The following steps must be followed to ensure the safe and compliant disposal of laboratory equipment.
The first step is to determine if your equipment requires an OEHS Green Tag. Use the Green Tag Requirement Flowchart to make this determination. Please note the following specific requirements:
- Biosafety Cabinets (BSCs): For the disposal of Biosafety Cabinets, please contact the Office of Biosafety directly, as they oversee the decontamination and tracking of all BSCs.
- Specialized Equipment: If the equipment contains lasers, is x-ray generating, magnetic field-generating (MRI) or has been used with radioactive materials, please contact Clayton Smith at csmith114@tulane.edu for guidance.
Refrigerators and Freezers: Because refrigerators and freezers contain freon that must be removed prior to disposal, all units require a Green Tag regardless of their previous use.
If the Equipment Requires a Green Tag
- Clear Equipment: Remove all materials from the equipment. If it is a freezer, it must be fully defrosted.
- Decontaminate: Decontaminate the equipment. Typically, this is done by wiping surfaces with 70% ethanol or 10% bleach, followed by a water rinse.
- Submit Form: Fill out the Equipment Transfer Form and email it to OEHS@tulane.edu with the subject line "Equipment Transfer." An OEHS representative will stop by to tag the equipment within a few business days.
- Remove Hazard Stickers: If the equipment features a biohazard symbol or any other hazard-specific stickers, please remove them. Note: Only do this immediately before disposal and after all previous steps have been completed.
- Update Inventory: If the equipment has a Tulane Asset Tag (barcode), notify the Materials Management Department so they can retire the asset from university records.
- Schedule Move: After the equipment is tagged, the lab/unit must submit an IT to Facilities to schedule the pickup for disposal. Note: There may be a charge involved for this service; please contact Facilities for more information.
Important Notes:
- Equipment that is not properly decontaminated or has materials inside will not be tagged.
- The lab is responsible for all decontamination.
- If an existing green tag is old, or if the equipment was used after the tag was issued, the equipment must be decontaminated again and a new tag issued.
If the Equipment Does NOT Require a Green Tag
If the equipment is small and does not fall into the specialized categories mentioned above, it can be disposed of by lab members.
- Decontamination: The equipment must still be decontaminated prior to disposal.
- Proper Disposal: DO NOT dispose of equipment in regular indoor trash bins. Equipment must be taken to the designated outside dumpster and placed INSIDE the unit. (If you are unsure of the dumpster location for your building, contact OEHS@tulane.edu).
- Asset Tracking: If the equipment has a Tulane Asset Tag (barcode), you must still notify the Materials Management Department to update their records.
