From: Lucy Dillman <lucydillman**At_Symbol_Here**COMCAST.NET>
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] empty lead radioactive material containers
Date: Fri, 9 Aug 2013 15:36:12 -0700
Reply-To: DCHAS-L <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU>
Message-ID: C62E692D77D04E149563BA2E4133CAA6**At_Symbol_Here**LucyPC
In-Reply-To <81517D60279DA14B9C4EB0E41FBFA6873DF1387D**At_Symbol_Here**bluenose.carroll.edu>
Demystify:
We strip the radioactive labels, check the lead
pigs for radioactivity and if they are clean of radioactivity, they are then
disposed of as hazardous waste. This will partly depend on the
isotope that was in them and how many half lives they have gone through and then
too how careful people were using the pigs and vials as to how contaminated they
were initially.
Subject: [DCHAS-L] empty lead radioactive
material containers
We rid ourselves of all of our radioactive samples several years ago, but I
recently located a box of lead storage containers in which (presumably)
bottles of radioactive materials were stored. These are lead containers that
are about the size of a can of Campbell's Soup and they have a radioactive
label on the outside but are totally empty.
Two questions:
Can these be disposed of as nonradioactive waste?
Since they are made of lead, is there an issue with disposing of them in
the normal solid waste stream?
I know that I will need to contact my local municipal solid waste office to
be sure, but I'd appreciate any advice from the listserv.
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