Challenges and Solutions With Agricultural Animal High Containment Waste Disposal

Waste disposal in Agricultural Animal High Containment Animal Biosafety Level 3Ag and Animal Biosafety Level 4Ag (ABSL-3Ag and ABSL-4Ag) research facilities necessitates significantly more attention to detail in operations than that required in lower-containment-level laboratories. The unique features and requirements of agricultural-related research involve additional equipment and systems to safely transfer decontaminated waste out of the facility. The waste stream coming from ABSL-3Ag and ABSL-4Ag facilities, or high containment agricultural research waste, consists of many forms and differs from most research facility waste in that it is produced from research with livestock or other species loose housed, with the animal room serving as primary containment. This is in contrast to small laboratory animals being housed in primary containment caging. Waste handling equipment in agricultural research facilities may include autoclaves, effluent decontamination systems, incinerators, high-temperature renderers, alkaline tissue digester systems, high-efficiency particulate air filtration of exhaust and supply air, gas decontamination systems, and laundry facilities. This article focuses primarily on the disposal of waste from ABSL-3Ag livestock facilities, including procedures and lessons learned over 10 years of facility operation.