Texas
Special/Medical
Waste
Definition of Regulated Medical Waste
The term “special waste from health-care-related facilities” (SWFHCRF)
is used to define regulated waste, including:
- Animal waste from animals intentionally
exposed to pathogens;
- Bulk human blood and blood products;
- Microbiological waste; and
A chain of events is necessary to produce disease from contact
with medical waste:
- The waste must contain a viable (capable
of living/reproducing) human pathogen (disease producing organism);
- A portal of entry must exist for an
organism to enter the body;
- There must be a sufficient number
of organisms entering this portal of entry to produce an infection;
- There must be a susceptible host, and
if infection does
occur, disease may or may not occur.
Sharps, due to their inherent ability to provide a portal of
entry, must be managed properly regardless of their contamination
status.
The OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Standard
also defines regulated medical waste. This definition applies
to waste within a facility.
It is more comprehensive that the state’s SWFHCRF definition.
This is because “universal precautions” must be observed
in facilities where actual physical contact with potentially
infectious materials can be expected to occur on a regular basis.
Texas regulations are based on the idea that waste properly
packaged and labeled at the point of generation reduces the amount
of waste that needs to be handled by special means. Compliance
with OSHA and Texas regulations can be achieved by simply re-evaluating
what waste goes where at the point of generation.
OSHA only requires a waste container
marked with the BIOHAZARD symbol and word, although “red bags” may be
substituted. If these bags are used to collect medical waste
that is not SWFHCRF, their identity should be changed so waste handlers will not be alarmed. Designation
of the BIOHAZARD container should be documented in the Exposure
Control Plan.
The specified receptacle may then be lined with a regular
trash bag, which may be disposed of as routine municipal solid
waste if it does not contain any items of SWFHCRF.
Managing Regulated Medical Waste
Texas has designed comprehensive regulations that track medical
waste from generation to disposal.
Treatment and Disposal of Treated Medical Waste
The
following treatment and disposition methods for special waste
from health care-related facilities are approved by the Texas
Board of Health (board) for the waste specified. Where a special
waste from a health care-related facility is also subject to
the sections in Chapter 289 of this title (relating to Radiation
Control), the sections in Chapter 289 shall prevail over the
sections in this undesignated head. Disposal of special waste
from health care-related facilities in sanitary landfills or
otherwise is under the jurisdiction of the Texas Natural Resource
Conservation Commission and is governed by its rules found
in Title 30, Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 330.
1. Animal waste.
Animal waste shall be subjected to one of the following
methods of treatment and disposal.
(I) Carcasses of
animals intentionally exposed to pathogens shall be subjected
to one of the following methods of treatment and disposal:
i. steam disinfection followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill;
ii. incineration followed by deposition of the residue in a sanitary landfill;
iii. carcasses of animals intentionally exposed to pathogens which are
not contagious may be buried on site under the supervision
of a veterinarian licensed to practice veterinary medicine
in the State of Texas;
iv. carcasses of animals intentionally exposed to pathogens which are
not contagious may be sent to a rendering plant;
v. moist heat disinfection followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill;
vi. chlorine disinfection/maceration followed by deposition in a sanitary
landfill; or
vii. an approved alternate treatment process followed by deposition in
a sanitary landfill.
(II) Body parts of animals intentionally exposed to pathogens
shall be subjected to one of the following methods of treatment
and
disposal:
i. steam disinfection followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill;
ii. steam disinfection followed by grinding and discharging into a sanitary
sewer system;
iii. incineration followed by deposition of the residue in a sanitary landfill;
iv. body parts of animals intentionally exposed to pathogens which are
not contagious may be buried on site under the supervision
of a veterinarian licensed to practice veterinary medicine
in the State of Texas;
v. moist heat disinfection followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill;
vi. chlorine disinfection/maceration followed by deposition in a sanitary
landfill; or
vii. an approved alternate treatment process followed by deposition in
a sanitary landfill.
