Laboratory waste

Gloves, paper towels, spill containment items etc

Gloves, paper towels, spill containment items or similar waste from operations in laboratories and workshops that is not hazardous and not possible to recycle - collect in containers for laboratory waste (e.g. boxes or in paper bags coated with plastic) and dispose of as combustible waste/residual waste.

Pipette tips

• University hospital campus: collect in a cardboard box for laboratory waste (not in a paper bag coated with plastic, due to the risk of needle stick injuries associated with the handling of bags), and dispose of as combustible waste.
• Campus Valla and Norrköping: collect in a cardboard box or a paper bag coated with plastic intended for laboratory waste (bags are ok to use, not handled manually), and dispose of as combustible waste/residual wast.

Laboratory glassware (not glassware used as packaging - should be recycled)

• Laboratory glassware such as beakers, measuring pipettes etc (broken/unbroken) collect in a box or similar, and then into a cardboard box for laboratory waste, and dispose of as combustible waste/residual wast. In case of larger amounts, contact Facilities Support (Campus Valla and Norrköping) or Coor Service (University hospital campus).
• Glassware contaminated with chemicals classified as hazardous – see section on Chemical waste.
• Sharp or piercing glassware of a smaller size (e.g. microscope slides, Pasteur pipettes, silicon wafers) – see section on Sharps.

Recycling of laboratory waste

Clean, dry packaging (paper/plastic/glass) is disposed of in vessels designated for these fractions.

A general rule is that a chemical product labelled with a hazard symbol or hazard pictogram must be handled as hazardous waste.

Whether chemical waste is classified as hazardous or not depends on how hazardous the substances it contains are, their concentrations and the potential combined hazard associated with the different substances. The properties and concentrations of the waste determines if it is classified as hazardous waste or not.

Small amounts of pharmaceutical products may be returned to the pharmacy from which they were purchased.

Larger amounts or old products must be packed in a cardboard box for hazardous waste labelled ‘Läkemedelsavfall’ and then sent together with hazardous waste. When ordering a collection of hazardous waste, state that pharmaceutical waste (‘Läkemedelsavfall’) is being collected. More informationsee the section on Hazardous waste.

Please note that there may also be other risks associated with the waste: it may be classed as infectious or it may contain chemicals classed as hazardous. Contact Linköping University's radiation protection expert or the person responsible for managing hazardous waste with any questions.

For information on handling and disposing of radioactive waste, consult the pages on Radiation protection.

Material and waste that has been in contact with or contain infectious agents are to be decontaminated before it is reused or discarded. Infectious waste includes infectious agents that can cause infection in humans (Risk Group 2-4) and waste that contain or has been in contact with human body fluids or tissue.

Decontamination is to take place as close to the source as possible with a validated method, for example autoclaving or chemical disinfection.

When the waste has been inactivated, it can be disposed of as combustible waste/residual waste or poured into a sink, if there are no other risks with the waste that needs to be considered (such as chemicals, antibiotics or radioactivity).

In a laboratory the strictest rules should apply to the whole laboratory. Example: If work with Risk Group 2 bacteria is carried out in a laboratory where also non-infectious organisms are used, all waste should be handled as infectious waste.

Infectious waste that contains sharp objects (e.g needles, scalpels, cannulae, microscope slides) are to be placed in safety containers labelled with “UN 3291” and the text “skärande och stickande avfall”, intended for infectious waste. See separate section “Sharp waste”.

Handling at Campus Valla and Norrköping

Sharp waste that is infectious is to be sent to approved facility for destruction, see section “Sharp waste”. All other infectious waste must be decontaminated locally (in each laboratory).

Handling at Campus US

Infectious waste containing agents in Risk Group 2 can in most cases be sent as infectious waste UN 3291 to an external facility for destruction. Waste containing infectious agents in Risk Group 3-4 must be inactivated locally (in the laboratory where it was generated). In these cases the waste handling routine needs to be approved by the Swedish Work Environment Authority in the process of notifying use of infectious agents.

