Hazardous and Universal Waste Program
Laboratory Waste Container Matrix
The Chemistry/Biochemistry Department and the Biology Department have each standardized on the types of waste containers and the labels used to identify and collect their various waste streams. A link to each Department's Laboratory Waste Container Matrix is found here:
- Chemistry & Biochemistry Department Lab Waste Container Matrix
- Biology Department Lab Waste Container Matrix
Non-Hazardous Waste
Certain non-hazardous waste must be handled in specified manners:
- All “sharps” or needles must be disposed of in “sharps containers” available from EHS. Sharps are defined broadly as any laboratory waste item that can puncture human skin. This includes needles, syringes with needles, lancets, scalpels, razor blades, precision knives, pipettes and pipette tips. Broken glass is specifically excluded as it is addressed below.
- All broken glass must be disposed of in “broken glass” containers or in completely sealed cardboard boxes. Filled containers should be completely sealed with sturdy tape (to prevent puncture to the handlers), marked “FOR DISPOSAL”.
- Finely divided powders, such as silica gel or toners, must be placed in tightly sealed containers or bags before disposal.
- Biological and/or radioactive wastes are addressed separately from other laboratory wastes. Contact the Chemical Hygiene Officer, Sean Collins, for information on these wastes and waste disposal.
Sink Disposal
- DO NOT DISCHARGE ANY WASTE TO THE SEWER unless the EHS department has given explicit permission to do so. A list of permissible sewer discharges is in the SCU Wastewater Program.
SCU In-House Generated Container Labels
All hazardous and non-hazardous chemical containers (even water) and waste must be labeled. When you create a mixture, reagent, solution, waste, etc. you must label it using an approved SCU chemical container label which you can get from your lab manager, the EHS Department or print from the label templates links. Each label must be completely filled out. Hazardous waste labels require more information than hazardous materials labels so be sure to fully fill out each label.
For emergency response purposes, the Santa Clara Fire Department does not allow chemical abbreviations to be used on container labels in-lieu of the full chemical name. This applies to all containers of hazardous and non-hazardous chemical containers and wastes. Chemical names should be fully spelled out on the containers label. If a laboratory wishes to use chemical abbreviations on their container labels then you must define and post a list of abbreviations used in the lab at the lab entrance using the SCU Chemical Labeling Abbreviation List.
Chemical Label Templates
The following labels can be printed onto Avery Template 5162: