About the Medical Waste Program
Medical waste includes, but not limited to, biohazardous, infectious, pathology, pharmaceutical, and sharps wastes generated in a health care setting in the care of humans or animals. Please see section 117690 of the Medical Waste Management Act for a full definition.
Purpose
To ensure that medical waste is managed properly.
Any facility that generates, stores, or treats any amount of Medical Waste.
- If your facility generates 200 pounds or more of medical waste in any one month of a 12-month period, then it is a large quantity generator (LQG).
- All LQGs are required to register with the Environmental Health Division.
- An SQG is a facility that generates less than 200 pounds of medical waste per month in every month of a 12-month period. If your facility generates less than 200 pounds of medical waste per month and does not treat medical waste on-site, then it is a small quantity generator (SQG).
- All medical waste SQGs are required to submit a notification to the Environmental Health Division.
- A CSF is used to store medical waste by more than one SQG.
- Common storage facilities are required to obtain a permit from the Environmental Health Division.
If a medical waste SQG or LQG facility treats medical waste on-site, then a permit from the Environmental Health Division is required.
Medical Waste Requirements
Initial Containment of Medical Waste
- Medical waste must be separated from other wastes at the point of origin.
- Biohazardous waste must be placed in red bags conspicuously labeled with "BIOHAZARDOUS WASTE" or the international biohazard symbol with the word "BIOHAZARD." The red bags must be impervious to water and thick enough to pass a 165-gram dart impact test.
- Sharps waste must be contained in rigid, puncture and leak resistant containers. These containers shall be labeled with "SHARPS WASTE" or the international biohazard symbol with the word "BIOHAZARD."
- Grinders, compactors or trash chutes are not to be used for medical waste prior to treatment.
- Chemotherapy waste, pathology waste and pharmaceutical waste must be separated from other medical waste. These types of waste must be incinerated at a permitted medical waste incinerator.
Medical Waste Storage Containers
Containers and carts used to store closed bags of medical waste must be:
- Leak resistant
- Tightly covered
- Clean and in good repair
- Labeled on all sides with "BIOHAZARDOUS WASTE" or the international biohazard symbol and the word "BIOHAZARD"
- Washed and decontaminated after each use.
Final Storage
The final storage area is where containers of medical waste are stored for disposal or treatment. The final storage area is required to be:
- Secured to prevent access to unauthorized persons
- Marked with warning signs easily legible from 25 feet away. The signs must state in English and Spanish and any other appropriate language, "CAUTION-BIOHAZARDOUS WASTE STORAGE AREA-UNAUTHORIZED PERSONS KEEP OUT."
- Protected from animals and natural elements
Temporary Medical Events
Includes Health Fairs, Vaccination Clinics, and Veteran Stand Downs:
- A Registered Medical Waste Generator may participate in, and generate medical waste at, a temporary event without further registration or permitting required.
- The medical waste generator shall notify this agency at least 72 hours before the event.
- Send notification by email to: OMedicalWaste@ochca.com
- Include the following information in the email notification:
- Medical waste generator's business name, address, and phone number
- Location of Temporary Event
- Date & Times of Temporary Event
Medical Waste Small Quantity Generator Notification Form
- Common Storage Facility Permit Application
- On-site Treatment Permit Application
- Medical Waste Large Quantity Generator Registration Form
- Medical Waste Large Quantity Generator On-site Treatment Permit Application