Note! Make sure that the waste does not contain infectious agents in the higher risk category Category A (link here to MSB ADR-S, in Swedish). These are agents that when transported can result in permanent invalidity or life threatening/deadly disease in otherwise healthy persons or animals. Generally, the agents on this list belong to Risk Group 3 or 4, with a few exceptions of agents in Risk Group 2 (only cultures).

Packing and labelling of infectious waste UN 3291

Before being sent for destruction the waste needs to be packed and labelled according to the rules for infectious waste UN 3291. Waste containers to be used at LiU are available for purchase in the system Raindance.

Liquid waste is to be poured into tight fitting vessels before placed in the waste container (plastic or paper box). Vermiculite or other absorbing material needs to be added to the container in enough amount to absorb the total liquid volume in case the primary vessel(s) break(s).

Before the waste containers leave the laboratory, the containers must be firmly sealed/closed and the label or marking on the container filled out with name, phone number and division.

Place the waste containers in the recycling room ("miljörum") and order pick up by using the webform for Customer support, see "Contacts - Region Östergötland, campus US" in the column to the right.

All material containing genetically modified microorganisms (GMM) must be decontaminated before being reused or disposed of.

The decontamination is to take place as close to the source as possible with a validated method, for example autoclaving or chemical disinfection. In GMM R activities the decontamination needs to take place before the waste leaves the laboratory. The waste handling routine is to be approved by the Swedish Work Environment Authority in the process of notifying or applying for permit for use of GMM.

Handling at Campus Valla and Norrköping

There is no coordinated handling of GMM waste in place at these campuses. Therefore, the waste must be inactivated locally (in each laboratory). When the waste has been inactivated, it can normally be disposed of as combustible waste/residual waste or poured into a sink, if there are no other risks with the waste that needs to be considered (such as chemicals, antibiotics or radioactivity).

Handling at Campus US

If the GMM waste is to be sent for inactivation, it is to be packed and labelled in the same manner as infectious waste UN 3291

Living cell cultures and microorganisms must not be disposed of directly down the drain; this also applies to any antibiotics present (refer to the section on Antibiotic Waste). If the waste is classified as infectious or contains genetically modified microorganisms (GMM), consult the respective sections.

Once the waste has been deactivated, it may be poured out in the drain. However, consider other associated risks such as radioactivity, chemicals, or sharp/cutting objects (refer to the respective sections).

To deactivate non-infectious cell cultures, culture media, and microorganisms or non-GMMs, employ one of the following methods:

1. Autoclaving.
2. Chemical or other treatment. The chosen method must be validated for efficacy against the specific agent. Following chemical treatment, manage the waste as chemical waste (refer to the section on chemical waste).
3. Combustion. Pour liquid cell culture/medium/broth into a fully sealed container (such as a plastic bottle or jerrycan), filling it to no more than 75% capacity. For volumes less than 2 litres per container: Place in a laboratory waste cardboard box lined with a plastic bag, sorted as combustible waste/residual waste. Do not exceed 2 litres per lab waste cardboard box to minimize the risk of leakage.

Solid media with bacteria (e.g., agar plates) should be autoclaved to ensure deactivation before disposal as combustible waste/residual waste., or alternatively, handled as infectious waste using the central routine/procedure present at Campus US.

To prevent antibiotics from entering ecosystems and contributing to the development of antibiotic resistance, it is critical to minimize their discharge into the environment.

Antibiotics that rapidly degrade in nature, known as having a 'short eco-shadow,' may be disposed of down the drain but only in very small quantities. Conversely, more stable antibiotics with a 'long eco-shadow' must be properly destroyed, for instance, through autoclaving or by treating them as pharmaceutical waste (hazardous waste at LiU).

