Waste » Business » Medical Waste » Formaldehyde (and Formalin)
Formaldehyde solutions used for preservation of tissues are called formalin. Formalin typically contains 3.7 percent formaldehyde. Both formalin and tissues that have been fixed in formalin must be disposed as hazardous waste. This includes tissues that were preserved in formalin and are being stored in formaldehyde-free holding solutions.
Contact hazardous waste haulers to see if they will transport preserved specimens for disposal.
Propylene glycol-based solutions are used as a safer alternative for soaking solutions on specimens that have been preserved in formalin. In histology settings, Prefer® or Safe-Fix® have been used as effective substitute preservatives to formalin on small specimens but have been found to be less effective on larger tissues due to their slower penetration rate.
