Is your facility operating within the guidelines for Medical Waste Generators in CALIFORNIA?

The rules and regulations laid out by the Medical Waste Management Act are vast and can be a bit confusing. We've broken down some of the key points on this page to try and simplify things and keep our customers compliant.

Segregation and Storage

Rules for containerizing and storing medical waste vary depending or the type of waste.  The following rules apply. For complete rules see Chapter 9 of the Medical Waste Mgmt Act

Medical waste must be contained separately from other waste at the point of origin in the healthcare facility.  Sharps containers may be placed in biohazard bags or in containers with biohazard bags.

• Biohazardous waste must be placed in a red biohazard bag conspicuously labeled with the words “Biohazardous Waste” or with the international biohazard symbol and the word “BIOHAZARD.”
• Sharps waste must be contained in a sharps container.
• Biohazardous waste that is contaminated through contact with, or having previously contained, chemo-therapeutic agents, must be segregated for storage, and, when placed in a secondary container, that container must be labeled with the words “Chemotherapy Waste”, “CHEMO”, or other label approved by the department on the lid and on the sides, so as to be visible from any lateral direction.
• Biohazardous waste comprised of human surgery specimens or tissues which have been fixed in formaldehyde or other fixatives, must be segregated for storage and, when placed in a secondary container, that container must be labeled with the words “Pathology Waste”, “ PATH”, or other label approved by the department on the lid and on the sides, so as to be visible from any lateral direction.

To containerize biohazard bags, a person must do all of the following:

• The bags must be tied or sealed to prevent leakage
• Bags must be placed in a rigid container which may be disposable, reusable, or recyclable.
• Containers must be leak resistant, have tight-fitting covers, and be kept clean and in good repair. 
• Containers may be of any color and must be labeled with the words “Biohazardous Waste” or with the international biohazard symbol and the word “BIOHAZARD” on the lid and on the sides so as to be visible from any lateral direction.

To containerize sharps waste, a facility must do all of the following:

• Place all sharps waste into a sharps container.
• Tape closed or tightly lid full sharps containers ready for disposal to preclude loss of contents.
• Label sharps containers with the words “sharps waste” or with the international biohazard symbol and the word “BIOHAZARD”.

Storage Time

• If a facility generates 20 or more pounds of biohazardous waste per month, the facility may store biohazardous or sharps waste above 32 degrees Fahrenheit for no more than seven days

• If a facility generates less than 20 pounds of biohazardous waste per month, the facility may store biohazardous or sharps waste above 32 degrees Fahrenheit for no more than 30 days.
• A facility may store biohazardous or sharps waste at or below 0 degrees Centigrade (32 degrees Fahrenheit) at an onsite location for not more than 90 days