Please note that the guidelines below pertain to antibiotics found in substances like culture media or cell cultures. Pure antibiotic substances must be managed as pharmaceutical waste. There might also be additional hazards associated with the waste, such as other chemicals, radioactivity, sharps, infectious agents, or genetically modified microorganisms (GMMs), which require consideration (refer to the respective sections).

Below, you will find recommendations for the disposal of a number of antibiotics:

Obs! Antibiotika som ej är listade här, och vars egenskaper är okända,
hanteras som farligt avfall*!

Källa: Hallgren, Christina, Morgenstern, Ralf. Rekommendationer för behandling av antibiotikaavfall vid Karolinska Institutet (2009), med justeringar och tillägg av laboratoriesäkerhetskoordnator LiU.

Biological waste is defined as human tissue or solid which can be aesthetically offensive, for example:

• Tissues or organs.
• Identifiable body parts.
• Discarded anatomical preparations.

This does not include waste such as nails, hair or placenta.

This type of waste is subject to requirements in the National Board of Health and Welfare’s (Socialstyrelsen) general advice regarding precautions when handling and labeling of biological waste (in Swedish).

Campus Valla and campus Norrköping

1. Biological waste must be collected in a black plastic box (30 Liters) with lid. If the waste consists of a lot of liquid, there should also be absorbent material in the container. Only put in biological waste, not other waste such as gloves.
2. Label the box with a filled in yellow-black label for "Biological waste". Label the box before placing it in the freezer as it may be difficult to get the label to attach otherwise
3. Biological waste can be stored for up to 24 hours at room temperature. If stored for longer time, up to 5 days, it must be stored at a maximum temp of + 8 ° C. If the waste needs to be stored longer, it must be frozen. It can then be allowed to be stored for a maximum of 1 year before removal.
4. Order collection of biological waste in the same way as for collection of hazardous waste.

Waste containers and labels

Black plastic box (30 Liters) with associated lid can be purchased via LiU's Raindance purchasing system (see information on agreements etc. in "The collection of waste containers for labs and workshops available at LiU" in the column to the right).

There is currently no agreement to buy the labels, but they must be purchased from a vendor that has a label that meets the requirements of SOSFS 2001: 8, for exempel .

Campus US

1. Biological waste must be collected in a black plastic box (30 Liters) with lid. If the waste consists of a lot of liquid, there should also be absorbent material in the container. Only put in biological waste, not other waste such as gloves.
2. Label the box with a filled in yellow-black label for "Biological waste". Label the box before placing it in the freezer as it may be difficult to get the label to attach otherwise.
3. Biological waste can be stored for up to 24 hours at room temperature. If stored for longer time, up to 5 days, it must be stored at a maximum temp of + 8 ° C. If the waste needs to be stored longer, it must be frozen. It can then be allowed to be stored for a maximum of 1 year before removal.
4. Order collection of biological waste via internal logistics (inre logistik/vaktmästeri) by using the webform for Customer support, see "Contacts - Region Östergötland, campus US" in the column to the right.

Waste containers and labels

Black plastic box (30 Liters) with associated lid can be purchased via LiU's purchasing system Raindance (see information about agreements etc. in "The compilation of waste containers for labs and workshops available at LiU" in the column to the right) or via Region Östergötland. A compilation of the waste vessels available via RÖ can be found in the column to the right.

Labels can be ordered from RÖ's central depot (Sodexo). If labels are needed for just one occasion, they can also be obtained through internal logistics.

For other biological waste from humans

• Smaller quantities of test tubes containing human body fluids or emptied blood bags, etc. from persons without established infection can be treated according to instructions for combustible laboratory waste.
• Large quantities of human body fluids are treated as infectious waste, and materials from persons with established or suspected contamination must be handled according to instructions for Infectious waste!
• Tissues containing large amounts of chemicals, for example tissues in formalin / formaldehyde solution, are treated according to instructions for chemical waste.