(III) Bulk whole blood, serum, plasma, and/or other blood components
from animals intentionally exposed to pathogens shall be subjected
to one of the following methods of treatment and disposal:
i. steam disinfection followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill;
ii. steam disinfection followed by grinding and discharging into a sanitary
sewer system;
iii. incineration followed by deposition of the residue in a sanitary landfill;
iv. thermal inactivation followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill;
v. thermal inactivation followed by grinding and discharging into a sanitary
sewer system;
vi. chemical disinfection followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill;
vii. chemical disinfection followed by grinding and discharging into a
sanitary sewer system;
viii. bulk blood, serum, plasma, and/or other blood components of animals
intentionally exposed to pathogens which are not contagious
may be buried on site under the supervision of a veterinarian
licensed to practice veterinary medicine in the State of Texas;
ix. moist heat disinfection followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill;
x. chlorine
disinfection/maceration followed by deposition in a sanitary
landfill; or
xi. an approved alternate treatment process followed by deposition in
a sanitary landfill.
(IV) Bedding of animals intentionally exposed to pathogens shall
be subjected to one of the following methods of treatment and
disposal:
i. steam disinfection followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill;
ii. incineration followed by deposition of the residue in a sanitary landfill;
iii. bedding of animals intentionally exposed to pathogens which are not
contagious may be buried on site under the supervision of a
veterinarian licensed to practice veterinary medicine in the
State of Texas;
iv. moist heat disinfection followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill;
v. chlorine disinfection/maceration followed by deposition in a sanitary
landfill; or
vi. an approved alternate treatment process followed by deposition in
a sanitary landfill.
2. Bulk human
blood, bulk human blood products, and bulk human body
fluids. Bulk human blood, blood products, and body fluids shall
be
subjected to one of the following methods of treatment
and disposal:
(I) discharging into a sanitary sewer system;
(II) steam disinfection followed by deposition in a sanitary
landfill;
(III) incineration followed by deposition of the residue in
a sanitary landfill;
(IV) chemical disinfection followed by deposition in a sanitary
landfill;
(V) chemical disinfection followed by grinding and flushing
into a sanitary sewer system;
(VI) thermal inactivation, followed by deposition in a sanitary
landfill;
(VII) thermal inactivation, followed by grinding and discharging
into a sanitary sewer system;
(VIII) moist heat disinfection followed by deposition in a sanitary
landfill;
(IX) chlorine disinfection/maceration followed by deposition
in a sanitary landfill; or
(X) an approved alternate treatment process followed by deposition
in a sanitary landfill.
3. Microbiological
waste. Microbiological waste shall be subjected
to one of the following methods of treatment and disposal.
(I) Discarded cultures and stocks of infectious agents and associated
biologicals shall be subjected to one of the following
methods of treatment and disposal:
i. steam disinfection followed
by deposition in a sanitary landfill;
ii. incineration followed by deposition of the residue in a sanitary landfill;
iii. thermal inactivation
followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill;
iv. chemical disinfection followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill;
v. moist heat disinfection followed
by deposition in a sanitary landfill;
vi. chlorine disinfection/maceration followed by deposition in a sanitary
landfill; or
vii. an approved alternate
treatment process followed by deposition in a sanitary
landfill.
(II) Discarded
cultures of specimens from medical, pathological, pharmaceutical,
research, clinical, commercial, industrial and veterinary
laboratories shall be subjected to one of the following methods
of treatment
and disposal:
i. steam disinfection followed
by deposition in a sanitary landfill;
ii. incineration followed by deposition of the residue in a sanitary landfill;
iii. thermal inactivation
followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill;
iv. chemical disinfection followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill;
v. moist heat disinfection followed
by deposition in a sanitary landfill;
vi. chlorine disinfection/maceration followed by deposition in a sanitary
landfill; or
vii. an approved alternate
treatment process followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill.
(III) Discarded
live and attenuated vaccines, but excluding the empty containers
thereof, shall be subjected to one of the following methods
of treatment and disposal:
i. steam disinfection followed
by deposition in a sanitary landfill;
ii. incineration followed by deposition of the residue in a sanitary landfill;
iii. thermal inactivation
followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill;
iv. chemical disinfection followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill;
v. moist heat disinfection followed
by deposition in a sanitary landfill;
vi. chlorine disinfection/maceration followed by deposition in a sanitary
landfill; or
vii. an approved alternate
treatment process followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill.
(IV) Discarded
disposable culture dishes shall be subjected to one of the
following methods of treatment and disposal.
i. All discarded, unused
disposable culture dishes shall be disposed of in accordance
with Title 30, Texas Administrative Code,
Chapter 330.
ii. Discarded, used disposable culture dishes shall be subjected to the
following methods of treatment and disposal:
4. steam disinfection
followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill;
5. (II) incineration
followed by deposition of the residue in a sanitary landfill;
6. (III) thermal
inactivation followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill;
7. (IV) chemical
disinfection followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill;
8. (V) moist heat
disinfection followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill;
9. (VI) chlorine
disinfection/maceration followed by deposition in
a sanitary landfill; or
10. (VII) an approved
alternate treatment process followed by deposition
in a sanitary landfill.
