Biological Safety
Biological Waste
Attention: Waste services described on this page are available only to members of the campus community at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
- Submit a Sharps Pick Up Request
- Order New Sharps Disposal Containers (SDCs)
- Handling and Disposal of Lab Sharps
- Disposal of Non-Contaminated Laboratory Glassware
- Disposal of Personal Use Needles and Syringes
- Treatment and Disposal of Biological Materials
- More Information/Questions
Submit a Sharps Pick Up Request
The University of Illinois Division of Research Safety (DRS) will pick up your full sharps disposal containers after you have submitted a sharps pick up request.
For instructions or assistance on how to log in to submit a sharps pick up request, please visit http://www.drs.illinois.edu/help/loginhelp.htm.
ATTENTION: If your sharps are contaminated with radioactive materials, please use the Online Radioactive Waste Pick Up Request Form located at: https://www.drs.illinois.edu/DrsRss/.
Order New Sharps Disposal Containers (SDCs)
Sharps disposal containers are available from Campus Stores - at no charge - for laboratories or departments, as well as employees who need to dispose of needles/syringes while at work. Listed below are fives ways to acquire them:
- E-mail: cstores@illinois.edu
- Phone: 244-0139
- Fax: 244-1790
- Mail: 1609 S. Oak, Champaign, MC-662
- Walk-In: Campus Stores and Receiving View Map
Unsure what size container to request? View our size comparison graphic.
Handling and Disposal of Lab Sharps 
The Biological Safety Section, Division of Research Safety, administers the Sharps Disposal Program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The program provides the following services:
- Delivery of appropriate sharps disposal containers directly to laboratories by Campus Stores.
- Pick-up of full sharps disposal containers by the Biological Safety Section.
- Proper treatment and disposal of sharps in accordance with Illinois and federal laws and regulations.
Sharps are items that should be handled cautiously due to the potential hazards involved. To determine if an item is considered a “sharp”, refer to the chart below.
How do I handle laboratory sharps?
First, obtain an approved sharps disposal container from Campus Stores. These containers are closable, puncture resistant, leak-proof on the sides and bottoms, and available in 1-quart, 2-gallon, and 8-gallon sizes. Sharps disposal containers must be easily accessible to laboratory personnel and located as close as feasible to the area where sharps are used. When discarding sharps:
- Never bend, shear, break, or recap disposable needles or remove from disposable syringes.
- Place the item into the sharps disposal container immediately following use.
- Never reach into the sharps disposal container.
- Never empty the contents of the sharps disposal container into another container.
- Never remove the lid from the container.
- Never overfill a sharps disposal container; no materials should be sticking out the top.
- Never force materials into a sharps disposal container.
How do I obtain a delivery of sharps disposal containers?
Approved sharps disposal containers are available from Campus Stores at no charge to the laboratory or department.
Please visit our “Order New Sharps Disposal Containers (SDCs)” section for information on how to order new containers.
Unsure what size container to request? See our size comparison graphic.
How do I obtain a pick-up for full sharps disposal containers?
The University of Illinois Division of Research Safety (DRS) will pick up your full sharps disposal containers after you have submitted a sharps pick up request.
Please visit our “Submit a Sharps Pick Up Request” section for information on submitting a sharps pick up request.
What should I do with material that won't fit into the sharps disposal container?
Oversized items for disposal, such as a 20-liter flask contaminated with an infectious agent, may be carefully boxed for collection using an ordinary cardboard box. The box must be sturdy and no larger than 18" x 12" x 9". Bottom seams on the box should be taped, and the bottom lined with absorbent laboratory bench paper. Items should be emptied of all liquids before being packaged. The box lid should be closed and seams secured with tape. The box should be labeled on two sides with the words “OVERSIZED SHARPS” before calling for pick-up. Materials will not be collected if they are not packaged as described above.
| ALWAYS dispose of these items in sharps disposal containers: | NEVER dispose of these items in sharps disposal containers: |
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Still not sure? Call 333-2755 for help concerning the proper handling of any items contaminated with infectious agents.
