Waste management
Our waste may turn into valuable resources and energy when we recycle. By doing so we lessen our energy consumption and the use of virgin raw material.
On this page you will find information of different types of waste and how these should be handled, who is responsible for what and about the legislation under which we are required to sort our waste and recycle.
On this page you will find links to different types of waste that occur at the University. You will also find out more about legislation and contact information to the University waste manager.
Did you know...
... that the greenhouse gas emissions from incinerating our unsorted plastic waste in Uppsala is comparable to the emissions from our private car use? Together we make a difference!
Types of waste found in both offices and laboratories
Batteries
All batteries shall be handled as hazardous waste and shall be collected separately.
Bio-waste (Food waste)
Bio-waste comes from staff kitchens, lunch restaurants, cafés etc.
It covers leftovers, fruit and vegetable remnants, egg shells, filters with coffee grounds, tea bags, unbleached napkins and unbleached paper towels.
Bulky waste
Bulky waste is household waste that does not fit, or for other reasons cannot be placed, in ordinary waste containers for residual waste, e.g. furniture, pallets, porcelain and ceramics.
Bulky waste is placed at the intended place according to the campus management routines, which ensures that the waste is collected by Ragn-Sells.
One man's trash is another man's treasure
You can also join the shared group space for reuse at the University. It offers opportunities to both share your leftover inventory and take part of different reuse possibilities at various campuses.
Uppsala universitets återbruk (Sharepoint) - Mostly in Swedish
Ceramics and porcelain
Ceramics and porcelain are classified as bulky waste.
Small amounts of ceramics and porcelain can be packed well and placed in combustible fraction.
Ceramics and porcelain are not classified as packaging and are therefore not covered by producer responsibility. Ceramics and porcelain should therefore not be sorted as glass waste.
Confidential documents
Confidential documents with sensitive information, such as sensitive personal information, confidentiality and business-critical information can be managed in two ways:
- Cross-cut paper shredder - the shreds can then be handled as waste paper. (Recommended)
- Locked containers for confidential documents. It is possible to order via the campus management, from Ragn-Sells in accordance with the waste management agreement. (Mainly for larger volumes)
Electric lights, flourescent tubes, etc
Fluorescent lamps, low-energy lamps, LED lamps, light bulbs and other lamps are subject to producer responsibility for electrical and electronic products.
Therefore, lamps must be collected separately. Most lamps are classified as hazardous waste.
Electronic waste
All products that are powered by cord or battery are classified as electronics. Components that are part of a product, equipment in products and products with built-in batteries are also classified as electronics.
All electronics must be handled as hazardous waste and collected separately. Electronics shall not be sorted as residual waste.
Electronic storage media
Equipment containing electronic storage media must be handled in accordance with specific guidelines issued by the Security and Safety division.
Handling of discarded IT products
Do you have questions?
Glass
Glass waste is divided into glass packaging and laboratory glass and other glass.
Glass containers include glass bottles and glass jars. Bottles and cans are sorted into colored or uncoloured glass. Packaging glass basically always consists of soda glass, which is the only glass that can and shall be recycled.
Laboratory glass is handled according to specific instructions. Other glass such as drinking glass, porcelain, mirrors, crystal glass, glass ornaments and glass ceramics are classified as bulky waste. Minor amounts can be added to combustible waste.
Glass packaging part of the Swedish deposit system is handled accordingly.
Metal waste
Metal is divided into metal packaging and other metal waste.
Examples of metal packaging include tins, tubes, beverage cans without deposit, aluminum foil, aluminum molds, lids, capsules, metal barrels and drug tubes. Packaging that contains labeling obligated residues must not be sorted as metal packaging. They are handled as chemical waste. NOTE that spray flasks/aerosols should always be left as chemical waste.
Examples of other metal waste include scrap iron, electric cables, metal pipes, car and bicycle parts made of metal, screws, nails, pans, metal cutlery, household utensils made of aluminum and metal, office equipment made of metal, for example hole punch and stapler. Other metals are classified as bulky waste.
Other office waste
Examples of other waste from offices are glue, Tipp-ex, paint, binders, books, tape roll holders, hole punches, letter boxes, staplers etc. The waste is sorted according to its properties.
If the waste is classified as residual waste, such as binder, hardcover binder books, tape reel holder and plastic mailbox, it is handled together with residual waste. Larger quantities are handled as bulky waste.
If it is not residual waste, such as hole punch and stapler, it is handled as bulky waste.
Glue, tipp-ex, paint etc. are classified as hazardous waste and are collected separately.
Paper packaging and corrugated cardboard
Examples of paper packaging include cartons and boxes for milk, egg, juice, cereal and pizza, disposable dinnerware, paper plates, paper bags and carrying bags in paper, padded envelopes, empty toilet or household rolls and wrapping paper.
Corrugated cardboard is cardboard with wavy interlayer, like cartons for copy paper and computers.