(I) Discarded disposable devices used
to transfer, inoculate or mix cultures shall be subjected to
one of the following methods of treatment
and disposal:
i. steam disinfection followed
by deposition in a sanitary landfill;
ii. incineration followed by deposition of the residue in a sanitary landfill;
iii. thermal inactivation
followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill;
iv. chemical disinfection followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill;
v. moist heat disinfection followed
by deposition in a sanitary landfill;
vi. chlorine disinfection/maceration followed by deposition in a sanitary
landfill; or
vii. an approved alternate
treatment process followed by deposition in a sanitary
landfill.
11. Pathological
waste. Pathological waste shall be subjected to one
of the following methods of treatment and disposal.
(I) Human materials removed during surgery,
labor and delivery, autopsy, embalming, or biopsy shall be
subjected to one of the following
methods of treatment and disposal:
i. body parts:
(III) incineration
followed by deposition of the residue in a sanitary landfill;
(IV) steam
disinfection followed by interment;
(V) moist
heat disinfection, provided that the grinding/shredding renders
the item as unrecognizable, followed by deposition in
a sanitary landfill;
(VI) chlorine
disinfection/maceration, provided that the grinding/shredding
renders the item as unrecognizable, followed by deposition
in a sanitary landfill; or
(VII) an
approved alternate treatment process, provided that the process
renders the item as unrecognizable, followed by deposition
in a sanitary landfill;
i. tissues or fetuses:
12. incineration
followed by deposition of the residue in a sanitary landfill;
13. (II) grinding
and discharging to a sanitary sewer system;
15. (IV) steam
disinfection followed by interment;
16. (V) moist heat
disinfection followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill;
17. (VI) chlorine
disinfection/maceration followed by deposition in
a sanitary landfill; or
18. (VII) an approved
alternate treatment process, provided that the process
renders the item as unrecognizable, followed by deposition
in a sanitary
landfill;
i. organs:
(II) incineration
followed by deposition of the residue in a sanitary landfill;
(III) grinding
and discharging to a sanitary sewer system;
(V) steam
disinfection followed by interment;
(VI) moist
heat disinfection followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill;
(VII) chlorine
disinfection/maceration followed by deposition in a sanitary
landfill; or
(VIII) an approved
alternate treatment process, provided that the process
renders the item as unrecognizable, followed by deposition
in a sanitary landfill;
i. bulk human blood and bulk
human body fluids removed during surgery, labor and
delivery, autopsy, embalming, or biopsy:
19. discharging
into a sanitary sewer system;
20. (II) steam
disinfection followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill;
21. (III) incineration
followed by deposition of the residue in a sanitary landfill;
22. (IV) thermal
inactivation followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill;
23. (V) thermal
inactivation followed by grinding and discharging
into a sanitary sewer system;
24. (VI) chemical
disinfection followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill;
25. (VII) chemical
disinfection followed by grinding and discharging
into a sanitary sewer system;
26. (VIII) moist
heat disinfection followed by deposition in a sanitary
landfill;
27. (IX) chlorine
disinfection/maceration followed by deposition in
a sanitary landfill; or (X) an approved alternate treatment
process,
provided that the process renders the item as unrecognizable,
followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill.
(I) The products of spontaneous or
induced human abortion shall be subjected to one of the following
methods of treatment and disposal:
i. body parts, tissues, or
organs regardless of the period of gestation:
(II) grinding
and discharging to a sanitary sewer system;
(III) incineration
followed by deposition of the residue in a sanitary landfill;
(IV) steam
disinfection followed by interment;
(VI) moist
heat disinfection followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill;
(VII) chlorine
disinfection/maceration followed by deposition in a sanitary
landfill; or
(VIII) an approved
alternate treatment process, provided that the process renders
the item as unrecognizable, followed by deposition
in a sanitary landfill;
i. blood and body fluids:
28. discharging
into a sanitary sewer system;
29. (II) steam
disinfection followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill;
30. (III) incineration
followed by deposition of the residue in a sanitary landfill;
31. (IV) thermal
inactivation followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill;
32. (V) thermal
inactivation followed by grinding and discharging
into a sanitary sewer system;
33. (VI) chemical
disinfection followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill;
34. (VII) chemical
disinfection followed by grinding and discharging
into a sanitary sewer system;
35. (VIII) moist
heat disinfection followed by deposition in a sanitary
landfill;
36. (IX) chlorine
disinfection/maceration followed by deposition in
a sanitary landfill; or
37. (X) an approved
alternate treatment process, provided that the process
renders the item as unrecognizable, followed by deposition
in a sanitary
landfill.
