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Biomedical Waste Disposal

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Biomedical Waste Disposal GECAP Georgia Environmental Compliance Assistance Program http://www.gecap.org Biomedical Waste Disposal GECAP of the Georgia Tech Research Institute is a voluntary, non-regulatory environmental compliance program funded by the Georgia Legislature through the University System of Georgia. Disposal of biomedical waste is regulated at the and antineoplastic chemicals, laboratory waste, state level. This Tech Guide addresses the Georgia’s acids, solvents, formaldehyde, photographic Environmental Protection Division (EPD) Rules chemicals, radionuclides, expired pharmaceuticals, found in chapter 391-3-4-.15. and waste anesthetic gases. What is biomedical waste? Who is covered by this rule? All persons handling biomedical waste disposal, Biomedical waste, also known as medical waste or including but not limited to: ambulatory service infectious waste, is generally defined as any solid centers, blood banks, clinics, county health waste that is generated in the diagnosis, treatment, departments, dental offices, funeral homes, health research, production or testing of biologicals for maintenance organizations (HMOs), hospitals, humans or animals. Examples of biomedical waste laboratories, medical buildings, physicians offices, include: veterinary offices, research and manufacturing • soiled or blood-soaked bandages facilities, nursing homes, and biomedical waste • culture dishes and other glassware transportation, storage, treatment, and disposal facilities. • discarded surgical gloves ‒ after surgery • discarded surgical instruments ‒ scalpels Storage and containment of biomedical waste • sharps and needles ‒ used to give shots or draw For all generators, biomedical wastes should be: blood • stored in a manner and location that is • cultures, stocks, swabs used to inoculate cul- protected from weather and animals and does tures not provide a breeding place or food source • removed body organs ‒ tonsils, appendices, for insects or rodents. Exposure to the public limbs, etc. (except teeth) should be minimized; • lancets ‒ the little blades the doctor pricks your • placed in a container separate from other finger with to get a drop of blood wastes; This Tech Guide does not address medical waste • stored in containers so as to prevent leakage, that is considered hazardous waste under the federal punctures, and ripping during storage, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). handling and transportation; More information on hazardous waste is found in • containers shall be red or orange in color OR the GECAP Tech Guide Hazardous Waste Generator clearly marked with the universal biohazard Requirements and the EPD document Hazardous symbol (seen to the right) OR clearly Waste Management Guide for Georgia Hospitals marked with the word “biohazard.” (both available at http://www.gecap.org). Examples of hazardous waste generated by hospitals includemercury and other metals, chemotherapy Treatment and disposal of biomedical waste What other agencies regulate different aspects of medical waste management? Biomedical waste may only be transferred, stored, and treated by EPD-approved facilities with valid • Occupational Safety & Health Administration operating permits. (OSHA) regulates medical waste exposure to personnel in the workplace When properly treated, biomedical waste is • Department of Transportation regulates considered a regular solid waste and can be medical waste transportation disposed of at a permitted solid waste disposal facility. Proper treatment includes • Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates medical devices such as sharps • incineration, containers which are designed to safely contain • decontamination by heating with steam under used needles, scalpels or other sharps pressure (autoclave), or • Nuclear Regulatory Commission regulates • other methods specifically approved by the some types of radioactive medical waste Director of the EPD. • US Postal Service (USPS) regulates medical waste in the postal system The Georgia Rules provide more details on each of these types of biomedical waste treatment. The federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has regulations governing emissions from Fluid or semisolid waste, which means blood and Hospital/Medical/Infectious Waste Incinerators as blood products, exudates, secretions, suctionings, well as requirements under the Federal Insecticide, and other body fluids which contains free liquids, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) for may be discharged to a municipal sewer treatment medical waste treatment technologies that use system if that system provides secondary treatment chemicals for treating the waste. of waste. You need to check with your local municipal sewer treatment facility to determine if Where can I go for more information? they can accept these wastes. • EPA website http://www.epa.gov/wastes/ Are there any exemptions? nonhaz/industrial/medical/ • Generators of biomedical waste from single • Healthcare compliance assistance center family residential premises are totally exempt http://www.hercenter.org/ from these rules. • Hospitals for a Healthy Environment • There is a partial exemption for facilities that Practice Green Health website generate less than 100 pounds of biomedical https://practicegreenhealth.org/ waste per month. Biomedical waste from • Contact the Georgia EPD at 404-362-2692 generators of less than 100 pounds per month shall be properly disposed of at a municipal • http://www.gecap.org or call GECAP personnel solid waste landfill or permitted treatment at 404-407-8082 facility provided the generator verifies that the receiving landfill accepts this waste. Generators must still comply with the biomedical waste storage and containment rules. Updated 9/2005 For more information, contact GECAP: Printed on Georgia Tech Research Institute Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0837 404-407-8082 http://www.gecap.org recycled paper.
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