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Waste Disposal Systems and Recycling

The EHS department ensures safe, compliant, and sustainable waste disposal across campus. We manage chemical, biological, radioactive, and recycling systems while protecting human health and the environment.

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Disposal Processes

EHS ensures that all waste—including chemical, biological, radioactive, and unusual materials—is collected, stored, and disposed of safely and in compliance with regulations.

How do I get this Medical Waste removed?

The Department of Health and Safety (DHS) is responsible for compliance with and enforcement of the federal and state laws and regulations that apply to the use and disposal of biologically hazardous materials. Specific regulations and policies are located in the Biological Safety Manual.

The University no longer incinerates any materials on campus.

Medical Waste disposal requires the services of an outside contractor and the segregation of waste materials at the departmental level.

How to Package Medical Waste for Disposal:

  1. Medical Waste must be packaged in the containers provided by Health & Safety.
  2. Containers will be red, plastic drums with handles. 22″ wide by 28″ high.
  3. All containers will be provided with a liner. Medical Waste must be placed in the provided liners.
  4. Containers may be filled up to a maximum weight of 45 pounds (21 Kg)
  5. Sharp Materials (Sharps – needles, broken glass, and other contaminated materials that could potentially pierce the inner liner) must be placed in puncture resistant containers.
  6. Animals must be frozen and packed for shipment on the day the shipment is scheduled to be picked up.
  7. Each liner must be twisted and tied with an overhand knot to prevent any liquid leaks and to meet shipping requirements.
  8. The container must be securely closed.
  9. Labels on the container must not be defaced, covered or removed.
  10. A Request for Biomedical Waste Disposal, Form DHS-71 must be submitted with the waste.
  11. When you have full container, call DHS 5433. You will be put on the pick-up schedule.

Chemotheraputic Waste and Animal Wastes must be segregated for our disposal contractor. Be sure your forms clearly indicate Animal or Chemotheraputic Wastes so we may label the containers properly prior to removal for disposal.

  • Medical Waste and Pathological Waste follow the same disposal procedures.
  • Autoclaved Waste requiring disposal as a medical waste will be collected like any other non animal medical waste materials.
  • No materials stored in a Biohazardous Bag (red or orange) may be disposed of into the ordinary or laboratory trash.
  • Autoclavable material must be rendered inactive by sterilization, or other acceptable methods, under the supervision of the principal investigator.
  • Required sterilization and disposal methods:
  • Animal Carcasses – Freeze prior to removal & package as Biomedical Waste (TYPE 4 DESIGNATION) for Incineration offsite.
  • Autoclavable Materials – Materials requiring processing after autoclaving – package as Biomedical Waste (TYPE 6 DESIGNATION) for Incineration offsite.
  • Educational (Classroom) Materials that can be rendered harmless by autoclaving – Autoclave Sterilization, remove Biohazard Markings, disposal in ordinary trash.
  • Research Materials, even if they may be rendered harmless by autoclaving – Autoclave Sterilization, package as Biomedical Waste (TYPE 6 DESIGNATION) for Incineration offsite
  • Sharps, glass etc. – All Sharps – Package as Medical Waste (TYPE 6 DESIGNATION) for Incineration offsite.
  • Liquids – Autoclave Sterilization followed by Drain Disposal Solids and Sludges produced during Liquid Autoclaving – Package as Medical Waste (TYPE 6 DESIGNATION) for Incineration offsite.

The disposal of hazardous chemicals is strictly regulated under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the Mississippi Hazardous Waste Management Regulations, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations CFR 40, parts 100 – 399. Individuals who do not follow procedures in complying with state and federal regulations are individually responsible for possible fines and/or imprisonment.

No Hazardous Chemical Substance shall be disposed of into the sanitary sewer (sink), into the atmosphere (vent hood), or into the normal University trash (dumpster).

Chemicals must be disposed of only through the Department of Health and Safety (DHS). This will normally be done at no cost to the generator if the following procedures are strictly adhered to. Only the Health and Safety Officer or the Chemical Safety Coordinator are authorized to pick up waste chemicals. The transport of waste chemicals to the DHS facilities by persons other than the Health and Safety Officer or the Chemical Safety Coordinator is prohibited.