(I) Discarded laboratory specimens of
blood and/or tissues shall be subjected to one of the following
methods of treatment and disposal:
i. grinding and discharging
into a sanitary sewer system;
ii. steam disinfection followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill;
iii. steam disinfection
followed by grinding and discharging into a sanitary sewer
system;
iv. incineration followed by deposition of the residue in a sanitary landfill;
v. moist heat disinfection followed
by deposition in a sanitary landfill;
vi. chlorine disinfection/maceration followed by deposition in a sanitary
landfill; or
vii. an approved alternate
treatment process, provided that the process renders the item
as unrecognizable, followed by deposition
in a sanitary landfill.
(II) Anatomical
remains shall be subjected to one of the following methods
of treatment and disposal:
i. interment;
ii. incineration followed by interment; or
iii. steam disinfection
followed by interment.
38. Sharps.
(I) All discarded unused sharps shall
be disposed of in accordance with Title 30, Texas Administrative
Code, Chapter 330.
(II) Contaminated
sharps shall be subjected to one of the following methods
of treatment and disposal.
i. Hypodermic needles, and
hypodermic syringes with attached needles, shall be subjected
to one of the following methods of treatment
and disposal:
(III) chemical
disinfection, and if the item can cause puncture wounds,
placement in a puncture-resistant, leak-proof container followed
by deposition in a sanitary landfill;
(IV) steam
disinfection, and if the item can cause puncture wounds,
placement in a puncture-resistant container followed by deposition
in a sanitary landfill;
(V) incineration,
and if the item can cause puncture wounds, placement in a
puncture-resistant container followed by deposition in
a sanitary landfill;
(VI) encapsulation
in a matrix which will solidify and significantly reduce
the possibility of puncture wounds followed by deposition in
a sanitary landfill;
(VII) moist
heat disinfection followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill;
(VIII) chlorine disinfection/maceration
followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill; or
(IX) an
approved alternate treatment process, provided that the process
renders the item as unrecognizable and can no longer
cause puncture wounds, followed by deposition in a sanitary
landfill.
i. Razor blades, disposable
razors, and disposable scissors used in surgery, labor and
delivery, or other medical procedures; and scalpel
blades shall be subjected to one of the following methods
of treatment and disposal:
39. chemical disinfection,
and if the item can cause puncture wounds, placement
in a puncture-resistant, leak-proof container followed by deposition
in a sanitary landfill;
40. (II) steam
disinfection, and if the item can cause puncture
wounds, placement in a puncture-resistant container followed
by deposition
in a sanitary landfill;
41. (III) incineration,
and if item can cause puncture wounds, placement
in a puncture-resistant container followed by deposition in
a sanitary landfill;
42. (IV) encapsulation
in a matrix which will solidify and significantly
reduce the possibility of puncture wounds followed by deposition
in a sanitary landfill;
43. (V) moist heat
disinfection followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill;
44. (VI) chlorine
disinfection/maceration followed by deposition in
a sanitary landfill; or
45. (VII) an approved
alternate treatment process, provided that the process
renders the item as unrecognizable and can no longer cause
puncture
wounds, followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill.
i. Intravenous stylets and
rigid introducers (e.g., J wires) shall be subjected to one
of the following methods of treatment and
disposal:
(II) chemical
disinfection, and if the item can cause puncture wounds,
placement in a puncture-resistant, leak-proof container followed
by deposition in a sanitary landfill;
(III) steam
disinfection, and if the item can cause puncture wounds,
placement in a puncture-resistant, leak-proof container followed
by deposition in a sanitary landfill;
(IV) incineration,
and if the item can cause puncture wounds, placement in
a puncture-resistant, leak-proof container followed by deposition
in a sanitary landfill;
(V) encapsulation
in a matrix which will solidify and significantly reduce
the possibility of puncture wounds, followed by deposition
in a sanitary landfill;
(VI) moist
heat disinfection followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill;
(VII) chlorine
disinfection/maceration followed by deposition in a sanitary
landfill; or
(VIII) an approved
alternate treatment process, provided that the process
renders the item as unrecognizable and can no longer cause
puncture wounds, followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill.
