Radioactive Waste

Having devices on campus that emit radiation requires that the resulting waste be managed to protect the community against radioactive pollution. 

Symbol used to label radioactive waste which is composed of a yellow triangle outlined in black with a black fan like symbol in the middle

Segregated by Half Life

Materials with half lives less than or equal to 88 days must be kept separate from materials with half lives greater than 88 days. Materials with a half life less than or equal to 88 days are decayed in storage for 10 half lives then disposed of as normal waste. Materials with a half life greater than 88 days must be disposed of as radioactive waste. 

Liquids

Liquids are collected in plastic containers with screw caps of 4 liter or smaller volume. The liquid waste containers must be stored in secondary containment capable of holding the waste containers contents in the event of catastrophic failure of the container. Liquids must also be segregated as aqueous or organic. 

Dry Solids

Dry solid waste is stored in plastic bags inside a large receptacle (i.e. plastic or metal trash can with a lid). Use a cardboard box, or other means, lined with plastic to contain glass or other sharp materials. 

Mixed Waste

Waste is considered mixed when it contains both radioactive material and chemical or biological waste. This type of waste requires special handling and disposal. Mixed waste is extremely expensive and in some cases impossible to dispose of. EHSREM must be contacted and approval must be granted before mixed waste is generated. 

Radioactive Waste Disposal

Expand FAQ List

    • The RSO will provide small sturdy cardboard boxes (i.e., 10"x10"15") and 4 mil plastic bags for dry solid wastes and animals, and polyethylene carboys (1 to 5 gallons) for liquid waste. These containers shall be labelled with “radioactive material" labels. 
    • Wastes will be separated by the generators and stored according to physical form (dry, solid, animal, liquid, scinitallation vials) and half-life (less than 88 days and greater than 88 days). Chemically hazardous wastes should be held to a minimum. 
    • Wastes must be stored in restricted areas where they can be secured against unauthorized removal. 
    • Liquids wastes shall be stored in unbreakable polyethylene carboys and provided double containment. 
    • Aqueous liquid waste shall be neutralized prior to deposition in a waste container to prevent any violent or hazardous chemical reactions. 
    • Each laboratory having radioactive waste containers shall display a “radioactive waste” sign in the area designated for radioactive waste. 
    • Any material that could cause puncture of the skin (i.e., syringe needles, broken glass, razor blades, etc.) shall be placed in puncture-resistant containers and labeled as such before placement into dry solid containers. 
    • All animal carcasses and parts thereof containing radioactive material or contaminated with radioactive materials shall be stored frozen. 
    • Waste records are required to assure that the radioisotopes and activities determined for the disposal purposes of each container are accurate. An inventory log sheet (developed by each authorized user) or the radioisotope use form on or near waste receptacles is a practicable way to account for the contents. 

    Note: It is the responsibility of the generator to keep an accurate isotope and activity log for each waste container. Routine pickups, inspections, and record keeping audits by the RSO are used to evaluate a generators (authorized user) waste management controls. 

    1. Contact the RSO For removal of radioactive waste from the laboratory. Contact may be made by either telephone (512-245-3616) or email (ehsrem@txstate.edu - in the subject line enter “Radwaste Pickup").
    2. The generator (authorized user) will complete a “Radioactive Material Disposal/Transfer” form and will fill out the “Radioactive Waste Disposal Logsheet” form.
      • The form details information needed for accurate disposal of the waste. 
      • Each type of waste (physical state) will require a separate form.
    3. No radioactive waste with bio-hazardous characteristics shall be released from a laboratory for pickup prior to autoclaving or otherwise suitable deactivation of any infectious agent(s).

    Note: Wastes will not be picked up without the completion and signing of both forms by the generator. It is the responsibility of the generator to indicate any known or suspected hazardous characteristics. This would include ignitability, corrosiveness, reactivity, toxicity, or other hazardous characteristics. 

  • Long-term retention of short-lived radioactive material for the purpose of decay is authorized by the RSO on a case-by-case basis. After retention for a suitable time interval (ten half-lives), evaluate the remaining activity and properly document the evaluation. If the evaluation demonstrates that the activity(s) are below the “exempt quantities of concentrations” [reference 25 TAC§289.202(ggg)(2)-Table II], the RSO may authorize the disposal of the material as conventional waste, provided all radioactive material labels, symbols, etc. are removed and the waste contains no hazardous characteristics. 

A gloved hand handles 3 vials. The back left vial holds a yellow liquid, the back right a blue liquid, and the front center a clear liquid with a radioactive symbol.