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>


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.   
 
Lucy Dillman
----- Original Message -----
From: Strode, Kyle
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Sent: Friday, August 09, 2013 12:06 PM
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.

 

Kyle Strode

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