Purpose:
This document provides practical guidance for safely and legally disposing of radiology-related waste, distinguishing between what may be handled via sharps disposal by mail and what requires a licensed medical or hazardous waste pickup.
Key Radiology Waste Categories
Radiology generates multiple types of regulated waste:
Sharps and biohazardous waste (e.g., needles, gauze with blood)
Chemical waste (e.g., X-ray fixer and developer)
Heavy metal waste (e.g., lead aprons)
Electronic or imaging waste (e.g., X-ray films, CR/DR plates)
Radioactive waste (e.g., isotopes used in nuclear medicine)
Each waste type falls under specific regulatory oversight by OSHA, EPA, DOT, USPS, NRC, and state agencies.
Disposal Methods: Mail-Back vs. Pickup
Sharps Mail-Back Systems – When Permitted
Approved for mailing regulated medical waste (UN3291) when:
Waste is non-hazardous, non-radioactive, and non-chemical
Sharps are packaged in DOT/USPS-approved containers
Volume is small (clinic-level quantities)
Acceptable Items:
Needles and syringes
Scalpels, lancets
IV tubing with needles
Blood-contaminated swabs and gauze (in small amounts)
Not Allowed in Mail-Back Systems:
Hazardous chemicals (e.g., fixer/developer)
Radioactive materials
Lead-containing materials
Large quantities of red bag waste
Requires Licensed Waste Pickup
Use pickup services for any of the following:
Lead-lined materials (hazardous due to lead content)
X-ray fixer/developer (hazardous for silver content)
Large-volume red bag waste
Broken imaging plates or monitors (may contain regulated metals)
Radioactive waste (subject to NRC/Agreement State rules)
Pickup providers must be licensed to handle RCRA hazardous waste, regulated medical waste, and, if applicable, radioactive waste.
Regulatory Compliance Reminders
Follow OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030) for sharps and biohazard exposure.
Store and label waste properly at the point of generation.
Never dispose of fixer/developer or lead waste in general trash or down the drain.
Maintain training records, manifests, and disposal documentation in accordance with generator status under RCRA.
How PureWay Can Help
PureWay Compliance, Inc. provides complete support for radiology waste management:
Sharps & biohazard mail-back systems (DOT- and USPS-compliant)
Medical, hazardous, and universal waste pickup
Silver recovery & X-ray film recycling
OSHA training and compliance tools
E-waste and lead waste management
Regulatory lookup tool: pureway.com/resources/map-temp
Conclusion
To ensure compliance and safety:
Use mail-back systems for small-volume, non-hazardous sharps waste.
Use pickup services for hazardous, large-volume, or radioactive materials.
Partner with a trusted provider like PureWay for turnkey solutions tailored to radiology operations.