i. Glass pasteur pipettes,
glass pipettes, specimen tubes, blood culture bottles, and
microscope slides, and broken glass from laboratories
shall be subjected to one of the following methods of treatment
and disposal:
46. chemical disinfection,
and if the item can cause puncture wounds, placement
in a puncture-resistant, leak-proof container followed by deposition
in a sanitary landfill;
47. (II) steam
disinfection, and if the item can cause puncture
wounds, placement in a puncture-resistant container followed
by deposition
in a sanitary landfill;
48. (III) incineration,
and if the item can cause puncture wounds, placement
in a puncture-resistant container followed by deposition in
a
sanitary landfill;
49. (IV) encapsulation
in a matrix which will solidify and significantly
reduce the possibility of puncture wounds followed by deposition
in a sanitary landfill;
50. (V) moist heat
disinfection followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill;
51. (VI) chlorine
disinfection/maceration followed by deposition in
a sanitary landfill; or
52. (VII) an approved
alternate treatment process, provided that the process
renders the item as unrecognizable and can no longer cause
puncture
wounds, followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill.
i. Tattoo needles, acupuncture
needles, and electrolysis needles shall be subjected to one
of the following methods of treatment and
disposal:
(II) chemical
disinfection, and if the item can cause puncture wounds,
placement in a puncture-resistant, leak-proof container followed
by deposition in a sanitary landfill;
(III) steam
disinfection, and if the item can cause puncture wounds,
placement in a puncture-resistant, leak-proof container followed
by deposition in a sanitary landfill;
(IV) incineration,
and if the item can cause puncture wounds, placement in
a puncture-resistant, leak-proof container followed by deposition
in a sanitary landfill;
(V) encapsulation
in a matrix which will solidify and significantly reduce
the possibility of puncture wounds, followed by deposition
in a sanitary landfill;
(VI) moist
heat disinfection followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill;
(VII) chlorine disinfection/maceration
followed by deposition in a sanitary
landfill; or
(VIII) an approved alternate treatment process, provided that the process renders
the item as unrecognizable and can no longer cause puncture
wounds, followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill.
Specific categories of SWFHCRF may be treated by specific methods.
Chlorine disinfection/maceration and moist heat disinfection
require shredding of the waste during or shortly after treatment.
Other parameters including such things as time, temperature
and pressure requirements are specified for other methods.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires registration
of chemical disinfectants (except for household bleach or 70
percent isopropyl alcohol). EPA also requires that liquid disinfectants
be drained from treated wastes.
Approval from the Office of Air Quality of the Texas Natural
Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC) is required for incineration
processes.
Any generator that produces more than 50 pounds
per calendar month of SWFHCRF and that treats all or part of
the wastes on-site
is required to perform routine performance monitoring based
on the volume of SWFHCRF generated monthly and the type of treatment
process utilized.
On-Site vs. Off-Site Treatment
"On-site" means a facility
consisting of contiguous structures or contiguous properties,
or a combination of structures
operated by a single entity operating under a license issued
by the Texas Department of Health.
A frequently encountered situation involves
the waste disposal activities of a hospital that owns
a separate building containing
physicians’ offices. Facilities that meet certain criteria
may be able to handle such waste as their own "on-site
generated" waste.
If the hospital accepts and processes waste that was generated
off-site, then that hospital then takes on the role of
a commercial processor and must be permitted as a commercial
facility.
On-Site Treatment
Records must be kept for waste treated on-site to include the
date, amount of waste, method of treatment, name and initials
of the person performing treatment, and for generators of more
than 50 pounds per month, a written procedure for the operation
and testing of any equipment or chemicals used. Records must
be maintained for three years and must be available for review
on request.
Treated wastes may be disposed of as
routine municipal solid waste provided any markings identifying
the waste as SWFHCRF
are covered with a color-coded disposable container or
a label identifying the waste as "treated." Recognizable
human body parts, tissues, fetuses, organs, and the products
of spontaneous
or induced abortions must not be disposed of in
a municipal solid waste landfill.
