Environmental Safety Home

Home | Topics | Forms | Documents | Training | DES Sections | Staff | Contact Us

Radioactive Waste

Definition:
Any waste that contains, or is contaminated with, radioactive material.

Examples:

Shield radioactive material such that: 1) radiation levels are less than 2.5 millirem/hr. within a posted laboratory; and, 2) radiation levels are less than 2.0 millirem/hr. or an average of 0.6 millirem/hr in seven consecutive days in any unrestricted area (e.g., space adjacent to posted laboratories).

Never Place Radioactive Waste in Corridors or Hallways - Not Even While Awaiting Pick-up.

Packaging Guidelines
General Instructions:
  1. Review disposal procedures with the Radiation Safety Office in the planning stage of your experiment.
  2. Segregate wastes according to the matrix below.
  3. Segregate by isotope according to the matrix below.
  4. Attach a "Caution-Radioactive Material" tag to each waste container and write the requested information on the tag:
    1. Generator Name
    2. Building and room number
    3. Campus phone number
    4. Isotopes and activity
    5. Date
    6. Container contents
  5. All radioactive waste containers must remain closed unless waste is being added to the container.
  6. Submit a request for the removal and disposal of all radioactive waste through the UM Regulated Waste Pick-up System, located at www.des.umd.edu.
  7. In addition, all generators of radioactive waste must complete the required annual on-line Radioactive Waste Generator training, located at www.des.umd.edu.
If Disposing:Then:
Liquid Radioactive Waste
  1. Use a 20 liter plastic carboy supplied by DES.
  2. Place the carboy in a leak-proof secondary containment tub, provided by DES.
  3. Identify organic solvents and other hazardous chemicals on the attached tag as needed.
  4. Do not fill the carboy to the top. Leave 2-3 inches of space at the top for safe handling. Ensure that the cap is tightly screwed onto the carboy.
  5. Follow the general instructions for container labeling and removal.
Dry or Solid Radioactive Waste
  1. Deface all tape, decals, labels, and source containers of the word "Radioactive" and radioactive symbols.
  2. Place waste in drum, supplied with label and bag by DES, according to applicable situation:
    • Isotopes 32P, 35S, & 125I must be packaged separately, by isotope, in a 15 gallon plastic drums;
    • Isotopes 14C and 3H must be combined in a 30 gallon fiber drum.
  3. Follow the general instructions for container labeling and removal.
Liquid Scintillation Vials
  1. Place capped and uncrated vials in a 30 gallon drum supplied with label and bag by DES.
  2. Complete the container contents label and list the brand of scintillation fluid.
  3. Follow the general instructions for container labeling and removal.
"Sharps" (needles, syringes, scalpel blades, etc.)
  1. Place in designated "sharps" container, according to isotope.
  2. Complete the container contents label.
  3. When 3/4 full, close and tape the container securely. Place the "sharps" container in the appropriate Dry Solid container for removal and disposal.
  4. Follow the general instructions for container labeling and removal.
Small Animal Carcasses and Tissues
  1. Place the material in a clear plastic bag.
  2. Twist the bag at the top, bend twisted portion to form a loop and seal the loop with tape.
  3. Place the bag in a separate plastic bag and repeat step 2.
  4. Affix a "Caution - Radioactive Material" label to the bag.
  5. Freeze the bag until pick-up.
  6. Follow the general instructions for container labeling and removal.
Animal Bedding and Wastes
  1. Place the material in a plastic bag.
  2. Twist the bag at the top, bend twisted portion to form a loop and seal the loop with tape.
  3. Place the bag in a separate plastic bag and repeat step 2.
  4. Affix a "Caution - Radioactive Material" label to the bag.
  5. Follow the general instructions for container labeling and removal.
Low Level Radioactive Waste (LLRW) Segregation Matrix
Isotope32P35S125I3H and 14C
Dry Solid WasteStore alone in drumStore alone in drumStore alone in drumMay be mixed in drum
SharpsStore alone in "sharps" containerStore alone in "sharps" containerStore alone in "sharps" containerMay be mixed in "sharps" container
Aqueous Liquid (no organics, metals, controlled hazardous substances (CHS))Isotopes may be mixed in a 20 liter plastic carboy
Mixed Liquid (LLRW and CHS)Store alone in carboyStore alone in carboyStore alone in carboyMay be mixed in carboy
Biodegradable Scintillation VialsStore alone in drumStore alone in drumStore alone in drumMay be mixed in drum
Solvent-based Scintillation VialsStore alone in drumStore alone in drumStore alone in drumMay be mixed in drum
Animal/Pathological WasteStore alone in drumStore alone in drumStore alone in drumMay be mixed in drum
Assistance:
Questions about Radioactive WasteCall (301) 405-3990
General Questions about Radioactive Materials and ProceduresCall (301) 314-8336

Radioactive Waste
Assistance (301) 405-3990
Pick-up

General Waste | Biological Waste | Chemical Waste | Radioactive Waste | Multi-Hazard or Mixed Waste | Universal Waste


We would greatly appreciate your feedback about this site.
XML RSS Feed
Copyright © 2008 University of Maryland DES

University of Maryland   UM Home | Directories | Search | Admissions | Calendar
Maintained by Department of Environmental Safety
Direct questions and comments to safety@umd.edu