Medical Waste Disposal
(Biohazardous and Sharps Wastes)
Who Regulates Medical Waste?
Federal
 EPA (40 CFR part 60.51c)
 DOT (49 CFR Part 173.134)
 OSHA (29 CFR Part 1920.1030b)
 USPS (39 CFR 111.1)
 State CA Health and Safety Code
 Local SD Code of Regulatory Ordinance
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Medical Waste
…biohazardous waste and/or sharps waste
that is produced or generated as a result of
diagnosis, treatment or immunization of
human beings or animals; research
pertaining thereto; production or testing of
biologicals or removal of regulated waste
from a trauma scene.
Forms of Medical Waste
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Solid
 Labware (flasks, tubes, plates, bottle, vials)
 Pipettes (could also be sharps)
 Lab waste (stocks, specimens, cultures, swabs,
vaccines)
 Gloves, apparel, wipes
Liquid
 Aspirates, culture fluids, rinses, washes
 Sera, body fluids
Sharps
 Anything with a point or edge capable of
piercing or cutting
Medical Waste Does Not Include:
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Waste generated in food processing
Urine, feces, saliva, sputum, nasal secretions,
sweat, tears, or vomitus, unless it contains fluid
blood
Medical solid wastes i.e., paper towels or empty
specimen containers that are not biohazardous,
bandages/dressings containing dried blood
Hazardous waste, radioactive waste, household
waste
Waste generated on agricultural or livestock
practices on a farm or ranch
Biohazardous Waste
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Laboratory Wastes
 Human or animal
specimen cultures
 Cultures and stocks of
infectious agents
 Wastes from production of
biologicals, live and
attenuated vaccines,
culture dishes and devices
Pharmaceuticals
Human surgery specimens or
tissues, including those fixed
in fixatives
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Animal parts, tissues,
fluids, or carcasses
Wastes containing
recognizable fluid blood
or blood products,
containers with fluid
blood, blood from animals
Wastes contaminated or
containing
chemotherapeutic agents
Sharps Waste
… means any device having acute rigid corners,
edges, or protuberances capable of cutting or
piercing.
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Needles, needles with syringes, contaminated
syringes, blades, needles with attached tubing
Broken glass items i.e., Pasteur pipettes, blood
vials contaminated with biohazardous waste
Mixed Waste
… means mixtures of medical and nonmedical
waste. Mixed waste is medical waste, except for
all of the following:
“Mixed Waste Hierarchy”
Biohazard Bag
…means a disposable red bag that is
impervious to moisture and has a strength
sufficient to preclude ripping, tearing, or
bursting under normal conditions of usage
and handling of the waste-filled bag.
Containment and Storage
Biohazardous Waste
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Must be segregated from other types of wastes
Must be contained in “biohazard bags”
 Bags must be red.
 Bags must be labeled either with the word
“Biohazardous” or with the biohazard symbol
and the word “Biohazard”.
 Bags must also be labeled with the generator’s
name, address and phone number.
 Bags must be securely tied to prevent leakage
or expulsion of contents.
 Bags must be placed in a rigid container for
storage, handling and transport.
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Containers
 Containers shall be leak resistant, have tight-fitting
covers, kept clean and in good repair.
 Containers may be of any color and shall be labeled
with the word “Biohazardous” or with the biohazard
symbol and the word “Biohazard” on the lid and on the
sides so as to be visible on any lateral direction.
Reusable containers shall be washed and decontaminated
unless protected from contamination by disposable liners
or bags.
Reusable containers shall be washed to remove visible soil
and decontaminated by:
 Exposure to hot water (180°F) for 15 secs.
 Exposure to the following sanitizer for 3 mins.
 Hypochlorite soln. (500 ppm avail. Chlorine)
 Phenolic soln. (500 ppm active agent)
 Iodoform soln. (100 ppm avail. Iodine)
 Quaternary ammonium soln. (400 ppm active agent)
Sharps Container
…means a rigid puncture resistant container
that, when sealed, is leak resistant and
cannot be reopened without great difficulty.
Containment and Storage
Sharps Waste
 Must be segregated from other types of wastes.
 Must be contained in “sharps container”.
 Tightly close or tape closed the lid of a full sharps
container ready for disposal.
 Store sharps container ready for disposal for not
more than 7 days.
 Label sharps container with the word “Sharps
Waste” or the biohazard symbol and the word
“Biohazard”.
 Must also be labeled with the generator’s name,
address and phone number that is legible and
easily visible on the outside of the container.
Disposal
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Take biohazard bag and sharps container to
designated Accumulation Sites:
 Life Science, Room 14
 Student Health Service, outside shed
 Generators at other locations may call EHS at
(619) 594-6778 for biohazard waste pick-ups
A biowaste vendor will collect biohazard bag and
sharps container for disposal on a weekly basis
from Life Science and Student Health Services.
Biohazardous and sharps wastes will be
autoclaved while animal carcasses will be
incinerated.
Solid Medical Waste Collection
Must be rigid, puncture-proof, leak-proof
Not acceptable in CA
Labels have to be affixed on all 4 sides of the container.
Sharps Waste Collection
Sharps containers <7 gal. should not be on the floor. Lids have to be difficult to
open. Labels have to be affixed on all 4 sides of the container.
What’s Wrong with these
Pictures?
Left: Sharps sticking out of Sharps Waste container.
Right: Sharps Waste container past full line. No generator label.
What’s Wrong with these
Pictures?
Left: Bottle not labeled.
Right: Cardboard box is not allowed for liquid waste. No labels. No lid.
What’s Wrong with these
Pictures?
Left and Right: Cardboard box is not an appropriate Sharps Waste container.
No labels. No lids.
What’s Wrong with these
Pictures?
Left: Red bag should be inside the secondary container. Cardboard box is not an acceptable
secondary container.
Right: Bag must be red. Secondary container does not have to be red. No biohazard label.
Red bag on floor ready for disposal must be transported to the accumulation site immediately.
What’s Wrong with these
Pictures?
Left: Do not fill red bags completely. Replace more often.
Right: No biohazard label. Red bag on floor ready for disposal must be
transported to the accumulation site immediately.
What’s Wrong with these
Pictures?
Left: Do not deface container. Incorrect label placed on container (need generator label).
Right: Red bag must be transported in a secure secondary container to the accumulation
site. Red bag must have biohazard label and generator label.
What’s Wrong with these
Pictures?
Left: Proper Sharps Waste container not used. No generator label.
Right: Generator label should be on the outside of the red bag. Secondary container needs
biohazard label on all visible sides including top. Use appropriately sized red bag for
secondary container.
What’s Wrong with these
Pictures?
Left: Incorrect label placed on container (need generator label). Keep lid closed when not in
use.
Right: No lid. Use appropriately sized red bag for secondary container. Secondary container
needs biohazard label on all visible sides including top.