CHAPTER VII - DISPOSAL OF RADIOACTIVE WASTE

7.1 Solid Radioactive Waste
Office of Radiation Safety personnel place solid waste containers in each posted laboratory. The container is marked with the words "Radioactive Waste" or "Radioactive Material" prominently displayed on the side and lid of the container. Solid radioactive waste, including damp paper, and solid containers with residual moisture on the surfaces, may be placed in these containers. Test tubes and vials containing pourable quantities of radioactive liquid must be emptied before placing them in solid waste containers.

7.2 Liquid Radioactive Waste
Polyethylene cubitainers are available for disposal of liquid radioactive waste. These containers should be placed in an outer container such as a plastic dish pan marked with a radioactive warning label with the words "Radioactive Material" or " Radioactive Waste".

Care must be taken when disposing of radioactive liquid not to contaminate the side of the containers. Users must not dispose of radioactive waste in sinks.

7.3 Scintillation Vials
Liquid scintillation vials should not be disposed of as either solid or liquid radioactive waste. Liquid scintillation vials should be segregated into two groups:
1. Vials containing only ³H or ¹⁴C in scintillation fluid.
2. Vials containing any other isotopes in scintillation fluid.

Vials may be packaged for disposal in the original cardboard racks supplied by the vial manufacturer or placed into containers supplied by the Office of Radiation Safety. Do not place any liquid filled vials into solid radioactive waste containers. Do not dispose of scintillation fluid in sinks.

7.4 Animal Carcasses
All animal carcasses and tissue samples containing radioactive material are bagged in strong plastic bags and securely fastened. A radioactive carcass tag indicating the date of disposal, responsible investigator, nuclide, and its activity must be attached to the bag. The carcasses are then placed in a laboratory freezer until removed by Radiation Safety Personnel.

7.5 Waste Documentation

Current records should be kept by users on the nuclides and activity of the waste in all solid, liquid, and scintillation waste containers. Before ORS personnel pick up waste, a waste documentation tag must be attached to the container which gives nuclides, and their activities, responsible sub-licensee and effective date of the information on the card.

7.6 Mixed Radioactive and Hazardous Wastes
Occasionally radioactive wastes will contain hazardous wastes as defined by the ASU Office of Hazardous Materials Management. This includes xylene and toluene based liquid scintillation fluids. The presence of hazardous wastes in addition to radioactive nuclides, must be noted on the waste documentation card.

Users anticipating the generation of these mixed wastes should bring these plans to the attention of the RSO as soon as possible.

7.7 Waste Pickup from Laboratories

Radioactive waste is picked up and taken to the campus processing facility by ORS personnel. Contact the ORS for removal of any radioactive waste. Campus-wide pick-up of radioactive waste is usually performed on a weekly basis but extra containers are usually available at the ORS office anytime during daytime office hours.