The correct disposal route for chemical and solvent waste from laboratories and workshops should be identified and documented in your risk assessment and operating procedures.

Where identified, the disposals of liquid laboratory/workshop hazardous waste via QMUL laboratory sinks must comply with Thames Water Effluent Permits issued to QMUL.  At no point is it permissible to dispose of hazardous waste via the QMUL surface drainage system.  Please see Waste Water - Trade Effluent for information and guidance. 

Hazardous chemical waste – includes but is not limited to laboratory chemicals, solvents - stocks and dilutions, residues from reactions, prepared samples from teaching laboratories,  concentrated acids and bases, pump and mineral oils etc.

All hazardous chemical waste must be fully labelled and disposed of via HSD following the procedure outlined below.  

It is legally not possible for chemical/solvent waste of unknown hazards to be transferred to the University waste contractor.  It is the responsibility of all QMUL staff and students to ensure that material is correctly identified and labelled at all times.  For further advice and guidance on this contact the HSD subject lead. 

Chemical Waste Documents:

Laboratory Hazardous Chemical Solvent Waste Disposal Procedure

Chemical Waste Disposal Form [XLS 290KB] 

Large Waste Label Template [DOC 956KB]

Small Waste Label Template [DOC 32KB]

Clinical waste is commonly defined as a type of waste that has the potential to cause infection or disease to any person coming into contact with it. Such waste is generated by QM teaching and research laboratories. Clinical waste may consist wholly or partly of human or animal tissue; blood or other body fluids; excretions; drugs or pharmaceutical products; swabs or dressings; syringes; needles or other sharp instruments

Hazardous waste that may contain chemical contaminants or cytotoxic / cytostatic compounds can be disposed of via the clinical waste route.

Consumables

Please use the Clinical Waste Consumables form to request the type and volume of clinical waste consumables you require on a weekly basis. Then for ad-hoc orders, to reduce or increase what is required. 

Yellow and Orange clinical waste bags

To reduce manual handling risks to QM Staff and Contractor yellow / orange clinical waste bags must NOT be filled with more than 5 kg (approx.) weight. Bags must be tried closed using the swan neck method.

Clinical Waste Bags_Guidance

Sharps and Ecolock bins.

Sharps and Ecolock bins must be assembled correctly before use.  When in use in a laboratory the sharps bin must face forwards so that the label is in view. The label must be filled out.

Sharps bin assembly and use_Guidance

Disposal

Hazardous clinical waste must be correctly segregated and packaged in the appropriate (supplied) coded/labelled yellow/orange clinical waste bag / sharp bin / ecolock according to the type of waste.

Clinical waste poster – within the lab. 

Correctly packaged hazardous waste bags and sharp bins must be transported safely to the designated yellow clinical waste carts, awaiting uplift. 

Clinical waste must be deposited in the yellow Stericycle (SRCL) carts only. Each type of waste must be deposited in separate carts.

Clinical waste poster – point of final disposal. 

For further information please see:

Management and Arrangements for Clinical Waste Disposals

Specific UK regulatory permits govern the disposal of radioactive wastes.

Please see the Ioninsing Radiation topic page for details.

Where the current service contract held by a department does not include the disposal of HEPA filters, HSD will arrange with an authorised hazardous waste contractor for uplift and final disposal by incineration.

Pre Disposal:

• All HEPA filters from Containment Level 3 MSC’s and room extraction systems must be fumigated with a validated fumigant before removal from the laboratory.
• HEPA filters from MSC’s where ACDP HG 2, Class 2 GMOs or Group 2 SAPO Agents are handled should be either (i) ‘made safe’ (e.g. by disinfection with a validated disinfectant) or (ii) fumigated with a validated fumigant.
• HEPA filters from MSC’s where Prion Agents classified as ACDP HG 2 or Class 2 GMOs are handled should be ‘made safe’ (e.g. by disinfection with a validated disinfectant).

Next Steps

• The filters must be safely and securely packaged in robust black or clear plastic bags by the service engineer.
• Certificates of decontamination must be placed in plastic pockets and secured to the outside of the wrapped filter.
• Complete the form at the end of the HEPA Filter Disposal Guidance Note & Form and email it to the clinical waste lead.

Please note the HEPA Filter Disposal Guidance Note & Form can also be used for the disposal of charcoal filters.

• QMUL Arrangements for the Safe Disposal of HEPA Filters

For disposal of charcoal filters please follow the same procedure as for HEPA filters: HEPA Filter Disposal Guidance Note & Form.

QMUL will generate a range of other waste which are classified as hazardous, disposal of these items can be arranged via Estates and Facilities and may incur additional charges; some examples are listed below.  

 * Items may require decontamination prior to disposal – Declaration of Decontamination [DOC 35KB]

   For further assistance contact the EAF Helpdesk.