Red Bags and Radioactive Waste

When discarding of radioactive waste, laboratories should not use a bag labeled with a biohazard warning symbol or any bags that are red or orange in color. These bags are viewed as medical waste bags and the contents potentially infectious. The radioactive waste vendor will not accept waste in these bags unless it is pathological waste. 

Only place radioactive waste in a medical waste bag if the waste is both radioactive and a biohazard! If a laboratory is working with pathological waste such as animal carcasses, tissues and organs, the laboratory shall use a biohazard bag. Radioactive pathological waste shall be stored in the laboratory’s freezer and labelled accordingly until disposal.