Biological waste includes materials contaminated with potentially infectious biological agents generated from research, teaching, clinical, or veterinary activities. Waste must be segregated into solid, liquid, animal, recombinant, and contaminated glass streams and managed in accordance with approved decontamination and disposal procedures. Refer to the table below for specifics. Note: If Disposal pathway refers to EHS pickup a work order must be submitted through the Physical Plant stating as such.
Biological Waste Classification Table
| Waste Category | Examples | Required Handling/Treatment | Disposal Pathway |
| Solid Biohazardous Waste | Petri dishes, culture plates, contaminated gloves, gowns, bench paper, pipette tips, wipes, culture tubes, absorbent pads, contaminated PPE | Must be collected in labeled biohazard bags (red or approved autoclave bags). Treat via autoclave or approved decontamination prior to disposal. | landfill disposal (after treatment) OR EHS pickup (as applicable) |
| Liquid Biohazardous Waste | Blood, body fluids, cell culture media, microbial broth cultures, aspirated cell culture waste, wash solutions from biological work | Must be chemically disinfected (e.g., 10% bleach or approved disinfectant) OR autoclaved prior to drain disposal | Sanitary sewer (after treatment) OR EHS pickup (as applicable) |
| Animal Biological Waste | Animal carcasses, tissues, organs, anatomical remains, infectious animal materials, teaching specimens | Must be double-bagged, sealed, and stored frozen if required. Must follow IACUC and biosafety procedures | Contact IACUC for coordination of disposal |
| Human Anatomical/Clinical Waste | Human cadaver tissue, organs, dissection specimens, preserved anatomical material, blood and body fluids from anatomy teaching labs, surgical teaching materials | Must be treated as high-risk pathological waste. Requires containment in leak-proof, labeled biohazard containers or anatomical waste containers. Must be stored under controlled conditions (often refrigeration or chemical preservation depending on program). Must never be disposed of via regular biohazard bags or drain disposal. | Must be collected by approved EHS Contractor. |
| Recombinant/GMO Waste | Genetically modified organisms, transgenic plants/animals, recombinant microbial cultures, gene-editing experiment materials | Must follow approved biosafety protocols corresponding to the assigned biosafety level (BSL) and IBC-approved procedures. | Autoclave disposal stream or EHS pickup (as applicable) |
| Contaminated Biological Glassware | Broken culture tubes, Pasteur pipettes contaminated with biological material, non-sharp contaminated glass items | Must be placed in rigid, labeled biohazard glass containers. May require autoclave prior to disposal | Broken glass box after decontamination or EHS pickup (as applicable) |
| Mixed Biological Waste | Waste contaminated with multiple biological agents or requiring enhanced containment procedures | Must follow highest applicable Biosafety Level requirements. May require sequential decontamination steps | case-by-case contact IBC and/or EHS for guidance |