Plastic waste
Plastic is divided into hard and soft plastic packaging and other plastic
Examples of plastic packaging include bottles, cans, boxes, containers, empty plastic spray cans, bags, plastic foil, styrofoam and disposable plastic dinnerware (not plastic cutlery which is classified as residual waste). Plastic packaging is covered by producer responsibility and must be sorted out from other waste.
Plastic packaging that contains residues of labeling obligated chemicals or infectious materials must not be sorted as hard plastic packaging. These are handled as chemical waste and infectious agents.
Other plastic that is not packaging, e.g. flower pots, plastic cutlery and dish brushes are not covered by producer responsibility and should therefore not be sorted together with hard plastic packaging. Other plastics are classified as residual waste.
Refrigerators and freezers
Refrigerators and freezers contain refrigerants that can damage the ozone layer, which is why it is classified as hazardous waste to be collected separately. Refrigerators and freezers are electrical waste that is covered by producer responsibility.
Refrigerators and freezers to be left as waste must be completely defrosted, well cleaned and labeled with department, name and telephone number.
Residual waste (Other waste/Combustible waste)
Examples of residual waste:
Binders, envelopes with windows and / or rubberized closure, CDs, transparencies, post-it notes, broken porcelain, drinking glasses, plastic cutlery, dishware, snuff, strings, plastic flower pots and candles.
- Hardback books are no longer sorted as residual waste. They are to be treated at a recycling centre.
- Paperback books are handled as waste paper
Residual waste is treated at incineration plants for energy recovery.
Textile waste (NEW!)
Waste generated by fabrics, home textiles, interior textiles, cloth bags and accesories made by textile are to be separated as textile waste.
Since 2025 the municipalities hold the responsibility to collect and manage textile waste in Sweden.
Waste paper
Waste paper includes newspapers, magazines, office paper, paperbacks, telephone books, flyers and data lists. Since 2022 the municipality is responsible for collecting waste paster.
There are paper products that should not be sorted as waste paper, e.g. envelopes, post-it notes, carbon paper, stickers. These products are sorted as residual waste. Hardbacks are to be treated at a recycling centre.
Confidential paper is handled separately.
Types of waste normally found in laboratories
Antibiotics
Biomedical research at Uppsala University produces waste containing antibiotics. To avoid the negative effect antibiotics can have on health and the environment, antibiotics should only be used when needed, not by routine.
In the case where antibiotic is needed, try to choose one which is not medically relevant, and can be readily be inactivated.
- Antibiotics in original containers and stock solutions are sent as chemical waste
- Non-contaminated solid antibiotic waste (agar plates etc.) are discarded as combustible waste or chemical waste depending on type of antibiotic and concentration.
- Liquid antibiotic waste is collected in canisters, or with absorbents in laboratory wastes boxes and sent as infectious waste for incineration. Only completely inactivated liquid antibiotic waste may be poured down the drain, please note that:
- All types of antibiotics are not completely inactivated by autoclaving, e.g. kanamycin, chloramphenicol, vancomycin, ciprofloxacin
- It is the user’s responsibility to ascertain that the inactivation actually worked completely before pouring anything down the drain.
- Even very low, sub-inhibitory concentrations of antibiotics can result in increased antibiotic resistance
Biological material waste from laboratory work
Some biological waste from research and education (e.g. carcasses, organs, animal by-products, tissue and blood) could pose an increased risk for infection/contamination, and are therefore handled as biological waste, infectious waste, or animal by products according to risk assessment and the routines at the respective campuses.
Carcasses from CFVUU are handled according to a separate routine available at CFVUU.
Plant based material which is deem to not pose an increased risk for infection/contamination, is not genetically modified, or is not a potentially invasive species, is handled as combustible waste.
Chemical waste
General description and handling
Waste containing chemicals must not be poured into the sewer and shall not be mixed with other waste if it can pose a risk to human health (e.g. by corrosion, formation of hazardous vapors/gases, fire or explosion) and the environment (e.g. toxic to plants, animals or microorganisms). In principle, all chemical waste is classified as hazardous waste and as dangerous goods.
Storage of chemical waste has the same requirements as storage of chemicals. Waste and chemicals shall be stored separately from each other.
All packaging with residues of chemicals must be taken care of as chemical waste. Note that the original seal must be used if possible. If original packaging is not used, the container chosen must be of material that is not affected by the contents. Make sure that the packaging is clean on the outside so that the risk is reduced that those who are to handle the packaging are exposed to chemicals.
If the packages are cleaned and labels are removed or over-stretched, they can be left as packaging for recycling. Exceptions, however, apply to packaging containing poisonous, environmentally hazardous or hazardous chemical product (labeled with skull and crossbone, dead fish and tree, health hazard or corrosive). They must always be left as chemical waste. Spray flasks/aerosols should always be left as chemical waste.
Examples of different kinds of chemical waste
Akrylamide waste
Polymerized gels shall be placed in well sealed packaging (e.g., sealed plastic bag) to avoid dusting and then place them in laboratory waste containers. Monomers are placed in small containers and are handled as small chemical waste.
Label the containers in the same way as small chemical waste. Clearly label with information that it is a CMR substance. Bench paper, gloves and similar contaminated waste are placed in laboratory waste containers.
