The UCSF Radioactive Materials License specifically prohibits the decay of radioactive waste materials and subsequent disposal into the ordinary trash or sanitary sewer by laboratory personnel. The location should cleaned regularly and surveyed for contamination. All waste prepared for disposal must be kept off of the floor, preferably in a dedicated waste containment vessel such as a metal trash can with a step lid or a lucite box. The containment vessel must be labeled for use with radioactive waste material. See Figure 9.2 for examples of radioactive waste container labels.
Secondary containment is recommended for liquids.
See Figure 9.3 for examples of radioactive waste tags. Upon correction of the deficiency, the waste will be picked-up. The costs of collecting and disposing of radioactive wastes are recharged to laboratories on a monthly basis. The recharge rate is based on waste category and waste volume.