Uncontaminated lab waste, or items not used or contaminated with biological materials are often discarded as biomedical waste inappropriately. This waste is not considered biomedical waste. It does not require autoclaving or further processing and therefore may be thrown out with the "normal" trash as long as it will not puncture or leak from the bag lining the container. Therefore soft waste (but not plastic or pointed plastic waste) that has not been used or contaminated with biological materials, such as paper towels and gloves, can be placed directly into the normal waste bin and will be removed by a custodian. Any pointed plastic waste (even if it is uncontaminated) should be collected in the new bag-box units and disposed with the biomedical waste due to its potential to puncture the bag in the normal trash container. Uncontaminated sharp waste, such as broken glass, which could easily puncture a bag and injure a custodial employee, should be placed in a box, preferably with a bag, closed, and sealed with tape. Any box will do. Deface any old labels and write "broken glass" on the box. Place it next to your trash container for removal by a custodian. Please do not use a biomedical waste box or bucket for disposal of broken glass. Once any waste has been placed in a biomedical waste container we will have to dispose of it as biomedical waste at much greater cost. Empty unbroken chemical bottles should also be disposed of in the normal trash after triple rinsing.