Sharps must be placed in containers designed for their disposal.
Treated or unused sharps, if not encapsulated, must be segregated
from the regular solid waste stream and transported without compaction
to the landfill. If the contents of a sharps container are completely
encased in an encapsulating matrix and can withstand an applied
pressure of 40 pounds per square inch, the sharps container may
be disposed of with routine municipal solid waste. Treated and/or
encapsulated sharps containers must be labeled as such.
Off-Site Treatment
Wastes to be transported off-site for
treatment must be packaged securely in a bag of specified strength
requirements and subsequently
boxed in a rigid outer container also meeting specified strength
requirements. The outer container must be labeled twice in English
and twice in Spanish with the words "CAUTION, contains medical
waste that may be biohazardous."
Sharps must be placed in marked and puncture-resistant containers
designed for their disposal.
Ultimately, the generator’s primary responsibility whenever
allowing untreated SWFHCRF to be transported off-site is to determine
that the waste is being released to a currently registered transporter
and to obtain a signed receipt for each shipment of regulated
waste.
Transport of Medical Waste
Transporters of untreated medical waste must comply with applicable
vehicle, financial assurance, registration, reporting, and fee
requirements.
Certain exemptions exist for generators who choose to transport
their own untreated medical waste:
-
Generators of less than 50 pounds per
month may transport their own waste to a registered medical
waste collection station,
transfer station, storage facility, or processing facility
without meeting transporter requirements.
- Generators of more than 50 pounds per
month may still transport their own waste provided
they meet all transporter requirements
except registration.
- Generators located contiguous to a permitted
processing facility may transport their own untreated waste without
complying with
packaging requirements provided the waste is identified
as "untreated" and
is not transported over a public roadway.
Transfer of shipments of untreated medical
waste must take place only at and on the premises of a permitted
transfer station,
storage facility, or processing facility. In case of
vehicle malfunction or accident, the waste may be transferred
to another vehicle, and the TNRCC must be notified within five
days in the case of vehicle malfunction or one day in
the case
of an accident. Interstate transportation requires the
same conditions as for transporters operating within Texas, except
that only
the vehicle requirements apply to transporters of waste
that neither originates nor terminates in Texas.
A licensed hospital may act as a medical waste collection station,
may be registered in counties of less than one million population,
and may accept waste only from generators of less than 50 pounds
per month that transport their own untreated waste.
Storage
All medical waste must be stored in a secure manner and
location that affords protection from theft, vandalism, inadvertent
human or animal exposure, rain, water, and wind. It must be managed
so it will not provide a breeding place or food for insects or
rodents and will not generate noxious odors.
A permit is required for the storage of medical waste generated
off-site except on the premises of a permitted processing facility
or medical waste collection station. Such waste must be maintained
at a temperature of 45 degrees Fahrenheit or less if held for
more than 72 hours.
For registered transporters whose base
of operations is located more than 200 miles from a permitted
processing facility, untreated
medical waste may be held up to one week without refrigeration.
Medical waste generated off-site and held for more than 14 days
is considered to be in storage, and authorization from TNRCC’s
executive director is required.
OSHA Regulations
HERC
OSHA State Page
In addition to the state medical waste
environmental regulations there are some Occupational Safety
and Health Administration
(OSHA) rules that apply to medical/infectious waste. Texas
is one of 26 states covered entirely by the federal OSHA program. This
program is operated by the Occupational
Safety and Health Administration. OSHA rules (Occupational
Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens Standards) impact various aspects
of medical/infectious waste, including management of sharps,
requirements for containers that hold or store medical/infectious
waste, labeling of medical/infectious waste bags/containers,
and employee training. These requirements can be found
in the HERC section entitled OSHA Standards for Regulated
Waste
Statutes, Regulations and Guidelines
Texas
Administrative Code Title 30 Environmental Quality, Part 1
Chapter 330, Subchapter Y, Texas Commission on Environmental
Quality Municipal Solid Waste Medical Waste Management
Contacts
Texas
Commission on Environmental Quality
More Information
TCEQ – Medical Waste Guidance
Fact
Sheet Medical Waste Regulations in Texas
Generating
Medical Waste
Medical
Waste: Am I Regulated?
Mobile
On-Site Treatment of Medical Waste
Receiving
Medical Waste for Disposal
Transporting
Medical Waste
Transporting
Medical Waste: Contacts
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