Biological Soft Waste
Biohazardous soft wastes are materials that are not biohazardous sharps and will not poke holes in the biohazard bags. Biohazardous soft wastes include materials such as: Petri dishes; culture-containing materials; stocks of infectious agents; and other non-sharp contaminated materials. They must be disposed of in a soft biohazard bag. These bags can be red or orange and may have the biohazard symbol or label on the outside. Prior to disposal, contaminated material in soft biohazard bags must be autoclaved at appropriate pressure and temperature to ensure decontamination.
Non-Biohazardous Soft Wastes
These wastes may be added to biohazardous sharps or biohazardous soft waste container. Everything in a biohazardous waste container is considered to be a biohazardous material.
Biohazardous and Tissue Culture Media
Biohazardous and tissue culture media containing live organisms must be chemically decontaminated prior to disposal. To show that the material was properly decontaminated, a biohazardous material decontamination log must be kept with the date; material being decontaminated; and method of decontamination. Any material containing azides or thioglycolates must be disposed of as hazardous waste.