University of Maryland Baltimore
University of Maryland, Baltimore

home > waste disposal guidebook > radioactive waste disposal
Environmental Health and Safety
EHS Building


Related:
Hazardous Waste
  Labels
Training
Spill Response
Waste Removal
  Request Forms
Information Notices
Waste Mgmt. Disposal
  Procedures

Contact:
Environmental Health
  and Safety
714 W. Lombard Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
410-706-7055
Fax 410-706-8212

 

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.

For more detailed information see Procedure No. 9, Disposal of Radioactive Waste, and Procedure No. 8, Management of Radioactive Waste, UMB Environmental Health and Safety Procedures.

Guidelines:

  1. Review disposal procedures with the Radiation Safety Office and the Environmental Management Division in the planning stage of your experiment.

  2. Segregate wastes in appropriate containers according to isotopes and physical form.

  3. Obtain a Radioactive Waste Removal Request Form.
  1. Complete the form according to the instructions on the back.
  1. Send completed form to Environmental Management Division (EMD)/EHS at 714 W. Lombard St., Baltimore, MD 21201-1010 or Fax to 6-8212.
  1. Upon receipt of the request form EMD/EHS will pickup the radioactive waste.

wpeF.jpg (5280 bytes)

Do not fill the container more than 90 % full.

Do not mix solid material with liquid material inside of 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.

Liquid Radioactive Waste:

  1. Use a 1 or 5 gallon plastic jar provided by EMD/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, transfer the nuclide, total activity, chemical identification, and date onto the "Caution Radioactive Material" label on jar.

  5. Fill out the Radioactive Waste Removal Request Form. Submit the form to the EMD.

 


wpe12.jpg (6988 bytes)

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.

 Dry or Solid Radioactive Waste:

  1. Place the waste in a 2 ft3 radioactive waste box provided by EMD/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, transfer the nuclide, total activity, and date onto the "Caution Radioactive Material" label and close the container with filament tape.

  5. Fill out the Radioactive Waste Removal Request Form. Submit the request form to the EMD.

 

wpe11.jpg (6355 bytes)

 Radioactive "Sharps"

  1. Place in a designated sharps container.

  2. Affix a "Caution Radioactive Material" label to the sharps container.

  3. Fill the container until it is 3/4 full.
  1. Close the container and tape securely.

  1. Fill out the Radioactive Waste Removal Request Form. Submit the request form to the EMD.

 

wpe13.jpg (4201 bytes)

It 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.

 Liquid Scintillation Vials (LSV’s):

  1. Place capped vials in a 5 gallon pail or a 30 gallon drum that is supplied by the EMD 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 Log Sheet", transfer the nuclide, total activity, chemical identification, and date onto the "Caution Radioactive Material" label and close the container.

  6. Fill out the Radioactive Waste Removal Request Form. Submit the request form to the EMD.
Radioactive Animal Bedding and Wastes:
  1. Place in a plastic bag.

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

  2. Place the bag into a separate bag and repeat step two above.

  3. Affix a "Caution Radioactive Material" label to the outer container.

  4. Make sure the "Caution Radioactive Material" label is filled out properly with the nuclide, total activity, and date.

  5. Fill out the Radioactive Waste Removal Request Form. Submit the request form to the EMD.

 Radioactive Animal Carcasses and Tissues:
  1. Place in a clear plastic bag.

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

  3. Place the bag into a separate bag and repeat step two above.

  4. Affix a "Caution Radioactive Material" label to the outer container.

  5. Make sure the "Caution Radioactive Material" label is filled out properly with the nuclide, total activity, and date.

  6. Freeze the bag.

  7. Fill out the Radioactive Waste Removal Request Form. Submit the request form to the EMD.
top