Specific Requirements - Mixed Wastes

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University of Toronto

Laboratory Hazardous Waste Management and Disposal Manual

5. SPECIFIC WASTE MANAGEMENT REQUIREMENTS

5.4 MIXED WASTES

Occasionally, laboratory waste may contain or be contaminated with a combination or mixture of biological, chemical and radioactive materials. This type of waste poses a challenge for disposal. Inactivation and disposal will be considered on a case-by-case basis, as required.

As a general rule for waste containing combinations of hazardous chemical, radioactive and biological agents, the biological hazard should be inactivated first.

Steam sterilization is generally not recommended for waste containing combinations of significant quantities of hazardous chemical, radioactive and biological agents.
Refer to disinfection procedures in Section 5.1. After disinfection, the remaining waste can be disposed of as chemical or radioactive waste.
Waste containing or contaminated with chemical and radioactive materials, will be treated as radioactive waste. Refer to Section 5.3.

For further information about procedures for waste containing hazardous chemicals or radioisotopes, contact Environmental Protection Services (Hazardous Materials), at (416) 978-7000 or e-mail <hazwaste.ehs@utoronto.ca>