OCRS does not collect biological waste.
Biological waste collection services vary by work environment and location.
Hospitals & Clinics
Biological waste collection services for the Hospital and Clinics are provided by VUMC Environmental Services.
School of Medicine
Biological waste collection services for laboratories in the School of Medicine are provided by VU School of Medicine Facilities & Operations. They can be contacted by phone at 322-6107, and their office is located in 114 Light Hall.
VU Central Campus Biological Waste Disposal
Biological waste (other than liquids and most pathological wastes) generated in research labs located on the University campus is picked up, treated and disposed of through an outside medical waste contractor.
- School of Engineering and Arts & Sciences labs located in Stevenson Center, Olin Hall or FEL are currently serviced by Stericycle.
- Research labs located in MRB III are currently serviced by BioWaste LLC.
Labs using a contractor for waste disposal must have personnel who have completed regulated medical waste training as required by the Department of Transportation available for monitoring of waste containers and signing of shipping papers. The Regulated Medical Waste Shipping Training for Lab Researchers module can be accessed in the VU Learning Exchange.
NOTE: If you are Medical Center personnel and cannot access the VU Learning Exchange, this course can be assigned to you in the VUMC Learning Exchange. You cannot self-assign this course. Please send a request for this training to biosafety@vumc.org to request this assignment.
Departmental contacts for establishing lab pickups can be found in the applicable tip and contact sheets below.
- Vanderbilt University Lab Guide: Using Stericycle for Biowaste Removal, Treatment & Disposal
- MRB III/Learned Lab Biohazardous Waste Disposal - Contacts & Good Practice Tips
Biological waste (other than liquids and most pathological wastes) generated in Arts & Science and School of Engineering labs located on the University campus is picked up, treated and disposed of through a medical waste contractor. Labs using this contractor must have personnel who have completed regulated medical waste training as required by the Department of Transportation available for monitoring of waste containers and signing of shipping papers.
See also:
- Biohazardous Waste: Segregation, Collection & Disposal Guide
- Disposal Procedures for Insects Used in Research
- Disposal Procedures for Fish Used in Research
- VUMC Lab Guide: Red Bag Biowaste Collection FAQ
- VU Lab Waste