Red Bag Waste
What are RMW boxes used to collect?
Contaminated plastic and paper items.
-Petri dishes
-Plastic containers
-Conical tubes
-Test tubes
-Paper towels/kimwipes
Do sharps containers need to be closed when not in use?
Yes, just like RMW boxes.
Can you dump liquid biological waste down the drain without disinfecting it first?
No, all liquid bio waste needs to be disinfected prior to drain disposal.
Should bleach solutions (spray bottles/squeeze bottles etc.) be made fresh daily?
Yes.
Does liquid biowaste need secondary containment?
Yes, the best practice is to provide secondary containment for any form of liquid waste in the lab.
What days does Veolia come onsite to collect RMW waste?
Monday and Thursday.
Should sharps containers be used for kimwipes, gloves, or similar waste?
No, generally we want to reserve the use of sharps containers for the proper items. Those other forms of waste can generally go into the RMW box.
What final concentration should be bleach when disinfecting liquid waste?
10% of the total volume of the waste should be bleach (1 part bleach, 9 parts liquid waste).
Is the contact time for bleach the same when using it to disinfect surfaces?
Yes
Where are bleach stocks located?
Under the lab sinks.
Yes, per BSL2 requirements.
What is the biggest hazard associated with sharps containers?
Being overfilled and attempting to address the excess sharps by hand.
What is the proper contact time for bleach when using it as a disinfectant?
30 minutes.
Can you use Ethanol for liquid disinfection?
No, ethanol or IPA should only be used for surface cleaning, especially with stainless steel.
Is bleach considered a hazardous chemical?
Generally yes, it's corrosive, especially to eyes and skin. You should be wearing ppe when handling bleach.
Can you dispose of a syringe (no needle, just the plunger portion) in an RMW box?
No, in the state of MA, those are still considered sharps and need to go in a sharps container.
Should you put a full bench-top sharps container into the larger floor version?
No, the full bench-top containers can go into an RMW box.
Closed containers of any size of liquid waste can be put into RMW boxes or sharps containers.
No, no liquid at all in sharps containers, and generally only capped/sealed containers of liquid 5ml or less can go in an RMW box.
Does lab equipment need to be decontaminated/disinfected before removal?
Yes, all equipment must go through some form of decon process before it gets removed from the lab.
Can you use our autoclave to treat biological waste?
Yes.
What is the weight limit of an RMW box (+ or - 5 lbs)?
Generally 55 lbs.
When deciding if something is a sharp, what is the simplest question you can ask?
Should you write the word waste on a liquid waste container?
No, generally you don't need to label liquid waste containers and they should be emptied at the end of each day.
Can you use hydrogen peroxide as a disinfectant?
Generally yes, bench-top bioreactors with hard-to-reach areas and stainless steel parts (8%) and as a spray for surface disinfection.
What state department governs bio-waste regulations in MA?
Department of Public Health (MA Sanitary Code covers all regs for biowaste)