pipettes, disposable/sharp instruments, etc. For Offsite practices: biohazard collection co. Close securely when 2/3’s full. Do not place container in red bag for disposal. Always place sharps in designated sharps container. Pathological Waste Human tissue (placenta, OR tissue, etc.) Red Bag - may need to double bag if leaks are possible; place pathologic waste in special labeled path waste container All path waste is incinerated offsite by Biohazard collection co. Small, unrecognizable pieces of tissue or parts of organs are autoclaved or disposed of as regular red bag waste. Contaminated patient care devices that cannot be emptied Pleuravacs, vacuum bottles, blood bags, etc Red bin; do not place within red bag. A solidifying agent is added to containers to cause secretions to gel prior to being discarded in the biohazardous waste container. Incineration or autoclave Service, For Offsite practices: biohazard collection co. Pleuravacs must be clamped before discarding. Areas generating high volume of containers with liquid contents that cannot be solidified contact VEHS for assistance. The liquid containers must be overpacked in secondary collection containers with an absorbent material (i.e. vermiculite). NOTE: For patients with transfusion reactions, send blood bag with bag copy of tag and administration tubing to the Blood Bank TYPE OF WASTE EXAMPLES CONTAINER USED DISPOSAL METHODS COMMENTS Contaminated patient care devices that can be emptied Suction canisters, wound drainage systems, (hemovacs, JP drains), dialysis lines, etc. If not flushed to the sanitary sewer, refer to information about items that cannot be emptied. If not flushed to the sanitary sewer, waste is incinerated or autoclaved. Carefully empty into a hopper, clinical sink, or commode. Use personal protective equipment if there is a reasonable likelihood for exposure due to splashing/ splattering. Isolation Any from an isolation room (including paper and food wastes) Red bag all waste from the isolation room Autoclave For Offsite Practices: All trash cans in an isolation room use red biohazard bags as all waste
biohazard collection co. from an isolation room is considered potentially infectious (per VUMC policy IC 10-10.01 Items visibly contaminated with blood or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM) items contaminated with blood or OPIM and which would release these substances in a liquid or state if compressed; items that are caked with dried blood or OPIM and are capable of releasing these materials during handling Red bag - may need to double bag if leakage is possible Autoclave For Offsite Practices: biohazard collection co. For tissue (placenta, OR tissue) see Pathological Waste in this table. Patient care devices (not contaminated with blood) Foley bags, IV bags and tubing, blue pads, urine cup (if no blood), vaginal speculums, etc. Clear or tan bag Landfill Any patient item that is not visibly contaminated with blood/body fluid. General Waste Pizza boxes, soda cans, fast food wrappers, flowers, newspapers, magazines, paper wrappings from sterile items, paper towels, etc Clear or tan bag Landfill Do not place these items in red bags even if they are from an isolation room. Recyclable Soda cans, paper Clear Recycled Rinse prior to placement in recycling container TYPE OF WASTE EXAMPLES CONTAINER USED DISPOSAL METHODS COMMENTS Chemotherapy Waste Chemotherapy bags, etc. * Refer to sharps section above for needle disposal Cytotoxic waste bucket or container lined with cytotoxic waste bags Incineration Service, For Offsite practices: biohazard collection co. Return unused drug to pharmacy Pharmaceutical Waste Controlled Meds Follow VUMC Policy CL Pharmaceutical Waste “B” and “P” listed EPA regulated pharmaceutical waste BLACK container for B/P waste Incinerated as chemical waste Pharmaceutical Waste “A” listed EPA regulated pharmaceutical waste BLACK container with green label Managed and Incinerated as aerosol waste Pharmaceutical Waste Unused, partial bags/vials of NON-EPA regulated Pharm waste BLUE waste container Incinerated Pharmaceutical Waste Electrolyte/glucose/ lactated ringers IV fluids (NO medications) Sewer disposal
Chemical Collodion, xylene, toluene, formalin, etc and “V” listed pharmaceutical Liquid Waste - chemically compatible container (such as the container it came in) Solid Waste - Approved VEHS sealed bag or box Licensed disposal service Incinerated as chemical waste Pick-up managed by VEHS. Request a hazardous waste pick-up through the VEHS website at . Radioactive Radioactive isotopes Yellow bag with special markings Decay to background on-site or sent to NRC location Pick-up managed by VEHS. Request a hazardous waste pick-up through the VEHS website at . Protected Health Information Defined in VUMC Policy IM Refer to VUMC Policy IM 10-30.18 NOTE: A printable copy of the VUMC Hazardous Waste Disposal Guidelines is available on edocs.