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NIH Environmental Management System

Take Action to Protect the Future

Because of a lapse in government funding, the information on this website may not be up to date, transactions submitted via the website may not be processed, and the agency may not be able to respond to inquiries until appropriations are enacted. The NIH Clinical Center (the research hospital of NIH) is open. For more details about its operating status, please visit cc.nih.gov. Updates regarding government operating status and resumption of normal operations can be found at opm.gov.

Managed by the Office of Research Facilities, Division of Environmental Protection (DEP)

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Significant Points

Call Chemical Waste Services if you are uncertain about:

  • Concentration
  • Contents in the total waste
  • pH


Range of pH

  • Any aqueous waste outside the pH range of 6 to 10 is not authorized for discharge to the drain
  • The pH range must be between 6 and 10 at the point of disposal


Autoclave approved antibiotics before discharge

  • ​The NIH Drain Discharge Guide lists antibiotics that may be autoclaved and discharged to the drain. All other antibiotics must be disposed through Chemical Waste Services
  • Bleach combined with any antibiotics must be disposed through Chemical Waste Services


​​All approved chemicals are used in a process before discharge


​NIH is licensed by the Washington Sanitary Suburban Commission (WSSC) to discharge certain waste streams to the sanitary sewer if NIH remains within certain parameters.

  • An unauthorized discharge can seriously affect these parameters. If WSSC revokes the NIH permit, waste disposal costs will increase and resources will be burdened. 

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Contact NEMS

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