The laboratory waste containers must be marked with:
- Name and phone number of the person responsible for the waste
- Label according to each type of waste
- Label and specify which substance with name and hazard pictogram
- Delivering department and/or unit
Aqua regia (nitrohydrochloric acid
Aqua regia (nitrohydrochloric acid) is a mixture of hydrochloric acid and nitric acid (most commonly 3+1 or 4+1)) and is corrosive, oxidizing and toxic.
According to the MSB provision of transports of dangerous goods by road or terrain (ADR-S), aqua regia must never be transported, but must either be neutralized or diluted with water to a maximum concentration of 20% before transport.
The laboratory waste containers must be marked with:
- Name and phone number of the person responsible for the waste
- Label according to each type of waste
- Label and specify which substance with name and hazard pictogram
- Label with the right concentration/pH of the mixture
- Delivering department and/or unit
Etidium bromide waste
Ethidium bromide is a mutagenic substance that shall be phased out - there are good replacement products. If ethidium bromide is used though, stock solution and pure ethidium bromide should be handled as small chemical waste.
Gels containing ethidium bromide shall be packed in plastic bags and placed in laboratory waste containers. Contaminated pipette tips, gloves, bench paper, etc. shall be placed in laboratory waste containers.
Buffer solutions and staining baths should be treated so that the concentration of ethidium bromide is maximally reduced. For example, use so-called "destaining bags" and follow the instructions for use to ensure that effective reduction of the amount of ethidium bromide is achieved. The bags are then put in plastic packaging and are handled as small chemical waste.
When the amount of ethidium bromide is maximally reduced, the solution can be poured into the drain. This assumes that the waste does not contain other substances or compounds which mean that the solution is classified as hazardous waste. If there is uncertainty, the solution should always be handled and sent as waste material.
The laboratory waste containers must be marked with:
- Name and phone number of the person responsible for the waste
- Label according to each type of waste
- Label and specify which substance with name and hazard pictogram
- Delivering department and/or unit
Photochemicals waste
Photochemicals are classified as hazardous waste primarily due to its content of silver. The amount of waste is constantly decreasing as digital technology and copying are used instead.
Fixer and developer solution are collected in separate containers. Never mix different types of solutions in the same container. Often plastic canisters are used as containers. Mark the containers with "fix solution" or "developer". Also follow requirements from the waste transporter.
The laboratory waste containers must be marked with:
- Name and phone number of the person responsible for the waste
- Label according to each type of waste
- Label and specify which substance with name and hazard pictogram
- Delivering department and/or unit
Silvernitrate solution waste
Silvernitrate solution used for staining should be treated by precipitation with sodium chloride. The precipitate, silver chloride, is treated as chemical waste. Remaining solution can be poured into the drain when it can be shown that the solution is free of silver.
This also assumes that the waste does not contain other substances or compounds which mean that the solution is classified as hazardous waste. If there is uncertainty, the solution should always be handled and sent as waste material.
The laboratory waste containers must be marked with:
- Name and phone number of the person responsible for the waste
- Label according to each type of waste
- Label and specify which substance with name and hazard pictogram
- Delivering department and/or unit
Small chemicals waste
Small chemicals include smaller packages that contain or have contained solid or liquid chemicals. They can be deposited in their original packaging if the packaging and seal are intact and the label clearly indicates the contents. If original packaging is not used, the container chosen must be of material that is not affected by the contents. Packing of small chemicals may only be done by personnel with expertise in the field. Uppsala University has procured the service for sorting and packing chemical waste.
The packages must have visible information about the content. If it is a mixture of chemicals, the content of each substance should appear on the packaging. Also give the proportion of water. The proportion of heavy metals is given in mass%, the rest in volume%. If possible, state pH. It must also be obvious where the packaging of waste comes from. Always reseal with original seal. Make sure that the packaging is clean on the outside so that the risk is reduced that those who are to handle the packaging are exposed to chemicals.
Packaging with substances belonging to Group A or B in Appendix 1 of the Swedish Work Environment Authority's regulation AFS 2011:19, Chemical Hazards in the Working Environment (substances that are prohibited or subject to authorization), shall be marked with information that they contain A or B substances.
Similarly, packaging containing substances labeled with the hazard statements H340, 350 or 360 (carcinogenic, mutagenic or reproductive disorder) is labeled so that it appears that the packaging contains so-called CMR substances.
The laboratory waste containers must be marked with:
- Name and phone number of the person responsible for the waste
- Label according to each type of waste
- Label and specify which substance with name and hazard pictogram
- Delivering department and/or unit
Solvent waste
Solvent waste includes both organic and/or water based, pure solutions or mixtures. For collection, emptied, clean glass bottles can be used. Note that the original seal must always be used. Do not long-time-store solvents in plastic containers because the plastic can be affected by the contents.
Solvents should maintain a pH between 6-10, it is therefore allowed to adjust the pH. Different types of solvents, eg. halogenated and non-halogenated, must be collected separately as the destruction costs for different types differ. Prior to delivery, the waste is poured into type approved plastic containers intended for transport.
