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Quality Control Laboratory QCL/SOP/001

TITLE AUTHOR (S)

MUGWIZA Emmanuel
LABORATORY WASTES MANAGEMENT AND DISPOSAL
EDITOR
xxxxxxxxx
AUTHORISATION
This SOP is issued under the Authority of :
NAME: XXXXXXXXXXXX
TITLE/ POSITION Laboratory Division Manager
SIGNATURE
DATE October 2019
DOCUMENT CONTROL:
ISSUE TO QCL

ISSUED DATE October 2019

CONTROLLED/UNCONTROLLED STAMP HERE

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Controlled issues of this SOP may not be copied

2. All amendments shall be written on the page provided
3. Only authorized, numbered, stamped copies of this work instruction as described
in the document control section above, shall be used.
4. This SOP shall not be used outside the Quality Control Laboratories Without the authority
of the authorizing personnel.

REVISION: 0 NEXT REVIEW DATE: October 2020

Contents
1. Objectives...............................................................................................................................2
 Document number:
Quality Control Laboratory QCL/SOP/001
Title Laboratory waste management Effective date:
and disposal
October 2019

2. Scope.......................................................................................................................................3
3. Policy........................................................................................................................................3
4. Definitions and Abbreviation............................................................................................3
5. Responsibility........................................................................................................................3
6. Safety Precautions...............................................................................................................3
7. Procedure...............................................................................................................................4
8. References..............................................................................................................................5
9. Appendices.............................................................................................................................6

1. Objectives
To provide a stepwise detailed procedure that can be followed in ensuring
that laboratory waste generated during analysis of samples is managed

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 Document number:
Quality Control Laboratory QCL/SOP/001
Title Laboratory waste management Effective date:
and disposal
October 2019

and handled safely following REMA guidelines on handling hazardous

chemicals.
2. Scope
This SOP is applicable to all waste, hazardous and non-hazardous
generated, handled, stored and disposed by Quality Control Laboratory
3. Policy

Organic law N° 04/2005 of 08/04/2005 determining the modalities of

protection, Conservation and promotion of environment in Rwanda
states that in its article 32: No one is permitted to dispose waste in an
inappropriate place, except where it is destroyed from or in a treatment
plant and after being approved by competent authorities.

4. Definitions and Abbreviation

4.1. REMA: Rwanda Environment Management Authority
4.2. QCL: Quality Control Laboratory
4.3. MSDS: Material Safety Data Sheet
4.4. Laboratory waste: this comprises of expired medicines, expired
medical devices, mobile phases, chemical wastes, paper wastes,
empty bottles and other wastes generated in the laboratory
5. Responsibility
5.1. it is the responsibility of the Head technician, technician and
laboratory assistant to ensure that the laboratory waste is collected
and handled appropriately as per this procedure
5.2. It is the responsibility of the Quality management officer to ensure
that this SOP is implemented properly.
6. Safety Precautions
6.1. Always wear gloves and laboratory coat while carrying out all test
preparations
6.2. Always use the fume hood chambers when working with hazardous
chemicals
6.3. Always use facemasks and splashguards when necessary
6.4. Always take out of the laboratory all broken bottles and or glassware
immediately and place it in the waste drums outside the laboratory
labelled for the purpose
6.5. Make sure that all empty reagent bottles are broken before being
taken away for incineration to avoid re-use
7. Procedure
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 Document number:
Quality Control Laboratory QCL/SOP/001
Title Laboratory waste management Effective date:
and disposal
October 2019

7.1.Waste identification and hazard determination

7.1.1. identify the type of waste by making reference to the MSDS for
wastes determination and disposal guidelines
7.1.2. If MSDS does not provide sufficient information, determine
whether waste is included in the list of hazardous waste. When
the item is not included in the Hazardous list, refer to the
characteristic list
7.1.3. Identify components of waste chemicals to avoid explosions
7.1.4. Wastes container should be labelled appropriately and the
labelling should include the date, quantity generated, class and
any other pertinent description that is necessary for safe disposal
7.2.Chemical wastes disposal
7.2.1. containers must be labelled properly to avoid mix up which
could lead to explosions
7.2.2. Containers should be in good condition with covering lids
7.2.3. Chemicals generated as waste should be identified and
classified as Acids should be neutralized by bases while bases
should be neutralized by acid before disposal.
7.2.4. HPLC mobile phase waste should be collected in disposal jerry
cans which shall be kept closed until when containers are full.
7.2.5. Once filled, the containers shall be gently removed from the
laboratory and taken to the waste staging centre located outside
the laboratory from where they shall be collected by the company
contracted by QCL for incineration.
7.2.6. All chemicals removed from the laboratory, should be taken for
incineration
7.3.Empty bottles disposal
7.3.1. Empty reagent bottles generated are not good as they can be
used by individuals to repack counterfeit chemicals, therefore safe
disposal is a must do activity.
7.3.2. The method of disposal is by incineration following REMA
guidelines.
7.3.3. Empty reagent bottles should be separated and kept outside the
laboratory.
7.3.4. The empty reagent bottles should be broken into pieces, then
packed in well labelled boxes and made ready for incineration.
7.4. Plastic tablet container, empty carton boxes and tissue papers
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 Document number:
Quality Control Laboratory QCL/SOP/001
Title Laboratory waste management Effective date:
and disposal
October 2019

7.4.1. These materials are generated during analysis of samples. They

should be disposed off immediately after analysis into the
laboratory bin(s)
7.4.2. Filled laboratory bins shall be taken out by laboratory
attendants or cleaners and dispose the waste into the large waste
drums located outside the main laboratory
7.4.3. When these drums outside the laboratory get full, they shall be
taken for incineration by the contracted company
7.5.Expired medicines and medical devices
7.5.1. Expired items shall be sorted from the sample store and
transferred to the container for waste storage
7.5.2. The items shall be coded on expired samples disposal form
before they are then taken for incineration.
8. References

9.1 MSDS for waste determination and guidelines

9.2 Official gazette of the Republic of Rwanda year 44 no 9

9. Appendices

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 Document number:
Quality Control Laboratory QCL/SOP/001
Title Laboratory waste management Effective date:
and disposal
October 2019

Appendix 1. Record of changes/Review

DETAILS OF CHANGE AUTHORISATION DATE
NO.
Page Clause Number andName
comments
1

Appendices 2: Expired samples disposal form

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 Document number:
Quality Control Laboratory QCL/SOP/001
Title Laboratory waste management Effective date:
and disposal
October 2019

Logo Medical and Pharmaceutical Testing Unit Doc No:

Expired Samples Disposal Form Revision No:
Effective Date:
RSB Sample Manufacture Expiry Removed Collected Remark
No. name r date by/Date by/Date

Appendices 3: General waste Disposal Form

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 Document number:
Quality Control Laboratory QCL/SOP/001
Title Laboratory waste management Effective date:
and disposal
October 2019

Logo Quality Control Laboratory Doc No:

General waste Disposal Form Revision No:
Effective Date:
Type Quantit Date of Date of Collecte Collecte Remar
of y (kg) notificatio collection d by d in the k
sampl n for for presence
e collection incineratio of
n

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