Waste Chemicals are normally picked up on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, weather permitting.

What you need to know…
  • When it is raining, bottles get slippery, your waste will not be picked up.
  • When the temperature outside is below 20 degrees or over 95 degrees, your waste will not be picked up.
  • There are several hundred areas on the campus that utilize the Health and Safety Chemical Disposal Services, chances are that when you call for a pick-up, you will not be the first person on the list.
  • Calls are usually serviced in the order received, unless several requests can be serviced in one area / floor. There may be delays of up to a week or more depending upon prior calls received, end of semester lab cleanouts, unforeseen emergencies, and other incidents that take precedent to disposal requests.
  • You should prepare your area to hold no less that three times your normal production of waste. For example, if you normally call when you have five gallons solvents, you should be prepared to collect as much as an additional 10 gallons of waste materials prior to pick up.
  • Do not wait until all of your waste containers are full before you call. You will probably be disappointed. No, we will not drop everything that we have scheduled to come and get your waste.

 

1. Containers

Laboratories that collect more than 4 gallons of mixed solvents on a regular basis (weekly) will need to use 5 gallon carboys or jerricans for waste solvent collection. Health and Safety will no longer pick up large amounts of solvents packaged for disposal in glass containers.

Chemicals for disposal must be placed in a nonreactive, sealed container with a screw type cap.

What you need to know:

  • Waste containers must be closed, except when adding or sampling materials. A funnel in the top of a waste container is not considered “closed”.
  • If you place chemicals in reactive containers (Hydrochloric acid in a steel can), you materials will not be picked up.
  • The outside of the containers must be clean and free of chemical contaminants and residues.
  • Containers must not be overfilled. Liquid containers filled past the necks of the bottles or carboys will not be picked up.
  • Liquid waste should not contain solids. Pipettes, stirring bars, glass rods, etc., should be removed from waste containers. Liquid containers found to contain large amounts of solids will not be accepted.
  • Containers that will be lab-packed will not be returned. Consult with DHS before you use an expensive container (Stainless Jar, vacuum flask, etc.) for waste collection.
  • Bulk liquid containers in good condition will be returned. If a Bulk Container is anyway disfigured, bulging or cracking, it will not be returned. DHS will dispose of the unacceptable container. DHS does not supply replacement containers.
  • Containers with cracked or corroded caps will not be accepted.
  • Containers with cork stoppers, rubber stoppers, “Parafilm” or duct tape tops will be rejected.
  • Containers with multiple labels, unclear labels, abbreviated chemical names, or chemical symbols only will be rejected.
  • Incompatible wastes (materials that can have a potentially dangerous reaction, explosion, or release of toxic gases, vapors, or fumes during the waste handling process) shall not be placed or mixed in the same container, see the table of compatible chemicals in the Appendix of the Chemical Safety Manual for more information.
  • A “Notice of Rejection of Waste” will indicate when materials and/or forms are unacceptable.
2. Labels

All Chemical Waste containers must be conspicuously labeled with the following information:

  1. “Hazardous Waste”,
  2. Full name(s) of chemical contents and approximate % if necessary. IUPAC and common names are acceptable, abbreviations or chemical formulas are not acceptable,
  3. Responsible Person or Supervisor, and,
  4. Building, room number and contact phone number.

What you need to know …

  • If you have a container that holds only unused materials, an original Manufacturer’s label is acceptable for disposal.
  • Containers with multiple labels, unclear labels, chemical formulas, or abbreviated chemical names will be rejected.
  • A second copy of the original disposal request form can be affixed to the container and used as a label.
3. Request for Hazardous Materials Disposal

When a chemical cannot be reused or exchanged, then a Request for Disposal of Hazardous Chemicals must be filed.

A chemical and physical description or analysis of the material must be submitted with the form. A manufacturer’s MSDS, attached to Form DHS-4, can be substituted for a complete chemical breakdown.

