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Infectious Waste

Adriane Mohlenkamp
Lab Safety Coordinator
215 Hudson Health Center
(740) 593-1662

Infectious Waste is made up of waste materials to be discarded that may contain infectious agents, cultures, blood products, needles, and other materials that may cause disease in humans. The safe storage, treatment, and disposal of infectious waste at Ohio University is regulated by the State of Ohio Infectious Waste Regulations, which are enforced by the Ohio EPA and the Athens City-County Health Department, who inspects the campus program quarterly. Ohio University maintains an Infectious Waste Management Program.

Campus Treatment Site

An autoclave is located in Irvine Hall for treatment of infectious waste created by the College of Osteopathic Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences, and Department of Biological Sciences only. This autoclave is currently not in use. Any treatment of infectious waste in the autoclave must be prearranged, please contact the Biosafety Officer.

There is only one autoclave on campus where infectious waste is allowed to be treated--the Irvine Hall autoclave.

All other infectious waste generated on campus is picked up for incineration by a licensed infectious waste hauler every 2 weeks.

Pickup

Accu Medical, a State of Ohio licensed infectious waste hauler removes infectious waste from specific campus buildings every week, or “on call”. Each site is responsible for the cost of this service. This pickup must be arranged through the Program Manager at EHS. Contact Adriane Mohlenkamp at 593-1662 for more information.

Contact the Lab Safety Coordinator at 593-1662 for more information, including packaging and labeling instructions.

Athens Campus Pickup Sites: Remote Pickup Sites:
  • Ohio University Physical Therapy Association (as needed)

Regulations

Ohio EPA, Division of Solid and Infectious Waste Management

Infectious Waste Program: www.epa.state.oh.us/dsiwm/pages/iwpro.html