Medical Waste Recycling
All of the Columbia Health locations at Columbia University's Morningside Campus comply with OSHA and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation regulations for the handling and disposal of biological wastes.
Morningside Campus:
What are the rules?
All of the Columbia Health locations at Columbia University's Morningside Campus comply with OSHA and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation regulations for the handling and disposal of biological wastes. Each location is equipped with lockable metal receptacles for medical waste and contaminated sharps. These materials are placed in a labeled red bag.
Who collects recycling?
All Health Services staff are trained to handle this waste. Stericycle, a licensed vendor, removes medical wastes for disposal.
Medical Center Campus:
What are the rules?
Columbia University Medical Center Facilities provides medical waste removal service to all academic departments with strict adherence to all OSHA and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation regulations regarding the handling and disposal of regulated medical waste (RMW).
All RMW should be placed in a secure metal container (red bags). Any item contaminated with biological waste should also be placed in one of these containers. Place the secure container outside the office and facilities staff will remove the material.
Who collects recycling?
RMW is collected in a central area for removal by Environmental Health & Safety and by Stericycle, the medical waste disposal vendor. There is no charge for medical waste removal.
Submit an online service request or call 5-HELP to arrange for a special pickup.
Manhattanville Campus:
What are the rules?
The Jerome L. Greene Science Center on the Manhattanville Campus comply with OSHA and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation regulations for the handling and disposal of biological wastes. Each quad is equipped with lockable rigid plastic containers for medical waste and contaminated sharps. Regulated medical waste is placed in a labeled red bag.
Who collects recycling?
Jerome L. Greene researchers and their ancillary staff are trained to handle this waste and will place full red bags and full sharps containers into appropriate container or rack in central staging area. Trained custodial services employees remove the full RMW containers from central area to the holding area where Stericycle, a licensed vendor, removes the medical waste for disposal.