What you need to know …

  • Quantities of mixtures must be indicated in percent (%, ppm.) or in percent ranges. Ratios (10:2:23:4) of materials are not acceptable.
  • Forms with abbreviated chemical names, “trade names” or chemical symbols only, will be rejected.
  • Forms with nonspecific names (halogenated solvents, HPLC waste, acid waste, etc.) are not acceptable. ALWAYS indicate the presence of acids or bases in mixtures, even trace amounts.
  • Collection of hazardous chemical waste will be completed by the Health and Safety Officer or the Chemical Safety Coordinator.
  • If you need assistance in filling out a disposal request form, call the DHS at 5433.
  • If you tape the disposal request form to the bottle, your waste will not be collected.
  • However, you can make a second copy of the disposal request form, and affix it to the container as a label.
  • If you fold your disposal request form in the shape of a scroll and squeeze it into the handle of the bottle, your waste will not be collected.
  • If your disposal request form is contaminated with chemical residues, if your form has acid burns, if your form has been previously wet with solvents, your waste will not be collected.
  • No containers of chemical waste will be removed by the Health and Safety Officer or by the Chemical Safety Coordinator, unless the containers are properly labeled and a completed Form DHS-4 has been filed and reviewed by DHS.
  • Chemical Wastes must be nonpathogenic, noninfectious, non-compressed, nonexplosive, end nonradioactive.
4. Request a Pick Up

Call Health and Safety at 915-5433 when you have Hazardous Waste materials for disposal.

Call DHS between the hours of 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday.

Be prepared to tell the operator what chemicals you have for disposal and what amounts you have prepared. It is essential that you know the amounts of materials as well as any unusual hazards involved in handling the waste materials. Just as many materials cannot be combined in a single container, many materials cannot be transported at the same time. If safety regulations or concerns arise, your material(s) may be removed over several days/visits.

What you need to know …

  • If you do not call, your materials will not be picked up.
  • Do not call for a pick up until your paperwork is completed.
  • Do not call unless your containers are ready.
  • If you call for a pickup and your materials are not ready, you will have to call again
5. Storage of Hazardous Waste Awaiting Disposal

Satellite Storage Areas – Federal regulations (40 CFR 262.34(c)(1)) allow a generator to accumulate as much as 55 gallons of non-acute hazardous waste or one quart of acutely hazardous waste in containers at or near any point of generation where wastes initially accumulate, provided that :

  • The storage area is under the control of the operator of the process generating the waste.
  • The waste must be placed in containers that are in good condition,
  • The waste must be compatible with the containers,
  • The containers must be marked with the words “Hazardous Wastes” and other words that identify the contents, and,
  • The containers are covered when the generator is not adding or removing waste.”
  • Any accumulation of hazardous waste at a satellite area in excess of 55 gallons, or one quart of any acutely hazardous waste must be marked with the date the excess amount began accumulating, and must be moved into to the Hazardous Waste Storage Facility within three days.

What you need to know …

  • Segregate waste chemicals by compatibility
  • Designate a single location for the storage of hazardous waste.
  • Find a location out of the way of normal lab traffic, but still accessible to employees. Whenever possible, keep hazardous waste in secondary containers (trays, buckets, etc.)
  • Fume hoods should not be used as designated waste storage areas.
6. Empty Containers

Empty containers of five (5) gallons or less may be placed in dumpsters if they meet the definition of the Resource Conservation Recovery Act (RCRA) empty container rule. Any container that previously held a hazardous chemical or waste is defined as empty if:

  1. No hazardous materials can be poured, pumped or drained from the container, AND,
  2. No hazardous materials remain in the container that can be feasibly removed, AND,
  3. The walls of the container must not contain any significant residual materials, AND,
  4. The label is removed or defaced, AND,
  5. The lid is removed, AND,
  6. The container is placed directly into a dumpster.

Triple-rinsing is not required to comply with the RCRA empty container definition.

These materials will be handled provided that the department submitting the waste will assume financial responsibility for the costs involved.

  • Explosives,
  • PCB contaminated materials,
  • compressed gasses,
  • equipment containing PCBs or
  • any waste possessing unusual disposal problems outside of the normal operations of the University waste management plan

For additional information in this regard, contact the Health and Safety Officer at 5433.

