Treating microbiological laboratory waste on the site where it is produced: RPS 233
Updated 27 November 2023
Applies to England
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/treating-microbiological-laboratory-waste-on-the-site-where-it-is-produced-rps-233/treating-microbiological-laboratory-waste-on-the-site-where-it-is-produced-rps-233
This regulatory position statement (RPS) does not change your legal requirement to have an environmental permit for a waste operation when you treat microbiological laboratory waste on the site where it is produced.
However, the Environment Agency will not normally take enforcement action against you if you do not comply with this legal requirement provided that:
- your activity meets the description set out in this RPS
- you comply with the conditions set out in this RPS
In addition your activity must not cause (or be likely to cause) pollution of the environment or harm to human health, and must not:
- cause a risk to water, air, soil, plants or animals
- cause a nuisance through noise or odours
- adversely affect the countryside or places of special interest
Activity this RPS applies to
This RPS applies to treating waste microbiological cultures and other microbiologically contaminated wastes by autoclaving to sterilise them before they are removed from site.
Conditions you must comply with
You must:
- autoclave microbiological laboratory waste on the original site of production
- treat no more than 1 tonne of waste per day by autoclaving - this limit applies to the site producing the waste, not the individual autoclave or autoclaves
- operate the autoclave to the standards set out in Appendix 4 of the HSE guidance The management and operation of microbiological containment laboratories
- operate to the standards set out in the HSE guidance Biological agents: The principles, design and operation of Containment Level 4 facilities if operating a Containment Level 4 laboratory
- carry out regular validation procedures as set out in the HSE guidance - you will need to include a worst-case challenge load to make sure the core load is sterilised
- follow the guidance in HTM 07 01: Safe and Sustainable Management of Healthcare Waste when you dispose of the waste
- keep records for 2 years to show that you have complied with this RPS and make these records available to the Environment Agency on request
When you must check back
The Environment Agency intends to review this RPS by 1 August 2026.
The Environment Agency can withdraw or amend this regulatory position before the review date if they consider it necessary. This includes where the activity that this RPS relates to has not changed.
You will need to check back from time to time, including at and before the review date, to see if this RPS still applies.
This RPS remains in force until it is removed from GOV.UK or is otherwise identified as having been withdrawn.
If you cannot comply with this RPS
If you operate under this RPS but can no longer comply with it, you must stop the activity to which this RPS relates and must tell the Environment Agency immediately.
Contact the Environment Agency
If you have any questions about this RPS email wastetreatment@environment-agency.gov.uk and put ‘Treating microbiological laboratory waste where it is produced RPS 233’ in the subject line.