Laboratory Glass

Laboratory glass could puncture regular waste bags and endanger waste handlers. Do not pick up broken glass with your hands. Wear cut-resistance gloves, use tongs, or a disposable broom and dustpan to pick up broken glass. Collect broken glass as carefully and completely as possible.

Clean or contaminated with nonhazardous materials:

• Place clean glass into a sturdy container marked “Clean Lab Glass."
• Custodial will dispose as nonhazardous waste.
• See SafetyNet #12, “Why Didn’t the Custodian Pick Up my Trash” for more information .

Contaminated with biohazardous agent:

• Place into a hard walled sharps container (red with biohazard label).
• Label contents, room number and building and place in approved medical waste container or contact EH&S for pick-up.

Contaminated with toxic or hazardous chemicals:

• Place into a hard walled sharps container (non-red without biohazard label).
• Label with a hazardous waste label, and contact EH&S for pick-up as a hazardous chemical waste.

Contaminated with radioactive waste:

• Place into a hard walled sharps container (non-red without biohazard label).
• Label with radioactive tape, and place full sealed container in a dry radioactive waste box.
• Contact EH&S for pick-up as radioactive waste.

Contaminated with biohazardous agent and carcinogenic or hazardous material:

• If the chemical disinfectant for the biohazardous agent is compatible with the hazardous material, disinfect the material and place into a hard walled sharps container (non-red without biohazard label).
• Label with a hazardous waste label, and contact EH&S for pick-up as a hazardous chemical waste.
• If the disinfectant is not compatible with the hazardous material, cover the spill with paper towels and call EH&S for assistance.

Contaminated with biohazardous agent and radioactive material:

• Cover the spill with paper towels and call EH&S for assistance (530-752-1493).