Specify clearly the content of each constituent substance on the packaging, as well as the pH value and contact information to the deliverer (name, telephone number, department/unit).
If it is a CMR substance, it must be stated. The solvent canisters should not be packed in laboratory waste containers. Labeling with the word "waste" or "sludge", where the content does not appear, must not occur.
The laboratory waste containers must be marked with:
- Name and phone number of the person responsible for the waste
- Label according to each type of waste
- Label and specify which substance with name and hazard pictogram
- Delivering department and/or unit
Cytostatics
Cytostatic drugs are a group of drugs that are mainly used as a treatment for various cancer diseases. All waste from a cytostatic laboratory, e.g. solutions and consumables such as protective clothing, gloves, syringes and cannulas are classified as hazardous waste.
Solutions containing cytostatics, cytostatic drugs in original packaging or ready-to-use solutions should be placed in laboratory waste containers.
Consumables that are contaminated with cytostatics are first placed in sealable plastic bags before being placed in laboratory waste containers. Sharps waste such as needles and syringes should be placed in puncture-proof containers.
The laboratory waste container caps must be hermetically sealed (makes a click sound when properly closed). Plastic bags in waste cartons must be sealed with cable ties or equivalent. Laboratory waste containers should be clean on the outside and broken containers must not be used.
The laboratory waste containers for cytostatics should be labeled with:
- Name and phone number of the person responsible for the waste
- Delivering department and/or unit
- Cytostatics and specify which type
General information about laboratory waste
The campus management personnel are responsible for the coordination of waste management and each campus area has local routines for how laboratory waste is handled. In most of the campus areas where laboratory work is carried out, yellow plastic boxes are used for laboratory waste. They can be used both for chemically and biologically contaminated waste. Laboratory waste containers can also be made of brown cardboard with a yellow border. The cardboard boxes must always be provided with a protective inner plastic bag.
For infectious waste, the legislation's requirement states that the sealing of the packaging must be designed so that it cannot be opened and resealed, without this being visible. Therefore, inner bags in the laboratory waste containers should always be well sealed with cable ties. See also the sections for infectious waste.
Keep in mind that staff from the campus management, the transporter and the waste incineration station handle your laboratory waste containers by hand after you leave them, so make sure that the lids are completely "clicked", the bags completely sealed, and that it is completely clean and safe on the outside of the box .
The laboratory waste containers must be marked with:
- Name and phone number of the person responsible for the waste
- Label according to each type of waste
- Label and specify which substance with name and hazard pictogram
- Delivering department and/or unit
The waste containers should preferably be marked in connection with putting them in the laboratory.
GMO & GMM
GMM & GMO
Genetically modified microorganisms (GMM) and Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) are defined by genetic changes, which have not occurred naturally.
To prevent GMM and GMO from reaching the environment, it is handled as biological material waste or infectious waste depending on risk assessment and the campus management’s routines.
Infectious waste
Infectious waste covers a wide range of substances. On this page you will find information of different categories of pathogens and how to handle them accordingly to legislation.
Description
Infectious waste can be toxins, Prions, viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites which can cause disease in humans, animals or plants. Infectious agents are divided into 4 categories according to their human pathogenicity.
- Biological agents which normally does not cause infection, e.g. non-pathogenic strains of Escherichia coli och Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
- Infectious agents which can cause transient or curable infections, e.g. Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Influenza. Blood and tissue are routinely handled in this category.
- Infectious agents which can cause very serious infections, e.g. Escherichia coli O157:H7, bacillus anthracis, HIV, Echinococcus multilocularis, and all human prions.
- Infectious agents which can cause very serious infections with little or no effective treatment, e.g. Ebola and Crimean-Congo virus. There is no research with any risk class 4 infectious agents at Uppsala University.
For a complete list, please consult
Other biological waste fractions, which for practical purposes can be handled as infectious waste, are:
Genetically modified micro/organism (GMM/O)
Biological agents in risk class 1, if they produce unhealthy concentrations of allergens or toxin
Contaminated material (gloves, needled, scalpels, pipettes etc.) carcasses, cage bedding, cell lines, etc. Do a risk assessment and assign the waste to the suitable category.
Some biological material and animal by-products
If the infectious material is also radioactive
Handling
Since the research and routines differ at each campus, it’s important that you ask the campus management how to hand over your infectious waste. However, in general risk class 3 waste should be inactivated before it leaves the laboratory, this also includes GMM/GOM R-verksamhet, infectious agents which are highly pathogenic for plants or animals, and infectious agents which can not with certainty be classified as risk class 1-2.
Risk class 1-2 infectious agent (including GMM/GMO L-verksamhet) should be inactivated as close to the use as possible, and then handled as regular waste. However, risk class 1-2 waste can also be labelled as infectious waste (e.g. UN3291) and sent sent directly for incineration in proper hard plastic laboratory waste bins with completely sealable lids, or laboratory waste cardboard boxes with plastic bags. In both cases make sure that:
- The boxes are intact and clean on the outside
- The boxes can’t be opened after closing
- The boxes contain absorbents to handle any leakage inside
- Cutting and puncturing material can’t penetrate the box
Infectious waste boxes should be labelled with:
- Institution/department, group, name, phone number, date. In case of an accident, it could be of vital importance for the responders to have access to your information about the content.
