Radioactive Waste

Definition: Any waste that contains, or is contaminated with radioactive material.

Examples: Liquid scintillation counting fluids and vials, animal carcasses and excreta, experimental or clean-up materials, and original source vials contaminated with radioactive materials.

Guidelines:

  1. Review waste disposal procedures with the Radiation Safety Office in the planning stages of all experiments. Information on the generation of radioactive waste must be explained in Section 2.7 of the Basic Research Application.
  2. All radioactive waste must be stored in containers provided and/or approved by EHS. Prior to generating radioactive waste, containers may be requested by calling ext. 6-7055 or supplying EHS with a Radioactive Waste Removal Request Form that requests necessary/required containers.
  3. Segregate wastes according to isotope and waste form (i.e. dry solid, liquid, LSV, sharps, animal, etc.).
  4. Each waste container should be accompanied by a “Caution Radioactive Material” label and a “Radioactive Waste Disposal Log Sheet”. If a waste container is missing either the label or log sheet, they can be obtained from EHS by calling ext. 6-7055.
  5. An entry on the “Radioactive Waste Disposal Log Sheet” must be annotated each time radioactive waste is placed into the container.
  6. Never place radioactive waste containers in the corridors. All radioactive waste must be secured in a radioactive material area.
  7. Submit all radioactive waste removal requests online by clicking on the following link: https://ehs.umaryland.edu/ehs_forms/radwaste/

Liquid Radioactive Waste: ▾

Liquid Radioactive Waste

Do not fill the container more than 90 % full. Do not mix solid material with liquid material inside of a jar. Make sure to identify the type of liquid inside of the jar and constituent percentage. Examples: Water 100%, Biosafe II 100%, (Chloroform 30%/ Phenol 70%),etc

  1. Use a 1 or 5 gallon plastic jar provided by EHS. Ensure that a "Caution Radioactive Material" label is affixed to the outside of the container.
  2. Place the jar in a leak proof container for secondary containment with a "Radioactive Material Log Sheet" attached.
  3. Annotate the nuclide, activity, chemical identification and date of every addition of liquid radioactive waste into the container on the "Radioactive Material Log Sheet".
  4. When the container is full, total the amount on the “Radioactive Waste Disposal Log Sheet”, write the nuclide, total activity, chemical identification, and date onto the “Caution Radioactive Material” label on the jar.
  5. Fill out the Radioactive Waste Removal Request Form (https://ehs.umaryland.edu/ehs_forms/radwaste/) and submit it to EHS.

Dry or Solid Radioactive Waste: ▾

Dry or Solid Radioactive Waste

Do not place any liquid materials inside dry radioactive waste boxes.

Do not place any lead inside dry radioactive waste boxes. Make sure that all source vial containers or pigs do not contain lead and are placed open inside of the box.

  1. Place the waste in a 2 ft3 radioactive waste box provided by EHS. The radioactive waste box will be supplied with a "Caution Radioactive Material" label, a "Radioactive Material Log Sheet", and a plastic liner.
  2. Fill the box with only dry, solid radioactive waste.
  3. Annotate the nuclide, activity, and date of every addition of solid radioactive waste into the container on the "Radioactive Material Log Sheet".
  4. When the container is full, total the amount on the “Radioactive Waste Disposal Log Sheet”, write the nuclide, total activity, and date onto the “Caution Radioactive Material” label on the box.
  5. Fill out the Radioactive Waste Removal Request Form (https://ehs.umaryland.edu/ehs_forms/radwaste/) and submit it to EHS.

Radioactive Contaminated Sharps (needles, syringes, blades, etc.): ▾

Radioactive Contaminated Sharps

  1. Place in a designated sharps container.
  2. Affix a “Caution Radioactive Material”label to a designated sharps container. To request this label and a “Radioactive Waste Disposal Log Sheet”, call EHS at ext. 6-7055.
  3. Do NOT recap, bend, remove, or clip needles.
  4. Fill the container until it is ¾ full.
  5. Close the container and tape securely.
  6. Total the amount on the “Radioactive Waste Disposal Log Sheet”, write the nuclide, total activity, and date onto the “Caution Radioactive Material” label on the container.
  7. Fill out the Radioactive Waste Removal Request Form (https://ehs.umaryland.edu/ehs_forms/radwaste/) and submit it to EHS.

Liquid Scintillation Vials (LSV’s): ▾

Liquid Scintillation VialsIt is very important that the type and percent of scintillation fluid be noted on the "Caution Radioactive Material" label and the Radioactive Waste Removal Request Form.

  1. Place capped vials in a 5 gallon pail that is supplied by the EHS with a "Caution Radioactive Material" label, a "Radioactive Material Log Sheet", and a plastic liner.
  2. Fill the container only with liquid scintillation vials no other waste is acceptable in these containers.
  3. If the scintillation cocktail is also a hazardous waste as defined by the Environmental Protection Agency label the container with the words "Hazardous Waste".
  4. Annotate the nuclide, activity, chemical identification (scintillation fluid brand), and date of every addition of LSV’s into the container on the Radioactive Material Log Sheet.
  5. When the container is full, total the “Radioactive Waste Disposal Log Sheet”, write the nuclide, total activity, chemical identification, and date onto the “Caution Radioactive Material” label on the container. 
  6. Fill out the Radioactive Waste Removal Request Form (https://ehs.umaryland.edu/ehs_forms/radwaste/) and submit it to EHS.

Lead Waste: ▾

Lead Waste

  1. Never place lead shielding inside of waste containers, this includes lead lined vial shielding.
  2. Before disposing of lead, take swipes to ensure there is no contamination. Keep the swipe results with the lead that is to be picked up by EHS.
  3. When submitting the online Radioactive Waste Request Form (https://ehs.umaryland.edu/ehs_forms/radwaste/), please write in the “Comments” section of the form, the amount of lead bricks, pigs, foil, etc., that need to be picked up. In addition, please provide the room number where the lead is located, and the results of the swipes.

Radioactive Animal Bedding and Wastes: ▾

  1. Place in a plastic bag.
  2. Twist the bag at the top, bend the twisted portion to form a loop and seal the loop with filament tape.
  3. Place the bag into a second bag and repeat step 2 above.
  4. Affix a “Caution Radioactive Material” label to the bag. To request this label and a “Radioactive Waste Disposal Log Sheet”, call EHS at ext. 6-7055.
  5. Ensure that the “Caution Radioactive Material” label and “Radioactive Waste Disposal Log Sheet” are filled out properly with the nuclide, total activity, and date.
  6. Fill out the Radioactive Waste Removal Request Form (https://ehs.umaryland.edu/ehs_forms/radwaste/) and submit it to EHS.

Radioactive Animal Carcasses and Tissues: ▾

  1. Place in a clear plastic bag.

  2. Twist the bag at the top, bend the twisted portion to form a loop and seal the loop with filament tape.

  3. Place the bag into a second bag and repeat step 2 above.

  4. Affix a “Caution Radioactive Material”label to the bag. To request this label and a “Radioactive Waste Disposal Log Sheet”, call EHS at ext. 6-7055.

  5. Ensure that the “Caution Radioactive Material” label and “Radioactive Waste Disposal Log Sheet” are filled out properly with the nuclide, total activity, and date.

  6. Freeze the bag until EHS comes to pick it up.

  7. Fill out the Radioactive Waste Removal Request Form (https://ehs.umaryland.edu/ehs_forms/radwaste/) and submit it to EHS.