Biological waste includes material that once contained, or now contains, living organisms; or that is a product, portion, or waste of a living or once-living organism.

Autoclaving Category A Biohazard Waste

Some research groups across the UC Davis campus work with organisms that are Category A infectious substances. Stericycle, the medical waste disposal company that provides service to UC Davis, does not accept waste that has untreated Category A infectious substances.

• Read our FAQ on the importance of autoclaving category A biohazard waste and steps to do so (.pdf)

• Animal Carcasses and Waste Products
• Healthy animals not treated with chemicals, radioisotopes, or biohazardous agents:
  Place animal parts, tissue, waste, and carcasses (small and large animals) in tightly sealed plastic bags in designated disposal containers. Carcasses will be sent off campus to a rendering company or incinerated. Contact your department for more information.
  
  Animals treated with chemical, radioactive, or biohazardous agents:
  Contact biosafety@ucdavis.edu to develop a written handling, transportation and treatment, and/or disposal procedure.
• Blood and Body Fluids
• Non-infectious blood and body fluids in tubes, bags, vacutainers, etc.:
  1. Treat with bleach (10% final concentration for at least 30 minutes), and pour into a sink drain connected to the campus sewage system. Be sure to follow the treated material with copious amounts of water. Do not pour into a storm drain.
  
  2. Place the empty containers in autoclavable bags with autoclave tape and autoclave. Do not dispose of containers of liquids in garbage cans or dumpsters.
  
  3. Dispose of autoclaved waste in solid waste container.
  
  Non-infectious blood or fluid-soaked materials:
  1. Place bandages, gauze, paper towels, etc. in autoclavable bags with autoclave tape and autoclave. There should be no dripping or leakage of liquid from bagged waste.
  
  2. Dispose of solid autoclaved waste in solid waste container.
  
  Blood, fluid, or fluid-soaked materials that contains chemical, radioactive, or biohazardous agents:
  Contact biosafety@ucdavis.edu to develop a written handling, transportation and treatment, and/or disposal procedure. 
• Tissue Culture Media
• Culture media used to transfer, inoculate, and prepare non-infectious cultures:
  1. Place solid tissue culture media waste in autoclavable bags with autoclave tape and autoclave. Do not dispose of untreated materials in garbage can or dumpsters.
  
  2. Dispose of autoclaved waste in solid waste container.
  
  3. Autoclave or treat liquid tissue culture media waste with bleach (10% final concentration for at least 30 minutes), and pour liquids into a sink drain connected to the campus sewage system. Be sure to follow the treated material with copious amounts of water. Do not pour into a storm drain.
  
  Culture material that contain chemical, radioisotopes or biohazardous agents:
  Contact biosafety@ucdavis.edu to develop a written handling, transportation and treatment, and/or disposal procedure.