- Biological hazard pictogram (and if applicable other relevant pictogram e.g. cutting/puncturing, radioactive), and specific UN-code, which is provided by the campus management.
At some campuses, the user should also hand over a form, which is archived together with the transport document for 3 years. Ask your campus management for local routines.
Correctly, packaged infectious waste may be stored in suitable waste rooms prior to transport to incineration. Normally it is the temperature of the waste room which dictates how long the waste may be stored: room temperature max 1 days, ≤ +8°C max 6 days, ≤ -1°C max 1 year.
Laboratory glassware
Laboratory glassware, like E-flasks and beakers are not packaging and should therefore not be left with other glass.
Laboratory glassware usually consists of borosilicate glass, quartz glass or special glass, unlike glass packaging consisting of soda glass. If soda glass is mixed with other glass qualities, the possibility of recycling is destroyed.
Laboratory glassware is divided into the following fractions:
- Non-contaminated laboratory glass (in a whole and broken state) - pack well and handle as residual waste.
- Contaminated laboratory glass (in a whole and broken state) - handle and label based on current contamination e. g. infectious, radioactive, chemical residue.
Laboratory related material as waste
Description and handling
Laboratory related materials are materials that have been handled in a laboratory. It can be, for example, protective gloves, plastic tubes, wipes, pipette tips or broken glass.
Non-contaminated laboratory related material
Laboratory related material that has not been in contact with either chemicals, infectious substances, radioactive substance or other type of contamination shall be collected in separate fraction and left as combustible waste.
Contaminated laboratory related material
Laboratory related material contaminated with something from laboratory work, eg. chemicals, infectious substances, radioactive substances or other types of contamination are sorted according to the type of contamination and are handled according to the respective description.
Medical products and pharmaceutical waste
Medicines and drug residues are classified as hazardous waste and should be placed in laboratory waste containers. For instructions regarding antibiotics and chemotherapy please read under respective type of waste.
Sharps waste such as needles and syringes should be placed in puncture proof containers.
Narcotic drugs waste must be de-identified before placed with other pharmaceutical waste. Disposal must be documented in a comsumption journal/log book.
The laboratory waste container caps must be hermetically sealed (click sound when properly closed). Plastic bags in waste boxes must be sealed with cable ties/equivalent. Laboratory waste containers should be clean on the outside and broken containers must not be used.
The laboratory waste containers must be marked with:
- Name and phone number of the person responsible for the waste
- Delivering department
- Specification of substance/substances (Please note! Narcotic drugs must be de-identified.)
Packaging from laboratories
Packaging in the laboratory can be outer packaging for laboratory material (e.g. cardboard box with bottles) or plastic packaging, glass packaging, metal packaging or steel containers containing chemicals. Outer packaging that has never been in direct contact with chemicals is sorted in the same way as packaging from office work. If the outer packaging is labeled with pictogram you should erase it or take the label off to state that the box is not contaminated with anything hazardous.
Empty container which has contained chemicals can be sorted as packaging and left for recycling if they are cleaned and with the content information erased (by deleting the text or take the label off). If not, they should be left as chemical waste. Spray flasks/aerosols should always be sorted as chemical waste.
The exception is packaging labeled with:
- Dead fish and tree
- Skull and crossbone
- Health hazard
- Corrosive
Emptied packaging with any of these labels is left as chemical waste. They should not be cleaned and should be properly closed with the original lid.
Chemical waste
Emptied packaging containing radioactive substance is always left as radioactive waste.
All packaging which has contained chemicals, even those that are not labeled as above, can be left as chemical waste, but then the cost will be considerably higher than if they are left cleaned for recycling.
Periodic discharge of liquid waste into the sewage disposal system
All laboratory work produces waste. For liquid waste, the type of waste must be taken into consideration before it is poured into the sewage disposal system.
The municipal water supplier Uppsala Vatten has issued a regulatory document entitled "Restrictions on periodic discharge of liquid waste and residue into the sewage disposal system". The guidelines contains therein concern discharge within Uppsala Municipality. It also contains the limits for discharge of various types of liquid waste into the sewage network.
Always contact Uppsala Vatten if you intend to release according to "villkor 4" in the document. Please contact Uppsala Vatten if you are not sure about the routines.
Radioactive waste (including infectious) (In Swedish)
Beskrivning och hantering
Radioaktivt avfall kan indelas i:
- Fast radioaktivt avfall
- Flytande radioaktivt avfall
- Scintavfall
- Radioaktiva ämnen i form av slutna strålkällor
- Kärnämnen som uran, torium och plutonium
Radioaktiva ämnen ska i största möjliga utsträckning undvikas att sammanblandas med andra slag av avfall.
Radioaktivt avfall som också är smittförande utgör ett specialfall. Hanteringen regleras av ett speciellt regelverk som beskrivs under rubriken Sammanfattning.
