Solid waste

• 32P or 35S solid waste should be placed in a polythene bag contained in a labelled perspex box and must not be emptied by cleaners.  When two thirds full this should be taken to the locked outside storage areas (E0, next to the E029 Growth Rooms) for storage and decay.  Disposal forms provided must be completed as instructed.  Do not leave radioactive tape or signs on the bag or its contents.   Please contact Lot Doucet to access this facility and for information on the procedure that must be followed when using this storage area.
• Very low levels of other radioactive materials (typically 14C / 3H / 45Ca) can be placed in the main departmental waste bins (located in the Stores compound area) for collection by the local authority.  Bag(s) of material should be first placed in a black bin liner which must not contain more than 400 kBq (10 µCi) or more than 40 kBq  (1 µCi) in any one item.  All radioactive tape and signs must be removed before disposal. 
• If the solid waste contains microbiological materials, the waste should be placed in an autoclaved bag and autoclaved before disposal

Liquid aqueous waste

• Use only designated sinks and do not exceed the stated limits set for each sink (see disposal limits set for each radiation facility in Table 2 below); be sure to check the cumulative limit of the sink you are using. You must record each disposal at the point of disposal on the 'aqueous sink disposal form' provided and also on the item stock record card.

Volatile waste

• You must not generate gaseous radioactive waste. If you want to generate volatile radioactive waste, you must seek special permission from the University's Radiation Protection Office

Organic scintillate waste

• They must be kept in special drums available from Biology Stores, such drums being disposed of subsequently via Stores. Each drum must have its own record of disposal sheet to keep track of the items added

Table 1: Disposal limits for the University of York (all in MBq except where indicated)

Table 2: Liquid aqueous waste disposal limits for individual groups within the Department of Biology