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Medical Waste Information
Bulletin & Disposal Guide
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Recent changes
in state law (sharps) and the disclosure that medical waste constituents (pharmaceuticals) have been found
in drinking water have focused public attention on medical waste management. Medical waste can be divided into two
basic groups, sharps and biohazards (which include pharmaceuticals). Both types can be of concern to public
health workers, their clientele, and the public because of special problems they pose for management (handling and storage)
and disposal.
SHARPS - As the name implies these wastes consist of medical
devices meant to pierce or cut tissue. Items such as hypodermic needles, catheters, scalpels and dental tools are common sharp
wastes. Since September 1, 2008 sharp waste, including household generated waste, must be placed
in approved sharps containers and either picked up by a licensed medical waste hauler or shipped to a state permitted medical
waste disposal facility. Sharps were banned from municipal solid waste streams because of the risk they posed to solid waste
collector workers and the public.
http://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/HomeHazWaste/Sharps/Brochure.pdf
http://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/HomeHazWaste/Sharps/BrochureSpan.pdf
There are some state approved sharps processing devices that render sharps safe for disposal as solid waste. These
devices are tested, approved, and placed on a list by the State Health Department.
http://www.cdph.ca.gov/certlic/medicalwaste/pages/alternativetech.aspx
BIOHAZARDS - This group is more diverse than sharps and can consist of waste contaminated
with body fluids, old medicines, disinfectants, and microbiological cultures. The most common type of biohazard wate is material
contaminated by blood or body fluids and must go into special medical waste bags and managed for disposal by licensed
medical waste handlers/haulers.
Management of disinfectants, cold sterilants and medicine
(pharmaceutical) waste, however, can be confusing. Often these wastes are considered hazardous waste under state
law and must be managed as such. However depending on your status (generator classification) and type of hazardous waste (RCRA
or non-RCRA), you may or may not have to manage them as hazardous waste. If managed properly they may qualify as medical waste
or even solid waste. Mis-management of these wastes can result in unintended ingestion by people and contamination of drinking
water sources.
Attached to this bullentin is a guide (appendix A), prepared by Modoc County
Environemtnal Health for assisting both businesses and the public for amnaging and disposing of sharps and pharmaceutical
waste.
The key to utilizing the guide is to determine generator status. When considering management of
these wastes, two laws overlap; the Medical Waste Management Act (MWMA) which regulates most medical waste and the California
Hazardous Waste Control Law along with its regulatory partner Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations (CCR) which regulates
hazardous waste. Both laws designate a generator status:
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Medical Waste Management Act
Small Quantity Generator (SQG), less than 200 lbs per month (med-waste);
Large
Quantity Generator (LQG), greater or equal to 200 lbs per month.
Hazardous Waste Control Law
Conditionally Exempt
Small Quantity Generator (CESQG),
less than 100 Kg per month (haz-waste);
Small Quantity Generator (SQG), greater than
or equal to 100 Kg but less than 1000 Kg per month;
Large Quantity Generator (LQG),
greater than or equal to 1000 Kg per month.
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Examples of generators (mixed medical
and hazardous waste)
CESQG - a doctor or dental office
SQG - a clinic or walk-in primary care facility
LQG
- a hospital or large health care facility
Household generators are of course individuals such as homeowners and
renters, and are generally excluded from both state laws and regulation. Remember however, that household generators must
properly dispose of sharps.
A shortage of facilities that can legally receive these wastes is a problem state-wide.
For information on Medical Wastes Service Providers, see the second attachment (appendix B).
If you want more information concerning these wastes please utilize the following websites maintained
by Cal EPA.
http://www.dtsc.ca.gov/AssessingRisk/PPCP/Pharmaceutical_
Regulatory.cfm#How_are_unwanted_phar
http://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/HomeHazWaste/sharps/
Mail-Back
Services for Sharps Containers
All mail-back services
listed below are approved by the California Department of Public Health.
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Note: Some medical waste
transporters serve as distributors of mail-back kits --consult the Program's list of medical waste transporters. Also,
many medical supply companies as well as solid waste pickup services offer mail-back containers. Before purchasing, verify
that the product offered is on the above list.
For additional information on requirements for use of these mail-back
services, contact your local health or environmental health agency, or the State Department of Public Health, Medical Waste
Management Program, at (916) 449-5671.
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