Animal by-products – definitions and examples

Material that is derived from animals is known as an “animal by-product” and is defined as “material from the animal kingdom not intended for human consumption and that has not been processed or treated to derived products”. Example of animal by-products are dead animals (including laboratory animals or dissected animals) and by-products from slaughtered animals, such as blood that is not intended as food. Also for example wool, feathers, and eggshell are included in the concept of “animal by-product”.

European regulations on animal by products (by the European commission and by the national authority the Swedish Board of Agriculture.

The handling of animal by-products waste is different on different campuses, see description below.

Animal by-products category 1 at campus Valla and Norrköping

Packaging and labelling

• Animal by-products are to be packaged in such a manner that the packaging is not damaged by the contents - for examples by using a strong/heavy duty plastic bag (not transparent) or plastic boxes found in LiU:s purchasing system. Plastic bags are to be packed in a barrel.
• If the waste consists of a lot of liquid, there must also be absorbent material in the plastic bag/box.
• Only place ABP waste here, no other waste such as gloves.
• Label each box or barrel with the label " ABP kategori 1- endast för bortskaffande " in Swedish.
• Also fill in the sender's name and "LiU" on the label (NOTE! The same sender as stated on the commercial document).
• The box must be labelled before being placed in the freezer as it may be difficult to get the label to attach otherwise.
• Labels can be printed from the template in the column on the right.
• The waste can be stored for up to 24 hours at room temperature. For storage for up to 5 days, it should be stored at a maximum of + 8 ° C. If the waste needs to be stored for more than 5 days, it should be frozen and may then be stored for a maximum of 1 year before removal.

(At IFM, heavy duty plastic bags are availalable, contact the Environmental coordinator at IFM miljo@ifm.liu.se for details).

Commercial document

• Animal by-product-waste must always be accompanied by a commercial document (“handelsdokument”) during transport. Three examples of the “handelsdokument” must be issued by the sender: (1) the original, which accompanies the dispatched material to the recipient, (2) one copy for the transporter, and (3) one copy that is archived by the sender for at least 5 years.
• Template for the commercial document where information about LiU's transporter and recipient has already been filled in is available for download, see the column to the right. The writing fields are expandable when filling in commercial documents electronically.
• Each transport of ABP waste must be accompanied by a commercial document that must have its own reference number consisting of the date and abbreviation for the department / equivalent, e.g., 20220503-IFM.
• All fields that are not pre-filled or deleted on the commercial document must be filled in.
• Print the document double-sided.
• The original is completed and signed by a responsible person. Signatures must be made in a color other than the printed text, e.g., in blue.
• Note that the signature means that the sender takes responsibility for the ABP waste being correctly packaged and that the information in the commercial document is correct!
• NOTE! It is important that the number of packages (boxes) to be sent away corresponds to what is stated in the commercial document.
• In addition, different types of transport documentation are also issued by the transporter (cargo declaration, waste declaration or equivalent) and these must be archived by the sender for at least 5 years. Documentation regarding the actual weight of the waste is stated in the invoice, a copy of the invoice must therefore be archived together with the other documentation.
• The sender of animal by-product-waste must keep a register over amounts sent off - this legal requirement is achieved by archiving the documents and invoice as stated above. If necessary, statistical data from LiU's transporter may be used in combination with the commercial document . Contact coordinator laboratory safety, LiU statistics are needed.

At IFM, the copy of the commercial document and all transport documentation for the transportation of ABP waste must be submitted to the Environmental Coordinator at IFM, which keeps them in the IFM's archives.

Ordering transport of waste

At IFM: contact the Environmental coordinator at IFM miljo@ifm.liu.se for details on who orders pick up of ABP waste.

At ITN: contact the labmanager for details on who orders pick up of ABP waste.