Radioaktivt avfall som samtidigt är smittförande ska förvaras nedkylt, se detaljer under rubriken Radioaktivt avfall som också är smittförande.
Vissa radioaktiva produkter omfattas av producentansvar, till exempel strålkällor som ingår i vätskescintillationsdetektorsystem. Se detaljer under rubriken Flytande radioaktivt avfall och scintvätskor.
Högsta tillåtna aktivitetsmängd per laboratorieavfallskärl
Den sammanlagda mängden radioaktiva ämnen per laboratorieavfallskärl får högst uppgå till den aktivitetsmängd som motsvaras av angivet gränsvärde, Lmax, i, för en given radionuklid, i, enligt kolumn 3 i bilaga 1 till föreskriften SSM FS 2018:3.
Om en förpacknings aktivitetsmängd understiger tabellens gränsvärde behöver inte reglerna för transport av farligt gods följas, åtminstone inte på grund av att innehållet utgörs av radioaktivt ämne.
Summationsregel
Då flera radioaktiva ämnen läggs i en och samma laboratorieavfallskärl ska summan av de i kartongen placerade aktivitetsmängderna uttryckta som respektive radionuklids andel av Lmax,,i -värde högst uppgå till 1, så att:
Σi(Li/Lmax, i) ≤ 1
där Li är aktivitetsmängden av radionukliden ”i”.
Exempel: Kan 800 kBq P-32 och 5 MBq C-14 läggas i samma kartong och avsändas till avfallsförbränning för slutligt omhändertagande som radioaktivt avfall?
Svar: Dela respektive aktivitetsmängd med motsvarande nuklids Lmax,i-värde från tabellen ovan och summera resultaten: 800 kBq/100 kBq = 8 för P-32 och 5 MBq/10 MBq = 0.5 för C-14, summering av 8 + 0,5 ger värdet 8,5.
Detta värde överstiger summationsregelns värde om högst 1 och kartongen får alltså inte avsändas till sopförbränning, åtminstone inte ännu.
Åtgärd: Kartongen med sitt innehåll får i detta specifika fall avklinga i 8 veckor, P-32 har 14 dygns halveringstid, vilket resulterar i att summationsregelns värde sjunker till 1 (0.5+0.5) och kartongen kan sändas till förbränning. Etiketten ”Radioaktivt avfall” kan makuleras eller avlägsnas inför transport.
Eftersom aktiviteten understiger frigränserna för radioaktivt ämne i regelverket ADR-S för transport av farligt gods på väg ska inte beteckningen ”UN2910” anges på emballaget.
B) Under loppet av en månad gäller att den sammanlagda aktivitetsmängden som sänds till avfallsförbränning får uppgå till högst 10 gånger Lmax per verksamhet så att Σi(Li/Lmax, i) ≤ 10 per månad.
Fast radioaktivt avfall
Allt fast avfall (papperstussar, plast, glas med mera) och lösningar, fällningar, filtrat mm som innehåller radioaktiva ämnen ska omhändertas som radioaktivt avfall. Arbetet med radioaktiva ämnen ska planeras så att mängden avfall som måste tas om hand som radioaktivt avfall minimeras.
Det radioaktiva avfallet ska vara emballerat i ett så kallat laboratorieavfallskärl i kartong innehållande en väl försluten invändig plastpåse och, om avfallet är eller kan bli flytande, absorptionsmedel motsvarande dubbla mängden avfall i form av vätska. Kartongerna är under utfasning och ersätts med gula, punktionssäkra, avfallskärl i plast försedda med hermetiskt tillslutande lock.
Flytande radioaktivt avfall och scintvätskor
Organiska och miljöstörande/skadliga lösningsmedel som till exempel vätskescintillationslösningar får ej hällas ut i utslagsvask för flytande radioaktivt avfall utan ska förpackas i plast- eller glasflaskor som placeras i laboratorieavfallskärl tillsammans med en tillräcklig mängd absorptionsmedel för att hindra utläckage. Med tillräcklig mängd absorptionsmedel avses en sådan mängd att det räcker för att absorbera dubbla den mängd vätska som finns i avfallsförpackningen.
Vid varje utsläppstillfälle får aktiviteten vara högst Lmax,i . Vid varje utsläppstillfälle ska spolning ske med rikligt med vatten. Om flera radionuklider ingår ska hänsyn tas till begränsning av aktivitetsmängden så att summationsregelns villkor uppfylls.
Σi(Li/Lmax, i) ≤ 1
där Li är aktivitetsmängden av radionukliden ”i”.
Den sammanlagda aktivitet som spolas ut i avlopp får vara högst 10 gånger Lmax , i per kalendermånad per verksamhet. För olika kombinationer av radionuklider till avloppet under loppet av en månad gäller den begränsning av aktivitetsmängden som följer av följande summationsregel:
Σi(Li/Lmax, i) ≤ 10
där Li är aktivitetsmängden av radionukliden ”i”.
