Any foodstuffs, debris, bedding, or materials from the mice can be disposed of in the trash can labeled MOUSE WASTE in the cage washer room, animal colony facilities. Full bags can be taken to the dumpster for disposal. These materials probably contain bacteria but are not considered a hazard and can be processed by Northfield Waste Management.
Any sharp instruments (scalpels, needles, etc) should be disposed of in the “sharps” container located in the laboratory in which it is being used (Hulings B03 for the neurotoxicology and neuroimmunology laboratory). The sharps container is bright red, labeled biohazardous waste. A company disposes of the contents of the sharps container when it is full.
Any animal carcasses are considered a biological hazard and should not be disposed of in the trash. Robyn Durand, the animal care manager, or one of the faculty investigators (Gisel Flores-Montoya) should take care of any animal carcasses. The designated people will put carcasses in bags inside psychology’s freezer used for animal disposal, and a reputable veterinary service collects the contents for incineration. If anyone discovers an animal has died in its cage, he/she should contact Robyn Durand immediately, and proceed to contact the faculty investigator, Gisel Flores-Montoya, if Robyn is unavailable.