Disposal of Non-Contaminated Laboratory Glassware
Glassware, intact or broken, should be disposed of in the regular trash as long as it:
- Is not contaminated with biological, chemical, or radioactive material
- Does not fit the definition of a sharp. Examples of laboratory glassware waste that is NOT considered a sharp:
- Intact or broken laboratory containers such as flasks, beakers, bottles, etc.
- Small glass containers, ampoules, test tubes, vials
- Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) plates, watchglasses
Large amounts of broken glass should be sealed in a lined cardboard box, labeled “broken glass”, and placed in a dumpster. Do NOT use a bag displaying the biohazard symbol “
” or the radiation hazard symbol “
” to line the cardboard box.
Disposal of Personal Use Needles and Syringes 
The campus Sharps (including needles and syringes) Disposal Program is administered by the Biological Safety Section, Division of Research Safety. The program provides the following services:
- Safer handling of potentially hazardous waste materials.
- Campus Stores delivery of appropriate sharps disposal containers directly to employees who need to use needles and syringes for medical reasons while at work.
- Pick-up of full sharps disposal containers by the Biological Safety Section.
- Proper treatment and disposal of sharps in accordance with all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations.
I have a medical condition that necessitates my use of needles and syringes while I am at work. How can I dispose of these items while at work?
A sharps disposal container should be used for disposal of needles and syringes used at work. Using a sharps disposal container for disposal of these items will ensure no one is injured and helps keep the University in compliance with all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations.
How do I obtain a delivery of a sharps disposal container?
Approved sharps disposal containers are available from Campus Stores, at no charge, to employees who need them to dispose of needles/syringes while at work.
Please visit our “Order New Sharps Disposal Containers (SDCs)” section for information on how to order new containers.
Unsure what size container to request? See our size comparison graphic.
How do I obtain a pick-up for full sharps disposal containers?
The University of Illinois Division of Research Safety (DRS) will pick up your full sharps disposal containers after you have submitted a sharps pick up request.
Please visit our “Submit a Sharps Pick Up Request” section for information on submitting a sharps pick up request
How do I handle personnel use needles and syringes?
First, obtain an approved sharps disposal container from Campus Stores. These containers are closable, puncture resistant, leak-proof on the sides and bottoms, and available in 1-quart and 2-gallon sizes. When discarding sharps:
- Never bend, shear, break, or recap disposable needles or remove from disposable syringes.
- Place the item into the sharps disposal container immediately following use.
- Never reach into the sharps disposal container.
- Never empty the contents of the sharps disposal container into another container.
- Never remove the lid from the container.
- Never overfill a sharps disposal container; no materials should be sticking out the top.
- Never force materials into a sharps disposal container.
What else can I dispose of in the sharps disposal container?
Sharps disposal containers are only for items defined by Illinois regulation as “sharps”, such as needles and syringes. Other waste, like Kleenex or candy bar wrappers should go in the regular trash. If you have questions about the definition of a “sharp”, please contact with the Biological Safety Section at 333-2755 or via e-mail.
Treatment and Disposal of Biological Materials 
Proper treatment and disposal of cultures and items contaminated by potentially biohazardous agents is a vital step toward protecting laboratory and service personnel from infectious disease. This waste handling process is also necessary to prevent the release of potentially infectious agents into the community at large. Treatment and disposal of biological waste is regulated by several federal and state agencies. General guidelines for handling this waste stream are provided below. Questions regarding these procedures should be directed to the Biological Safety Section, Division of Research Safety at (217) 333-2755 or via e-mail.
Cultures, Stocks, & Disposable Labware
All non-sharp laboratory materials utilized in experiments with biological materials (e.g. cell cultures, microorganisms, recombinant DNA, animal or human tissues, etc.) must be treated prior to disposal by an approved decontamination method such as autoclaving. If autoclaving is used, waste materials should be collected in an autoclavable bag that is stored in a leak-proof container with a lid. All biohazard containers must be labeled with stickers displaying the international biohazard label. If you need “Biohazardous Material” stickers for your biohazard containers you can request them using our online Biowaste Disposal form or via e-mail.
All autoclave bags (including clear) MUST display the international biohazard symbol. After autoclaving, any bag displaying the biohazard symbol must be over bagged with an opaque trash bag and sealed prior to disposal in the regular waste stream. Bags with the biohazard symbol, regardless of use, must not be placed, without over bagging, in the regular waste stream.
