6.1.1 Buckets for broken glass

The new, preferred procedure for collecting broken glass is to use 5 gallon containers that can be sealed. The custodial staff will then dispose of the containers with the regular trash. USED BUCKETS WILL NOT BE RETURNED. For this option:

1. Either purchase 5 gallon buckets from Chemistry Stores at 5 dollars per bucket, providing an account index to pick them up, or
2. Repurpose buckets from food service, dissection specimens, or other sources. They MUST have a lid that will seal them.

ALL BUCKETS MUST be labeled with the following:

[Beginning of label]

[Large font] BROKEN GLASS ONLY [End large font].

INSTRUCTIONS FOR DISPOSAL OF A FULL BUCKET:

- BROKEN GLASS ONLY, NOT FOR PLASTIC DISPOSABLE PIPETTES, EMPTY UNBROKEN BOTTLES, NEEDLES, BIOHAZARD WASTES OR REGULAR TRASH
- SECURELY SEAL WITH A SNAP ON LID, IF TOO FULL TO SEAL, TRANSFER OVERFLOW TO A NEW BUCKET
- LABEL "DISPOSE WITH TRASH"
- PLACE NEXT TO LABORATORY TRASH CONTAINER (NOT IN HALLWAY)

NOTE - THIS BUCKET WILL NOT BE RETURNED - REPLACE WITH A NEW EMPTY BUCKET

[End of label]

You may print and use one of the Broken Glass Labels from the right sidebar.

6.1.2 Boxes for broken glass

If you continue to use a box for collecting broken glass instead of a bucket please keep the following in mind:

Lab personnel are responsible for moving broken glass containers to the dumpster. If you need assistance contact the Departmental Laboratory Supervisor.

You must use purchased collection boxes, not homemade cardboard collection containers. The purchased ones are designed to take weight, not leak, have protective tops and appropriate labeling.

• DO NOT over fill the boxes.
• NO glass should be sticking out of the top.
• They MUST be less than 50 lbs; if you are collecting dense glass items like microscope slides, use a smaller box.
• Do NOT let the boxes get wet.

ONLY BROKEN GLASS goes in the boxes:

• NO "sharps," that is, no needles that might go through the side.
• NO fluorescent bulbs (see below). Unbroken glass, such as rinsed acid bottles, can go through the normal waste stream.
• Note that if you are collecting biohazard wastes in the boxes, they need to be labeled and managed properly; if you are doing this it is recommended that you review it with the Departmental Laboratory Supervisor or University Biosafety Officer. See the right sidebar for Disposal Labels.