Natural Sciences Department
School of Integrated Studies
Klump Academic Center, Rm. 102 · (570) 327-4521
Disposal of Mixed Waste
Infectious waste that is mixed with radioactive waste or chemical waste requires special handling. Liquid infectious waste that contains radioactive material must be rendered biologically inactive prior to disposal. This can be done by autoclaving or adding sufficient household bleach (5.25% sodium hypochlorite) to make up 10% of the total volume (i.e., 100 ml of bleach for each liter of liquid waste). Solid infectious waste containing radioactive material must be autoclaved prior to disposal.
Mixed infectious and chemical waste must also be rendered biologically inactive before disposal as hazardous chemical waste unless the generator can ensure that a denaturing environment exists in the chemical waste. Chemical compatibility must also be taken into account before adding bleach or any other chemical disinfectant.