Waste Policies

These policies aim to protect human health, minimize environmental impact, and ensure adherence to local, state, and federal regulations.

As an institution of higher education, the University of Mississippi’s laboratories, offices and other facilities will be maintained as clean and healthy places of employment and study. The university’s policy is to minimize the production of hazardous and nonhazardous wastes and to prevent the production of air and water pollutants.

To this end, the university is committed to protecting the environment through waste reduction, conscientious recycling practices and by the reclamation of our waste materials. Every effort will be made to operate all university facilities responsibly and in compliance with the spirit and the letter of both the federal and state health, safety and waste laws and regulations.

It is a basic responsibility of all university employees and students to make the health and safety of their fellow human beings and the environment a part of their daily concern.

This responsibility must be accepted by everyone who conducts the affairs of the university, no matter in what capacity one may function.

By preventing or eliminating pollution production, we can improve the quality of our services, reduce our expenses, improve our efficiency and protect our environment.

Glassware must not be disposed of with normal trash. Building Services Personnel and others have been injured when carrying trash bags with broken glassware in them.

  • Several cuts or lacerations due to the improper disposal of laboratory glassware have recently been reported on the campus. In an effort to eliminate or minimize these injuries, certain procedures will be followed when discarding broken or unserviceable glassware.
  • Broken glassware should immediately be cleaned up. A laboratory should already have a small brush and dust pan available to clean up after small accidents. Forceps or duct tape can be used to pick up the smaller pieces of broken glass.
  • Discarded glassware must not contain any hazardous wastes, Medical Waste, Pathological Waste or Radiological Wastes.
  • If the glassware contains hazardous wastes or Radiological Wastes, please call Laboratory Services (5433) for disposal instructions.
  • If the glassware contains or is contaminated with any pathological or biological materials, refer to the Sharps and Biological Waste Disposal Flow Chart  or call Laboratory Services (5433) for disposal instructions.

What you need to know:

  • Discarded glassware must be placed in a small puncture proof, double-lined cardboard box or a container specifically designed for the disposal of glassware
  • The box must be securely sealed with tape.
  • Any cardboard box may be used, provided it is sturdy and of a size that will not weigh more than 40 pounds when full.
  • The container must be labeled as to the contents.
    • CAUTION LABORATORY GLASSWARE ONLY!
    • NO HAZARDOUS WASTE, MEDICAL WASTE, PATHOLOGICAL WASTE OR RADIOLOGICAL WASTES
    • YOU MUST PLACE THE CONTAINER DIRECTLY INTO THE DUMPSTER.
  • Never allow Custodial Services to handle broken glassware.
  • Never use laboratory glassware boxes  for the disposal of
    • Sharps
    • Biohazardous materials
    • Liquid wastes
    • Chemically contaminated laboratory glassware/plastics or plastic-ware
    • Chemical containers that can’t be disposed of as regular solid waste

Custodial Services are responsible for the cleanliness of the University facilities, including Offices, Classrooms, Meeting Rooms, Hallways and Restrooms. Other areas of the University usually require advanced technical training before personnel can fully understand and adequately protect themselves from the hazards within these areas. Since custodial staff are neither trained nor assigned to work in these areas, they will not provide unsupervised services in these areas. Laboratory personnel will be required to take care of their own housekeeping.

Specifically, custodians will provide no routine cleaning services within :

  • Laboratories,
  • Shops, Storage Rooms,
  • Areas designated by the Animal Care and Use Committee,
  • Other areas designated by the Superintendent of Custodial Services, the Fire Inspector, or the Research and Environmental Compliance Officer.