OBS! Lösningsmedel som innehåller NPE (nonyl phenol ethoxylate) till exempel scintillationsvätskor som Optiphase ’Hisafe’ 2 upptas i Europaparlamentets och rådets direktiv 2003/53/EC och får inte släppas ut till något vattensystem inom europeiska gemenskapen utan ska alltid sändas till slutligt omhändertagande genom förbränning.
Brandfarliga vätskescintillationslösningar ska vara förpackade i mindre plast- eller glasflaskor uppgående till en sammanlagd volym av högst 1 liter per laboratorieavfallskärl. Absorptionsmedel ska tillföras kartongen i en mängd motsvarande en kapacitet att suga upp minst dubbla mängden (2 liter) vätska.
Av icke brandfarliga vätskescintillationslösningar får högst 5 liter förpackas per laboratorieavfallskärl. Laboratorieavfallskärlen ska tillföras absorptionsmedel motsvarande vätskans dubbla mängd.
Radioaktiva ämnen i form av slutna strålkällor
Det är inte längre tillåtet att som i tidigare föreskrifter skicka vissa slutna strålkällor till förbränning. Dessa ska nu istället samlas in för universitetsgemensam avsändning till Cyclife Sweden AB för slutlig behandling som radioaktivt avfall.
Kontakta universitetets strålskyddsexpert för upphämtning och omhändertagande av slutna strålkällor.
Kärnämnen som utgör avfall
Kärnämnen som uran, torium och plutonium, som inte längre ska användas eller utgör avfall, ska anmälas till universitetets strålskyddsexpert för upphämtning och slutligt omhändertagande som radioaktivt avfall samt avregistrering från register över kärnämnen hos SSM och EURATOM. Avfallet sänds till Cyclife Sweden AB.
Radioaktivt avfall som också är smittförande
Om strålnings- och smittorisk föreligger samtidigt, ska det anges i de lokala skriftliga rutinerna hur avfallet ska hanteras.
Inför samråd med Uppsala universitets strålskyddsexpert och biosäkerhetssamordnare ska en skriftlig riskbedömning därför upprättas och utgöra underlag för rutinen om hantering av avfallet. Av riskanalysen ska följande punkter säkerställas:
- Arbetsrutiner
- Bortskaffning
- Mellanlagring med avseende på strålning, mikrobiell tillväxt och smittspridning
- Slutdestruktion
Vid externa transporter ska ADR-S följas för märkning/transport.
Sammanfattning
Radioaktivt avfall får sändas till förbränning vid Vattenfall värme i Uppsala om:
1. aktiviteten i varje avfallsförpackning högst uppgår till de värden som framgår av tredje kolumnen bilaga 1 i Strålsäkerhetsmyndighetens föreskrifter
2. den sammanlagda aktiviteten i det avfall som lämnas till förbränning under en kalendermånad högst uppgår till tio gånger de värden som anges i bilagans tredje kolumn. Om avfallet innehåller mer än en radionuklid, ska den högsta tillåtna aktiviteten beräknas enligt bilaga 5 till Strålsäkerhetsmyndighetens föreskrifter
3. kärnämnen, dvs uran, torium och plutonium som inte längre ska användas ska anmälas till universitetets strålskyddsexpert för omhändertagande och avregistrering från register hos SSM och EURATOM.
Dokumentation
Dokumentation över radioaktivt avfall ska upprättas vid produktions-, utsläpps- och lagringsställe.
Dessa är:
1. laboratoriet, där avfallet uppkommer i form av avfall till förbränning,
2. laboratoriet, där flytande radioaktivt avfall släpps ut till utsläppsvask för radioaktivt avfall,
3. lagringsplats, där radioaktivt avfall lagras inför transport till avfallsförbränningsanläggning.
4. lagringsplats, där radioaktivt avfall lagras inför transport till slutligt omhändertagande som radioaktivt avfall vid en godkänd avfallsanläggning (Cyclife Sweden AB).
Dokumentationen ska sammanställas årligen för arkivering och redovisning av årliga aktivitetsmängder till avfallsmottagarna. Dokumentationen ska sparas så länge verksamheten pågår.
Exempel på dokumentation i laboratoriet
Laboratoriejournalen för radioaktivt avfall som placeras i laboratorieavfallskärl ska innehålla uppgift om identitetsnummer, radionuklid, aktivitetsmängd, ytdosrat, referensdatum för ytdosbestämningen och uppgift om när avfallsförpackningen sänts till avfallsrum (om ej kvar på laboratoriet). Identitetsnummer utgör avfallsproducentens tre-siffriga organisationsenhetsnummer och ett löpnummer. Ekonomiavdelningen eller er lokala ekonomiadministratör kan ge information om aktuellt organisationsenhetsnummer.
Större institutioner med ett flertal avdelningar, enheter eller enskilda grupper kan fördela löpnummer så att till exempel grupp 1 använder löpnummer från 000 till 049, grupp 2 tilldelas löpnummer 050 -100, enheten 1 tilldelas 101 – 199, enhet 2 tilldelas 200 – 299 och så vidare.
