If you are moving or shutting down a laboratory, it can be daunting to determine how to dispose of items that are no longer needed. This can include large volumes of biological samples, combined chemical/biological samples, or fixed samples in formalin or ethanol. Please contact the Chemical Safety team at chemsafety@wisc.edu for questions on the appropriate inactivation and disposal methods for these materials.
You may also have items or equipment that you prefer not to move to your new location that can be given away or discarded. Check SWAP’s Material Acceptance Guidelines or contact swap@bussvc.wisc.edu to see what surplus items they can take or help dispose of. Don’t forget to check and clean out your lab’s materials from storage areas, including basements and shared building spaces like core facilities or walk-in cold rooms.
Ultimately, preparing for a lab move or shutdown is very time-consuming. Plan ahead and don’t wait until the last minute, so that the lab space is left clean and ready for the next occupants to move in. Information for lab clean-outs involving biological, chemical and radiological hazards can be found at ehs.wisc.edu/labs-research/lab-services/lab-clean-outs. In addition, EH&S can visit your current lab space to give helpful, time-saving information.
Chemical Safety is happy to answer any questions or provide guidance. Please contact us if you have any questions at chemsafety@wisc.edu.
by Kathy Krasny
Kathy Krasny is a Biosafety Specialist on the IBC and Laboratory Operations team. She joined EH&S in 2013 and supports the research community through reviewing biosafety protocols, conducting risk assessments, and visiting laboratories.
It’s Biosafety and Biosecurity Month 2026! Look out for more biosafety topics each week in October.
Safety has no season!
This year’s Biosafety Month theme is “Safety has no season!”
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