Office of Radiation Safety Services (ORSS)

Liquid Waste Disposal Procedures

1. All generators are required to dispose their radioactive liquid waste through ORSS in special containers (provided by ORSS).

2. Each container should have a label (also provided by ORSS) attached to it with all relevant information filled out by the licensee, i.e., isotope, activity (uCi), date and licensee name.

3. Upon receipt, the container the container will be inspected visually, to confirm it contains liquid waste only. If any solid material is detected in the container, the container will be returned to the generator for separating the solid radioactive material from liquid waste containers.

The mixture of liquid radioactive waste and hazardous chemicals is called mixed waste. The disposal cost for the mixed waste is very high and at the present time it is very hard to dispose mixed waste. Please let the ORSS know if it is a mixed waste.
Separate liquids by isotope whenever possible. Separate aqueous from non-aqueous liquids whenever possible.
Gallons containers supplied by ORSS are for liquids only. Do not put solid objects such as pipettes or pipette tips, microcentrifuge tubes, or wipes in carboys.

Do not stack the liquid waste containers in laboratories.

Periodically, the ORSS picks up the radioactive waste liquid containers and replace empty containers and labels.

Do not completely fill liquid waste containers. ORSS cannot collect over-filled containers.

Always store liquid containers within a secondary container.