Other methods for decontamination exist (e.g., decontamination by bleach, ethanol, etc.). Autoclaving may not always be a suitable method. The Biological Safety Section should be consulted for appropriate uses of alternate decontamination procedures.
Biotoxins
Biological toxins are chemical hazards with biological origins. Disposal of biotoxins and contaminated waste presents special challenges. For information on proper handling and disposal, see the Fact Sheet Handling and Disposal of Biotoxins available at: http://www.drs.illinois.edu/bss/factsheets.
Pathological Waste
Pathological waste includes animal carcasses, tissues and organs and human tissues and organs. University policy requires certain types of pathological waste be disposed of by incineration. However, some pathological waste may be appropriate to be sent for rendering via a commercial vendor.
Incineration Requirement
All of the following animals and tissues or organs from these animals must be incinerated:
- Any animal inoculated with infectious agents.
- Transgenic animals, potentially transgenic animals, “no-takes” in the production of transgenic animals, and off-spring of transgenic animals.
- All sheep and goats.
- Small research animals (e.g., cats, dogs, rabbits, rats, mice, birds, etc.)
- Human tissues or organs.
There are no exceptions to this policy without prior notification and approval by the Division of Research Safety, Biological Safety Section.
Rendering Option
Rendering of pigs, horses, and cattle is a disposal option as long as these animals:
- Are not transgenic, potentially transgenic, “no-takes” in the production of transgenic animals, or offspring of transgenic animals.
- Have not been inoculated with infectious agents.
- Have not been contaminated with radioactive materials.
- Are not suspected of having rabies or have been cleared by a negative rabies test.
- Do not contain insecticides, herbicides or rodenticides.
- Do not contain polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) or polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs).
- Do not contain heavy metals (i.e. lead, arsenic, chromium, cadmium, mercury, selenium).
Also, any adult cattle with a central nervous system disorder should not be rendered.
Packaging Requirements for Incineration
Materials for incineration must be packaged and labeled by the generating laboratory.
- Bags for incineration must NOT contain glass or liquids.
- Place no more than thirty pounds of pathological waste in a thick (3-4 mil) opaque bag.
- Twist the top closed, fold it over at the top, and tape securely with duct tape. Double bagging may be necessary to prevent leakage and/or protrusion of sharp edges.
- Each bag must have a completed DRS INCINERATION TAG securely attached to the handle.
- Refrigerate or freeze waste between disposal and pickup.
Materials not packaged or labeled properly may be refused.
You can request Incineration Tags using our online Biowaste Disposal Form or via e-mail. If you have questions about how to properly fill out an Incineration Tag you can find instructions at http://www.drs.illinois.edu/pathwaste/.
Transport of Materials to the Incineration Cooler
Properly packaged materials may be delivered during normal business hours (M–F 8:00a – 5:00p) to the incineration cooler located on the loading dock at the rear of the Veterinary Medicine Basic Sciences Building View Map.
- Go to 1137 VMBSB, fill out the incineration log and ask for the key to the incineration cooler.
- Place your properly packaged waste in one of the large red carts located on the right (North) side of the cooler.
- Relock the cooler and return the key to 1137 VMBSB.
Materials not packaged or labeled properly may be refused.
To schedule pickup of pathological waste for incineration you can use our online Biowaste Disposal Form or contact us via e-mail. For either method of transport, if more than 400 pounds of waste is going to be generated in a one week time period, the Principal Investigator must provide three weeks notice.
Fixed Tissues
Fixatives must be separated from the tissue and collected in an approved container for collection and disposal by the Chemical Safety Section. Follow these instructions on how to properly prepare chemical waste for collection by the Chemical Safety Section. Package drained tissues as described above for pathological wastes. Materials not packaged or labeled properly may be refused.
Bedding
Bedding from animals inoculated with infectious agents should be treated and disposed of by incineration. Package bedding as described above for pathological wastes. Materials not packaged or labeled properly may be refused.
More Information/Questions
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Waste Disposal Decision Guide is a handy overall reference guide for determining how to properly dispose of laboratory waste. If you have additional questions about handling and disposal of biological waste, contact the Division of Research Safety, Biological Safety Section (333-2755 or via e-mail).
