scope:

This guideline is intended to provide information to clinical laboratories about the safe handling and disposal of hazardous wastes. It provides a brief summary of the relevant US federal regulations and laws related to laboratory waste management including chemical, infectious, radioactive, sharps, multihazardous, and nonhazardous waste. It further emphasizes methods for avoiding waste generation (source reduction) and reducing the volume and toxicity of unavoidable wastes (waste minimization); and provides options for handling, packaging, labeling, storing, recycling, transporting, treating, and disposing of each type of waste. The use of this guideline is not a substitute for awareness of current local, state, and federal regulations. The guideline itself should not be construed as a regulation. Despite the many similarities of clinical laboratories to one another, differences do exist; no single laboratory waste management program is appropriate for all facilities. This guideline should, however, provide a basis for the comprehensive waste management program in the user's laboratory. Although GP05-A3 may serve as a useful resource for a wider audience, it is based on US regulations and is intended for use primarily in the United States.