http://www.usf.edu

| Prospective Students | Our Students | Visitors | Faculty & Staff | Alumni & Parents | Business & Community | Campuses |

USF Home > College of Arts and Sciences > Office of Facilities, Safety, and Security

Waste Management Information

Biological Waste Disposalis administered by the Environmental Health and Safety Office. All biological waste must be disposed of in the red biological waste containers. Do not put Biological waste in normal trash containers.Syringes and pasteur pipettes must be disposed of in sharps containers and the containers placed in the red Biological waste bins. Contact Charles Brown, (813) 974-0869 with questions regarding Biohazard Waste.

Chemical Waste Disposal- Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) is responsible for collecting chemical waste.EH&S will also provide containers for the storage of chemical waste.Chemicals that should be held for waste include but are not limited to organic solvents, Mercury, Ethidium Bromide, Silver, and P-listed chemicals.Waste chemicals awaiting pickup should be stored in the Satellite Accumulation Area.

In order for chemicals to be picked up, waste forms from Environmental Health and Safety must be completely filled out, and submitted through the HITS.The waste container must be tightly closed, labeled as hazardous waste, and placed in the Satellite Accumulation Area.Questions about chemical waste can be directed to Bruce Smith, (813) 974-2555 or David Smith (813) 974-7986.

Empty Containers - non-P-listed chemical containers can be rinsed, the word "empty" written on the label, and disposed of in regular trash.  P-listed empty containers need to go to EH&S.  Since the department is maintaining a chemical inventory, bar codes should be removed from the empty bottles, and the bar codes should go to Mike Piazza.   

Sharps Containers - sharps containers are for the disposal of syringes, pipette tips and other sharp instruments contaminated with biologicals. Sharps containers must be purchased from vendors such as Fisher. EH&S does not provide sharps containers.Sharps containers should be labeled with the PI's name and room number, and disposed of in the large red biological waste containers.

Broken Glass Containers are for the disposal of broken glass ware and can consist of a card board box lined with a plastic bag.Once the box is full the bag should be tied, the box sealed shut with tape, and marked broken glass. The box can be set in the hallway and the janitorial service will remove the box.

Radioactive Waste is governed by the Radiation Safety Office, and the PI should follow the guidelines as established in the Radiation Safety Manual (PDF).  This includes record of use sheets, and storage of waste in containers provide by Radiation Safety.