Sharps

Requesting Waste Containers

Yellow Biomedical plastic pails are available for this type of waste through the Biology, Chemistry and Medical stores.

Contact

Hazardous Materials Services

Phone: 403-220-8707

Fax: 403-210-9339

E-mail: hazmat@ucalgary.ca

Using Biomedical Waste Containers

1. ALL SHARPS needles, syringes, scalpels, razor blades, glass pipettes, contaminated broken glass which cannot be safely decontaminated, (not clean broken glassware and plastics), and items that are visibly contaminated with animal or human blood should be placed in a biomedical waste bucket.
2. When containers are ¾ full, secure the lid in place, this may be done by pounding the lid with a mallet or a similar device.
3. Affix a label to the lid of the container that includes: the nature of the contents, room number, telephone number, contact person’s name and principal investigators name. A note and a signature must certify that the bucket does NOT contain chemical bottles, autoclavable items, plastic pipettes or other inappropriate materials. (There is a label template at: http://www.ucalgary.ca/scm/files/scm/Bio%20Bucket%20Label.doc)
4. Pails should be checked for any visible contamination on the sides or sharps sticking out. These problems must be fixed prior to contacting Hazardous Materials
5. Pails used in the Chemistry and Earth Sciences complexes may be returned to the Chemistry Stores. Otherwise, call Hazardous Materials for pickup of sharps containers at 403-220-8707.