PROCEDURES FOR PROCESSING AND DISPOSAL OF REGULATED MEDICAL WASTE (RMW) AND NON-REGULATED BIOLOGICAL WASTE

Reminder to Principal Investigators:

Principal Investigators are responsible for:

          1. making the determination as to whether or not their research generates Regulated Medical Waste as defined by the NJ Regulated Medical Waste Act.

          2. maintaining a Regulated Medical Waste Daily Log if you are generating RMW.

3. adopting appropriate procedures for the handling, segregation and documentation of RMW and Non-regulated Waste in their laboratories.

4. ensuring that they and their staff and students have attended a RMW Orientation provided by Rutgers Environmental Health and Safety (REHS) and attend the yearly refresher.

Determining if You Generate Regulated Medical Waste

          The NJ Regulated Medical Waste Act defines RMW as waste generated from one of the three following processes which ALSO fits one of the seven classes of waste listed.

“RMW is any solid waste generated:

          -in the diagnosis, treatment or immunization of humans or animals

          -in research pertaining to the above

          -in the production or testing of biologicals.  Biologicals are preparations made from living organisms and their products, including vaccines, cultures etc. intended for use in diagnosing, immunizing or treating of humans or animals, or in research pertaining thereto.”

Classes of Waste:

          1. Cultures and Stocks
          2. Pathological Wastes
          3. Human Blood and Blood Products
          4. Sharps
          5. Animal Waste
          6. Isolation Waste
          7. Unused Sharps

In general this includes any materials which come in contact with:
-human blood, blood products or fluids
-human tissue
-cultures lines derived from humans
-any agent or organism that is pathological to humans or animals
-any organism used in immunization of humans or animals
-REHS has adopted the policy that all needles and syringes are to be considered regulated.

Overclassified RMW vs. Non-Regulated Waste

          Overclassified RMW is waste which does not meet the above criteria, and is therefore non-regulated, but which may resemble Regulated Medical Waste.  Materials of this type can be collected and disposed of as overclassified RMW.  This waste is then picked-up by a special hauler provided by REHS.

However, we have established a parallel procedure for the disposal of Non-Regulated Waste on the Newark Campus.  This waste is collected in special green labeled boxes that can then be safely disposed of in the normal trash stream.  This process saves on time consuming documentation.

Procedure for Processing Regulated Medical Waste and Non-regulated Waste. 

1. First determine if you are disposing of regulated (RMW) or non-regulated waste.
-regulated and non-regulated waste should be collected and processed separately.

2. Waste should also be segregated in each laboratory in appropriate containers based on type (sharps or non-sharps).

          -needles and syringes must be collected in rigid autoclavable containers separate from all other waste.  REHS has decided that needles and syringes are always to be considered Regulated Medical Waste regardless of their application.

-glass pipettes must be collected in autoclavable rigid containers.

          -collect all other disposables in clear autoclavable bags.  DO NOT use red or orange bags.

3. Affix autoclave indicator tape to the bag or container, place in an autoclavable plastic tray, and sterilize in an Autoclave (Boyden room 327 or 222B) for a minimum of 15 minutes.  (See Albert Le Goff for instruction on how to safely use the Autoclaves.)

Note: All bags and containers must be labeled with the name of the lab and date on label tape affixed to the exterior of the container or bag. Waste containers and bags must be completely processed in 24 hours!

4. When cooled, transfer waste to either a Regulated or a Non-regulated waste box as appropriate.  These boxes are available in Boyden Hall room 327.  A box sealer is provided for convenience.

          -Regulated Medical Waste (RMW) box = Red Labeled with the Biohazard Symbol

          -Non-regulated Waste box = Green Labeled Sunburst Symbol

          Note: It is important that wastes containing agar are allowed to cool sufficiently before being placed in a disposal box. Leaks will destroy the boxes.  Large volumes of liquid culture media should be autoclaved separately.  Once thoroughly sterilized, most culture media can be drain disposed

5. Regulated Medical Waste containers and bags must be labeled after sterilizing using the small "medical waste" labels provided in Boyden 327.

          -provide all requested information on the labels.

          -be sure to weigh and log your regulated waste in your labs Regulated Medical Waste Daily Log.  A scale is provided in Boyden 327 for convenience.

          -seal full boxes with sealing tape

          -regulated waste boxes are stored in Boyden 327 for pick-up.  Albert Le Goff will arrange a pick- up as needed.

Important: If your lab generates RMW, you must keep a RMW Daily Log that documents the production and processing of regulated waste on a daily basis.  This log can be requested for inspection by government authorities.

7. Non-regulated Waste boxes should be sealed and placed in the hall for disposal by Physical Plant.

          Additional information about Regulated and non-Regulated Waste can be obtained at the REHS web site under "Biosafety" at: http://rehs.rutgers.edu/

          If you have any questions regarding the disposal of Regulated or Non-regulated waste contact REHS at 233-5-2550 or Albert Le Goff at alegoff@newark.rutgers.edu