• Order collection of animal by-products waste well in advance. This is most easily done by sending e-mail to the waste transport company Ragn-Sells AB
• Specify when ordering transport that it is waste consisting of animal by-products, category 1 and waste-code (avfallskod) 18.02.03.
• Specify the amount of animal by-products that is to be collected (number of steel drums/barrels and approximate weight).
• If you rent outer packaging in the form of steel drums (barrels) from the waste transport company, remember to specify when ordering that you require exchange the steel drums.
• When ordering, the cost center (kostnadsställe) and pick-up point or adress (hämtställe) must be stated.
• The transporter will bring a transport document when collecting the waste. The sender must sign this document. This document must also be archived.

Animal by-products category 1 at campus US (not CBR)

Operations at CBR follows specific CBR-routines.

Packaging and labelling

• The waste must be packed in a black plastic box (30 liters) with an associated lid. Available via Liu’s purchasing system as a plastic box or via Region Östergötland's central depot (LiO no: 8098201 - Box black 30L with lid for biological waste without label).
• If the waste consists of a lot of liquid, there must also be absorbent material in the box.
• Only place ABP waste here, no other waste such as gloves.
• Label each box with the label " ABP kategori 1- endast för bortskaffande " in Swedish.
• Also fill in the sender's name and "LiU" on the label (NOTE! The same sender as stated on the commercial document).
• The box must be labelled before being placed in the freezer as it may be difficult to get the label to attach otherwise.
• Labels can be printed from the template in the column on the right.
• The waste can be stored for up to 24 hours at room temperature. For storage for up to 5 days, it should be stored at a maximum of + 8 ° C. If the waste needs to be stored for more than 5 days, it should be frozen and may then be stored for a maximum of 1 year before removal.

Commercial document

• Animal by-product-waste must always be accompanied by a commercial document (“handelsdokument”) during transport. Three examples of the “handelsdokument” must be issued by the sender: (1) the original, which accompanies the dispatched material to the recipient, (2) one copy for the transporter, and (3) one copy that is archived by the sender for at least 5 years.
• Template for the commercial document where information about Region Östergötland's transporter and recipient has already been filled in is available for download, see the column to the right. The writing fields are expandable when filling in commercial documents electronically.
• Each transport of ABP waste must be accompanied by a commercial document that must have its own reference number consisting of the date and abbreviation for the department / equivalent, e.g., 20220503-BKV.
• All fields that are not pre-filled or deleted on the commercial document must be filled in.
• Print the document double-sided.
• The original is completed and signed by a responsible person. Signatures must be made in a color other than the printed text, e.g., in blue.
• Note that the signature means that the sender takes responsibility for the ABP waste being correctly packaged and that the information in the commercial document is correct!
• NOTE! It is important that the number of packages (boxes) to be sent away corresponds to what is stated in the commercial document.
• The sender of animal by-product-waste must keep a register over amounts sent off, a legal requirement achieved by archiving the commercial documents, if necessary combined with statistical data from Region Östergötland's transporter. Contact coordinator laboratory safety, LiU statistics are needed.

Ordering transport of waste

Order pick-up of ABP waste via caretaking / Internal logistics by using the webform for Customer support, see "Contacts - Region Östergötland, campus US" in the column to the right.

You are responsible for ensuring that 2 copies of the completed and signed commercial document accompany the ABP waste and that all waste boxes are marked.

Dissection waste generated during teaching (animals, animal tissue)

Animal tissue collected through slaughterhouses and used in teaching (animal organs or parts of animal organs) must be packaged in a leak-proof and odor-free manner for hygienic reasons.

Dissection waste at campus Valla, Norrköping

Dissected animals that consist of fish and other aquatic animals that have been purchased in a fish shop or similar are not animal by-products. Hence, waste material are to be handled as combustible waste, and procedures have been set up at the Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology (IFM) for this.

Packaging of dissection waste (which was food until the dissection)

• Fish, other aquatic animals and corresponding waste are to be packaged in smaller plastic bags together with absorbent material (such as paper).
• The fish-waste should then be frozen before packaged in so-called wet-sack bags, a paper sack with a plastic inner lining (available in the IFM common storage room) and then placed in a container for combustible waste located beside the outdoor-storage (Uteförrådet) behind the B building.