Exempel på motsvarande dokumentation för radionuklider som släppts ut i utsläppsvask:
Exempel, dokumentation i avfallsrum för radioaktivt avfall:
Märkning/etikettering (avseende intern hantering av radioaktivt avfall)
Gul etikett för ”Radioaktivt avfall” ska klistras på laboratorieavfallskärlen. Av etiketten ska följande information framgå:
1. Varselsymbol för joniserande strålning,
2. uppgift om avsändare/kontaktperson och telefonnummer,
3. uppgift om i förpackad radionuklid och aktivitet,
4. uppgift om ytdosrat vid angivet datum. (Avklingas tills ytdosraten ej överstiger 5 µSv/h),
5. Identitetsnummer, (organisationsenhetsnummer och förpackningens löpnummer).
Aktivitetsmängden i varje enskild avfallsförpackning får vid avlämningstillfället, för vidare transport till avfallsmottagaren, högst uppgå till motsvarande Lmax,i, och förpackningens ytdosrat ska understiga 5 µSv/h. Detta ska kontrolleras med lämpligt instrument inför borttransport.
Förvaring och deklarering
Förvaring
Radioaktiva ämnen ska förvaras inlåsta så att de inte är åtkomliga för obehöriga. Förvaringen ska vara betryggande från brandsäkerhetssynpunkt. Förvaringsplatsen ska hållas i god ordning och vara lätt att rengöra. Om flyktiga ämnen förvaras, eller om det finns risk för att sådana kan bildas, ska förvaringsplatsen vara väl ventilerad.
Förvaringsplatsen ska vara märkt med varselsymbol för joniserande strålning, texten ”Förvaringsplats för radioaktivt avfall” samt namn och telefonnummer till den som ansvarar för förvaringsplatsen.
En förvaringsbehållare för radioaktivt avfall ska vara av lämpligt material och utförande med hänsyn till kemiska och fysikaliska egenskaper hos det ämne som förvaras. Behållaren ska vara märkt med radionuklidens beteckning och uppgift om aktivitet vid ett angivet datum. Vad som sägs i ovanstående ska även gälla förvaring av radioaktivt avfall i avvaktan på slutligt omhändertagande.
Deklarering
Farligt gods: Avfallsförpackningar med radioaktivt avfall som överstiger bilagans värden, Lmax,i, klassas som farligt gods. Om aktivitetsmängden är mindre än Lmax,i och villkoret Σi(Li/Lmax, i) ≤ 1 i summationsregeln uppfylls så utgör inte avfallet farligt gods med hänsyn till avfallets radioaktiva egenskaper.
Insamling/hantering och avlämning/transport
Insamling/hantering
Det radioaktiva avfallet ska transporteras till lokala uppsamlingsplatsen för radioaktivt avfall i enlighet med den lokala intendenturens anvisningar, se lista med kontaktperson för respektive intendenturområde.
UU:s intendenturorganisation i Katalogen
Avlämning/transport
Radioaktivt avfall enligt här givna begränsningar hämtas från avfallsrummen av transportör för vidare transport till Vattenfall Värme i Uppsala ABs avfallsbehandlingsanläggning där det radioaktiva avfallet förbränns och resterna av förbränningen deponeras under kontrollerade former.
I samband med att den interna hanteringen är avslutad förses avfallsbehållarna inför transport till förbränning med en vit etikett, se nedanstående figur.
%20Bild7_M%C3%A4rkning_avs%C3%A4ndingsklart_Radavfall.jpg)
Den vita etiketten klistras över den gula etiketten för intern hantering så att den vita etiketten helt täcker den gula etiketten.
Slutligt omhändertagande
Radioaktivt avfall som inte uppfyller begränsningar enligt dessa anvisningar och SSM FS 2018:3 får endast tas om hand av Cyclife Sweden AB som är det enda företaget i landet som innehar tillstånd för hantering av radioaktivt avfall.
I samtliga fall ska universitets strålskyddsexpert kontaktas eftersom även andra föreskrivna krav tillkommer enligt transportregelverket ADR-S och att krav om dokumentation och rapportering till tillståndsmyndighet måste uppfyllas.
Godkänd avfallsanläggning för radioaktivt avfall
Cyclife Sweden AB, 611 82 Nyköping, telefon 0155-606400
Kontakta Cyclife Sweden via e-post
Vid kontakt med Cyclife Sweden ska även universitetets strålskyddsexpert underrättas.
Sharps waste
Examples of sharps waste are needles, scalpels, lancets and syringes. Sharps waste must be placed in puncture-proof laboratory waste containers.
Contaminated sharps waste that may be e.g. infectious, radioactive or contain chemical residues should be handled on the basis of current contamination, read more under respective type of waste.
Radioactive waste (In Swedish)
The laboratory waste container caps must be hermetically sealed (click sound when properly closed). Plastic bags in waste boxes must be sealed with cable ties or equivalent. Laboratory waste containers should be clean on the outside. Broken waste containers must not be used.
Laboratory waste containers for sharps waste must be marked with:
- Name and phone number of the person responsible for the waste
- Delivering department
- "Sharps waste" and "Skärande/stickande"