Standard Operating Procedure for Disposal of Hazardous Materials in Lab Environments

1) Purpose

The purpose of this SOP is to ensure the proper, safe, and compliant disposal of hazardous materials in laboratory environments, minimizing risks to personnel, facilities, and the environment while adhering to regulatory guidelines.

2) Scope

This SOP applies to all laboratory personnel involved in handling, managing, and disposing of hazardous chemical, biological, and physical waste generated during lab operations.

3) Responsibilities

• Laboratory Staff: Identify, segregate, and handle hazardous waste appropriately as per this SOP.
• Supervisors: Ensure compliance with hazardous material disposal procedures and train laboratory personnel.
• Safety Officers: Monitor and audit the hazardous material disposal process and report non-compliance.
• Waste Management Personnel: Collect, transport, and ensure final disposal of hazardous materials as per regulations.

4) Procedure

4.1 Classification of Hazardous Materials

Hazardous materials generated in laboratories must be identified and classified into appropriate categories:

1. Chemical Waste:
   • Flammable liquids (e.g., ethanol, acetone)
   • Corrosive chemicals (e.g., hydrochloric acid, sodium hydroxide)
   • Reactive substances (e.g., peroxides, metal hydrides)
   • Toxic chemicals (e.g., heavy metals, organic solvents)

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2. Biological Waste:
   • Infectious waste (e.g., bacterial cultures, contaminated sharps)
   • Biohazardous materials (e.g., tissues, fluids)
3. Physical Hazardous Waste:
   • Broken glassware contaminated with hazardous materials
   • Sharps (e.g., needles, scalpels)

4.2 Waste Segregation and Labeling

1. Segregation:
   1. Use color-coded containers for different types of hazardous waste:
      • Red bins: Biohazardous waste
      • Yellow bins: Chemical waste
      • White/blue bins: Sharps
   2. Do not mix incompatible chemicals (e.g., acids with bases, flammables with oxidizers).

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2. Labeling:
   1. Clearly label all hazardous waste containers with:
      • “Hazardous Waste”
      • Material name and chemical composition
      • Date of collection
      • Hazard class (flammable, toxic, corrosive, biohazard, etc.)
3. Storage Conditions:
   • Store hazardous waste in a designated area with proper ventilation.
   • Keep waste containers closed when not in use.
   • Ensure secondary containment for liquid waste to prevent spills.

4.3 Disposal of Chemical Waste

1. Liquid Chemical Waste:
   • Collect waste in compatible, leak-proof containers (e.g., glass or HDPE).
   • Neutralize acids and bases before disposal if approved by the Safety Officer.
   • Label containers and transfer to the designated hazardous waste storage area.

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2. Solid Chemical Waste:
   • Collect solids (e.g., contaminated gloves, filters) in labeled yellow bins or plastic bags.
   • Ensure materials are dry and free of excess liquids before disposal.
3. Disposal Process:
   1. Coordinate with approved hazardous waste disposal vendors for collection.
   2. Maintain disposal manifests for audit purposes (Annexure 1).

4.4 Disposal of Biological Waste

1. Infectious Waste:
   1. Autoclave infectious waste at 121°C for 15-20 minutes before disposal.
   2. Place autoclaved waste in red biohazard bags and dispose of through licensed vendors.

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2. Sharps Disposal:
   • Place needles, blades, and other sharps in puncture-resistant, labeled containers.
   • Do not overfill sharp containers; seal and transfer for proper disposal.

4.5 Disposal of Physical Hazardous Waste

1. Broken Glassware:
   • Place uncontaminated broken glass in labeled “Glass Waste” bins.
   • For contaminated glass, treat it as hazardous chemical or biological waste based on contamination.

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2. Contaminated Labware:
   • Rinse labware with minimal solvent where possible (under fume hoods).
   • Dispose of rinsate as hazardous waste and transfer cleaned labware for recycling.

4.6 Record-Keeping

1. Maintain records for all hazardous waste disposal activities, including:
   • Waste type and quantity
   • Date of disposal
   • Disposal method
   • Vendor details
2. Use the Hazardous Waste Disposal Log (Annexure 1) for documentation.

4.7 Emergency Procedures for Hazardous Waste Spills

1. Minor Spills:
   • Wear appropriate PPE (gloves, goggles, mask).
   • Contain the spill using absorbent materials (e.g., spill kits).
   • Dispose of cleanup materials as hazardous waste.

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2. Major Spills:
   • Evacuate personnel from the area.
   • Activate emergency alarms and notify the Safety Officer immediately.
   • Engage professional hazardous material spill response teams.

5) Abbreviations, if any

• SDS: Safety Data Sheet
• PPE: Personal Protective Equipment
• EPA: Environmental Protection Agency

6) Documents, if any

• Hazardous Waste Disposal Log
• Incident Report Log

7) Reference, if any

• OSHA Hazardous Waste Operations Standard (29 CFR 1910.120)
• EPA Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
• NIH Guidelines for Laboratory Waste Disposal

8) SOP Version

Version: 1.0

Annexure

Template 1: Hazardous Waste Disposal Log

Date	Waste Type	Quantity	Disposal Method	Vendor	Handled By
DD/MM/YYYY	Flammable Liquid	10 Liters	Incineration	ABC Disposal Co.	John Doe