The following policy will protect the custodial staff while allowing for limited services to hazardous locations :

  1. No trash of any kind will be removed from inside any hazardous areas, including research laboratories, by custodial staff. If you wish to have your trash taken away, you must collect it from inside your lab and place it in a designated waste container just inside your lab door, or in an designated area outside your lab. Custodial Staff will specify collection areas for each lab or hazardous location.
  2. The waste cans to be used will be supplied. Waste cans containing trash from research labs will use trash liners of a distinguishing color to be supplied by the custodial staff.
  3. No glass bottles, i.e., solvent or empty chemical bottles, or sharps are to be placed in this trash. Broken glass must be placed in standard box containers. When these boxes are full, they must be sealed with tape and placed in the dumpster behind the building by the lab staff. See Disposal of Laboratory Glassware for specific instructions. Unbroken empty bottles are to be placed in the dumpster by lab staff. The custodians will not handle empty bottles.
  4. Sharps are to be collected in special containers designed for this purpose. Contact Shane Kesler for specifications and guidelines. Full containers will be collected by Laboratory Services.
  5. When custodial staff need access to a hazardous area for non-emergency cleaning (end of the semester, etc.) the Area Supervisor will :
    • provide continuous, Authorized Supervision while custodial personnel are in the area.
    • assure that all hazardous materials are capped, sealed and stored,
    • have all hazardous equipment powered down, and,
    • cease all hazardous operations.
  6. Established procedures for the disposal of Hazardous Materials (including waste solvents, solid chemicals, biohazards, radioactive materials, etc.) are not affected by this policy.

Biological and Pathological Materials

  • Disinfect work surfaces that may be contaminated with biological agents.
  • Autoclave and dispose of unwanted biological agents in appropriate containers.
  • All sharps (needles, pipets, lancets, broken glass, etc.) must be placed in puncture proof containers for disposal.
  • All waste must be clearly labeled and Laboratory Services (5433) must be contacted for removal.
  • Refer to Sharps and Biological Waste Disposal Flow Chart.

Hazardous Materials and Chemicals

  • All chemicals must be labeled and sealed.
  • All waste must be clearly labeled and Laboratory Services (5433) must be contacted for removal.
  • Wipe all surfaces and equipment with a warm solution of soap and water. This includes fume hoods, bench tops, refrigerators, sinks and floors.

Radioactive Materials and Radiation Generating Devices

  • A wipe test must be done on all surfaces and equipment where radioactive materials have been used.  Please submit this data to Laboratory Services.
  • Radioactive waste must be properly packaged. Contact Laboratory Services to request disposal of Radioactive Materials .
  • Remove all “Radioactive” labeling and signs from equipment once it is decontaminated.

The lab will be certified as Declassified by Laboratory Services when :

  • All Lab equipment has been decontaminated and surveyed,
  • All Radioactive materials are removed and secured,  and
  • All survey results are accepted and approved by Laboratory Services.

Recycling Systems

Recycling systems are designed to minimize waste, conserve resources, and reduce environmental impact by properly managing the collection and processing of recyclable materials.

Rechargeable batteries are regulated as hazardous waste when discarded. Environmental Health and Safety collects and recycles the following types of rechargeable batteries:

  • NiCad Batteries (regulated because of the toxic metal cadmium)
  • Lead Acid and Lead-Gel Batteries (regulated because of the toxic metal lead)
  • Mercury (button) Batteries (regulated because of the toxic metal mercury)
  • Lithium Batteries (regulated because of the water reactive metal lithium)

To fully comply with applicable regulations, Environmental Health and Safety will accept these batteries from all campus sources for proper disposal.

Automotive Batteries

  • The Service Station 915-7304 will collect vehicle batteries from all campus sources at no charge.
  • The service station will not pick up car batteries.
  • Please call the station or the Facilities Management 915-7051 if you need additional instruction or directions.

Battery Disposal

  • Common batteries and alkaline batteries are to be discarded with normal trash.
  • Most rechargeable cell phone batteries are regulated as hazardous waste when discarded.
  • Environmental Health and Safety collects and recycles all types of rechargeable batteries.

Environmental Health and Safety also accepts cell phones, with or without chargers, from all campus sources for recycling.
  • University-owned cell phones must be salvaged by Property Control and removed from departmental inventory.
  • Do Not Place University-owned Cell Phones in Recycling Containers!

All people on the Oxford campus, including residents of university-operated residence halls, apartments, and fraternity and sorority houses, are now responsible for collecting motor oil and for ensuring proper disposal and handling of this material.

The Service Station 915-7304 will receive used motor oil from all campus residents at no charge. The service station will not pick up used oil. Please call the station or the Physical Plant 915-7051 if you need additional instruction or directions.