[ RadSafe ] Liquid Scintillation Cocktail waste

[Glode, Andy]

Dear List,

Do any of you in US university/college settings have policies in place
prohibiting use of xylene-based scintillation cocktails in favor of
biodegradable formulations? We would like to avoid the burden of
disposing of RCRA regulated cocktails within the mandated time-frame (90
days) and wonder how other institutions have addressed this. 

Also, what policies/procedures do you have in place that address
scintillation vial flats (the cardboard trays that hold 100 or 200
vials). Do laboratories reuse them? Or, are they required to dispose of
them when disposing of scintillation vials? What survey requirements do
you have for the flats? 

Thanks for your input!

Andy

Andy Glode
Office of Environmental Health and Safety
University of New Hampshire
1 Leavitt Lane
Durham, NH 03824
office (603) 862-5038; fax (603) 862-0047