Radioactive Waste Collection
Contact: Dave Bertocchi, dab40@psu.edu814-865-6391

Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) is responsible for the collection, storage, and disposal of all radioactive waste at Penn State University. EHS is also responsible for ensuring compliance with all applicable state and federal regulations regarding this material.

Services Offered

• Training - EHS provides radionuclide safety training to all personnel prior to allowing them to handle radioactive material. Proper waste disposal and documentation is part of this training class.


• Solid Waste Collection - EHS currently provides two types of containers for the collection of solid radioactive waste: a 10-gallon capacity cardboard box and an 18-gallon capacity steel can. In general, the metal cans should be used for high energy materials as well as all short lived materials. It is easier for EHS if long lived materials, such as tritium and carbon-14A, are placed in the 10-gallon boxes for disposal. A solid radioactive waste card is attached to the lid of each container supplied by EHS. This card provides information for the proper use of the waste container and serves as a log to maintain a record of waste additions by users. This card must be completed properly in order for the waste to be collected. Below are additional rules concerning solid waste:


1. Waste containers must be kept capped at all times and the containers must be secured from unauthorized removal.
2. Solid and liquid waste must be kept separate in the containers provided by EHS. No liquids or containers with free liquid in them may be placed in the solid waste container.
3. Hypodermic needles and other sharps must be placed in sharps containers before disposal. Radioactive waste which is a biological hazard must be inactivated prior to placing it into the radioactive waste container.
4. Volatile radioactive waste should be sealed in plastic bags or other containers or solidified before being placed in the waste container.
5. No lead is to be placed in the waste containers.
6. Do not place different isotopes in a single waste container without the prior approval of EHS. (Tritium and carbon-14 may be placed in the same container).


• Liquid Waste Collection - The Health Physics Office provides polyethylene jugs for the collection of liquid radioactive waste. A liquid radioactive waste tag is attached to these containers. The back of this tag provides information for the proper use of the waste container and basic instructions for completing the tag. The front of this tag includes a form that the user must complete in order for the waste to be collected. This card must be completed properly in order for the waste to be collected. Below are additional rules concerning liquid waste:


1. Liquid waste containing radioiodine must be stored in special containers provided by the Health Physics Office that contain chemicals to inhibit the formation of iodine vapors.
2. Liquid waste containing milk, blood, homogenized tissue, etc. should be kept frozen or treated with chemicals to inhibit decomposition until it is collected.
3. Liquid radioactive waste should be segregated by using separate containers for aqueous waste, organic materials, and liquid scintillation fluid from flow through liquid scintillation counters.
4. Do not place different isotopes in a single waste container without the prior approval of EHS.
5. The amount of radioactive phosphorus-32 and iodine-125 in a liquid waste jug may be determined by following the instructions located at Liquid Radioactive Waste Analysis.


• Liquid Scintillation Vials Collection - Liquid scintillation vials should be saved for disposal in the shipping trays for the vials or in containers supplied by EHS for scintillation vials only. Do not empty the vials into another container. Do not place different isotopes in a single waste container without the prior approval of EHS. Each container supplied by EHS will include a label that must be completed before the waste will be collected by EHS.


• Animal Carcass Collection - Animal carcasses, bedding, excreta, blood, milk and other biological materials contaminated with radioactive material require special handling for disposal. Some waste may require packaging with preservatives for shipment to a commercial burial site or incinerator. The amount of activity which may be incinerated is limited, as are storage facilities for waste held in decay. It is therefore essential that arrangements for disposal be made with EHS prior to initiating experiments which will produce biological waste. The experimenter is responsible for providing suitable storage of such waste to prevent decomposition before it is collected.

Radioactive Waste Reduction Tips

• Experimenters should procure only as much radioactive material as is required for their experiments.
• Perform a dry run of new experiments prior to using the radioactive material.
• Only place items that are contaminated in the radioactive waste containers, if you are not sure check the item with a meter or liquid scintillation counter.
• Have a special area of the lab dedicated for work with radioactive material, and keep it clean.
• Use items that are reusable and easy to decontaminate, such as lab trays.
• Use dedicated equipment for radioactive work.