{"id":22136,"date":"2016-11-03T11:20:24","date_gmt":"2016-11-03T18:20:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/policies.wsu.edu\/prf\/?page_id=22136"},"modified":"2025-11-12T10:01:25","modified_gmt":"2025-11-12T18:01:25","slug":"sppm-4-26","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/policies.wsu.edu\/prf\/index\/manuals\/safety-policies-procedures-manual\/sppm-4-26\/","title":{"rendered":"4.26 Disposal of Laboratory Glass Waste"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Safety Policies and Procedures Manual<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Disposal of Laboratory Glass Waste<\/h2>\n\n\n
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SPPM 4.26<\/strong><\/p>\n

For more information contact:<\/strong>
   Environmental Health and Safety
   509-335-3041<\/p>\n

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Purpose<\/h3>\n

University personnel who dispose of laboratory glass are responsible for following procedures in this section. Appropriate disposal of laboratory glass minimizes hazards to laboratory workers, custodians, and solid waste disposal employees.<\/p>\n

Custodians and solid waste disposal employees are not required to dispose of any laboratory glass that is not placed in containers as described in this section.<\/p>\n

Scope<\/h3>\n

The procedures in this section apply to the disposal of all WSU laboratory glass materials that are not for consumer use.<\/p>\n

Laboratory Glass for Surplus<\/h4>\n

Consumer-usable laboratory glass materials are to be surplused.<\/p>\n

Departments must follow the procedures in UPPM 20.76<\/a> and 20.77<\/a> to prepare and submit clean, usable, noncontaminated laboratory glass, e.g., beakers and flasks, to Surplus Stores. See the Disposal of Surplus<\/a> website.<\/p>\n

Disposal Procedures<\/h3>\n

Noncontaminated Laboratory Glass Waste (Not For Surplus)<\/h4>\n

Noncontaminated laboratory glass waste that is not surplused is to be placed in appropriate containers and disposed of as follows. (See Biological Contamination<\/a> for disposal of glass which is contaminated by radiation, acutely hazardous chemicals, or biologically hazardous material.)<\/p>\n

Weight Limit for Disposal<\/h5>\n

The total weight of a glass disposal box ready for removal by custodians may not exceed 40 pounds. This limit includes both the weight of the glass and the weight of the container.<\/p>\n

Container Requirements<\/h5>\n

All boxes containing glass waste must be designed and maintained so they can be handled easily and safely by laboratory, custodial, and solid waste collection personnel. There must be no failure of the container’s integrity during transport which could expose laboratory or service personnel to cutting or puncture hazards.<\/p>\n

Custodial or solid waste disposal employees are not required to handle any glass waste container which could rupture during handling.<\/p>\n

Allowable Containers<\/h5>\n

The following two glass waste containers are available for purchase from University Stores:<\/p>\n