If dissection waste other than fish occur at IFM, contact the Environmental Coordinator IFM miljo@ifm.liu.se.

Dissection waste from teaching at campus US

For operations at Campus US, the following applies:

• Dissection waste consisting of animal tissue from slaughterhouse should be collected in black plastic box (30 Liters) with lid. If the waste consists of a lot of liquid, there should also be absorbent material in the container. Only place dissection waste here, not other waste such as gloves.
• Label the box with a filled in label for "Dissektionsavfall, undervisning (LiU)". Label the box before placing it in the freezer as it may be difficult to get the label to attach otherwise. Contact coordinator laboratory safety or biosafety coordinator (see contact details in column on the right) for label information.
• The waste can be stored for up to 24 hours at room temperature. If stored for longer time, up to 5 days, it must be stored at a maximum temp of + 8 ° C. If the waste needs to be stored longer, it must be frozen. It can then be allowed to be stored for a maximum of 1 year before removal.
• Order pick-up of dissection waste via internal logistics/caretaker (inre logistik/vaktmästeri) by using the webform for Customer support, see "Contacts - Region Östergötland, campus US" in the column to the right.

Biological waste - parts from plants

Parts from plants are treated as combustible waste.

Please note that genetically modified plants and other waste from this cultivation require special treatment (must be approved by the Swedish Board of Agriculture).

University hospital, Campus US

Metallic objects

• All metallic, sharp objects (e.g. cannulae, scalpels, suture needles) regardless of what they have been in contact with must be placed in special safety containers labelled with UN 3291 and the text "skärande och stickande avfall".
• Leave the labelled waste in the Recycling room (“Miljörum”)
• Order pick up by using the webform for Customer support, se "Contacts - Region Östergötland, campus US" in the column to the right.

Non-metallic objects with infectious material

E.g. microscope slides, cover slips, Pasteur pipettes, other sharp objects that have been in contact with infectious agents or blood, tissue or other potentially infectious matter.

• Must be placed in special safety containers labelled with UN 3291 and the text "skärande och stickande avfall".
• Leave the labelled waste in the Recycling room (“Miljörum”)
• Order pick up by using the webform for Customer support, see "Contacts - Region Östergötland, campus US"

Non-metallic objects not in contact with infectious material

E.g. microscope slides, cover slips, Pasteur pipettes, wafers of silicon carbide, other sharp objects. 

• Place in a plastic container/bottle. When this is full, it is disposed of as combustible waste/residual waste, or
• Place in special safety containers labelled with UN 3291 and the text "skärande och stickande avfall, leave the labelled waste in the Recycling room (“Miljörum”)
• Order pick up by using the webform for Customer support, see "Contacts - Region Östergötland, campus US"  

Campus Valla and Norrköping

Metallic objects

All metallic, sharp objects (e.g. cannulae, scalpels, suture needles) regardless of what they have been in contact with.

• Must be placed in special safety containers labelled with UN 3291 and the text "skärande och stickande avfall". When full, the safety containers must be placed in a cupboard designated for storing hazardous waste.

Non-metallic objects with infectious material

E.g. microscope slides, cover slips, Pasteur pipettes, other sharp objects that have been in contact with infectious agents or blood, tissue or other potentially infectious matter.

• Must be placed in special safety containers labelled with UN 3291 and the text "skärande och stickande avfall". When full, the safety containers must be placed in a cupboard designated for storing hazardous waste.

Non-metallic objects not in contact with infectious material

E.g. microscope slides, cover slips, Pasteur pipettes, wafers of silicon carbide, other sharp objects.

• Place in a plastic container/bottle. When this is full, it is disposed of as combustible waste/residual waste, or
• Place in special safety containers labelled with UN 3291 and the text "skärande och stickande avfall. When full, the safety containers must be placed in a cupboard designated for storing hazardous waste.