Unwanted Lab Equipment
Broken Refrigerators and Freezers
EH&S collects units small enough to be carried out with a dolly. Larger units such as -80°C freezers must be sent out via Surplus Sales.
If isotopes were stored in your refrigerator or freezer, please request a radiation decontamination clearance from EH&S before you begin defrosting and decontaminating the unit.
If your unit shows signs of radiation contamination, follow EH&S's instructions on how to decontaminate and safely prepare the unwanted unit for disposal. All run-off from the melting ice must be collected and tagged as radioactive liquid waste. All paper towels, gloves, etc used in the clean-up process must be tagged as radioactive solid waste.
Small Refrigerators - Disposal via EH&S:
- Request radiation decontamination clearance, if applicable
- Clean and decontaminate refrigerators with freshly made 10% bleach solution
Contact Safety Office to green tag the unit.- Create an EH&S hazardous waste tag and submit a hazardous waste pick-up request using the Online Waste Tag Program
Freezers and Large Refrigerators - Disposal via Surplus Sales:
- Follow steps 1 and 3.
- Contact the Biology Fiscal Office with information on make, model, serial number, and, if applicable, UCID#. They will arrange for Surplus Sales pick-up and adjust the faculty’s equipment inventory.
EH&S recycles reusable materials and disposes of hazardous components appropriately. For more information, contact the EH&S Environmental Management Facility at (858) 534-2753.
