency of waste sterilization.

Infectious wastes that also contain volatile chemicals should be autoclaved only if a chemical (hydrophobic) filter is on line. ORS shall be contacted before steam sterilizing wastes containing carcinogens or radionuclides.

Incineration

Incineration is preferred for pathological and animal wastes. At the University, incineration is handled by the Center for Experimental Animal Resources. ORS may be contacted for additional information.

Chemical Disinfection

Chemical treatment is usually a disinfection rather than sterilization. Thus it is usually intended as a temporary measure to control infectious wastes until sterilization can treat the hazard. Disinfection may be used as final treatment on a case-by-case basis following a petition by the principal investigator and approval by the Chemical and Biological Safety Committee.