Do you work in an environment that needs a Medical Waste Pickup? Transport? Disposal? Or maybe you have specimen's that need to be separated, in order to be disposed of? We have been serving Southern California since 1996. We are the third Company Licensed for this kind of business in the State of California. Not only are we licensed and insured professionals…we actually have taken the time to study, learn and care about what we do. Our motto is; “We Clean, We care.”

We are Clean Scene Services…serving Los Angeles County, Orange County, Ventura County, The Inland Empire and the rest of Southern California for more than 14 years. We specialize and are trained to handle and transport Medical Waste. You can call us at any time (serious equerries only). We are available to respond 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year. Our average response time is approximately 2 hours to most of the areas close to or around the above mentioned counties. Some areas can take a little longer.

Medical Waste Pickup’s are usually needed for most Hospitals, Medical Clinics, Veterinary Facilities, Tattoo Parlors, Laboratories, Colleges, Medical Schools and Dental Offices. There have been over 340 companies on the State of California Listing for the services that we provide. There are only approximately 135 companies to this day. We were the third in the State of California and have remained to be so, since 1996.

Our workers come prepared, with much experience and professional attitudes. We take pride in all that we do. There are only a few companies that do what we do…but, we are usually cheaper and better in what we do. We strive to leave you with a good impression of us. Going that extra mile, this is unlike other companies in our profession. We are not trying to add any further expense, than that which is necessary. The economy is in somewhat of a bind these days, and we are normal, everyday people, just like you. We can work with you in most case scenarios. 

We do not require contracts to be drawn up for Medical Waste Pickup’s. Instead, we provide an at need service rendered. You can call us only as needed. However, we do provide legal tracking documents to prove that you have disposed of your waste properly. In the State of California, this is required by Law. We only service Southern California, since this is the State that we are licensed for. No out of State pickup’s, please. However, we will serve some areas of Northern California…just give us a call.

Our average prices are very competitive with our competition. We have a flat rate for the pickup, itself (up to 20 lbs. - each additional lb. is $5 after the initial 20 lbs.) If you work in an office building with multiple clinics that need Medical Waste Pickup service, as well…special rates may apply. The more separate offices that participate (needing medical waste pickup), the lower each individual office will have to pay. If you do decide to become a regular customer of ours, discounts will apply. We are very reasonably priced for our line of work.

We abide by all OSHA, HAZMAT, BIOHAZARD and California State Laws, regulations and codes. We are trained professionals, well seasoned in all that we do. There are certain work ethics and guidelines that one must follow in this field…and we are above and beyond the majority. Ready to do what is needed to satisfy our customers. We are Clean Scene Services.

We can and will provide your Business with competent, well trained professionals. Again, we are licensed, insured and have more than 14 years of experience. If you are looking for a company of this caliber in our profession…then give us a call today. We are ready to help you with your individual need, in a professional manner. Those who find our scheduled medical waste pickup appreciate our punctuality and friendly service technicians. Every person connected to our medical waste pickup service knows their service to our customers' adds to our overall business success.

Other Services:

We entered the biohazard cleanup expecting to service biohazard waste removal and cleaning after biohazardous events. Before long we learned that many small medical businesses were in need of more personal, more specialized medical waste pickup services. So we put our heads together and came up with more ways to serve the environmental and business needs related to biohazard waste, medical waste, and sharps disposal.

• Biohazard waste pickup for clinics and hospitals
• Biohazard pickup for laboratories
• Medical waste pickup for dentists
• Medical waste pickup for general practitioners and specialists

Our Los Angeles County medical waste pickup service includes biohazard waste pickup for biohazard cleanup companies, blood cleanup companies, crime scene cleanup companies, decomposition cleanup companies, homicide cleanup companies, and suicide cleanup companies.

Our services include the following:

• Biohazard Waste Pickup
• Medical Waste Pickup
• Laboratory Waste Pickup
• Sharps Pickup

We are ready to respond 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year for your Medical Waste Pickup needs. We have associates in Antelope Valley, The Santa Clarita area, The Inland Empire and Los Angeles. We are also very discreet and able to work with you on matters, as far as scheduling Medical Waste Pickup’s are concerned. So, if you are looking for reliable, trustworthy professionals to serve your company…we are the ones you need to call.

As of January 2007, the California Department of Public Health Medical Waste Management Program put in to affect the “Medical Waste Management Act. California Health and Safety Code Sections 117600 – 118360. These Laws are as follows:

117600 - Citation of part:

This part shall be known and may be cited as the Medical Waste Management Act.

117605 – Preempt:

This part does not preempt any local ordinance regulating infectious waste, as that term was defined by Section 25117.5 as it read on December 31, 1990, if the ordinance was in effect on January 1, 1990, and regulated both large and small quantity generators or those needing any sort of service rendered for Waste pickup. Any ordinance may be amended in a manner that is consistent with this part.

117610 – Regulations:

The department shall adopt regulations that will establish and ensure statewide standards for uniformity in the implementation and administration of this part and that will promote waste minimization and source reduction.

117615 - Local Ordinance:

Notwithstanding Section 117605, with the approval of the director, and in the interest of public health, a local ordinance providing more stringent requirements than specified in this part may be implemented for a specified time period. (Not all companies are licensed through the state to haul and or hold medical waste).

117620 - Initiate Program:

The department and any local enforcement agency initially electing to implement a medical waste management program pursuant to this part shall initiate that program and begin enforcement of its provisions on or before April 1, 1991, except for medical waste programs operating under Section 117605.

 Definitions

117625 – Definitions:

Unless the context requires otherwise, the definitions in this article govern the construction of this part.

117630 - Biohazard Bag:

“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. A biohazard bag shall be constructed of material of sufficient single thickness strength to pass the 165-gram dropped dart impact resistance test as prescribed by Standard D

1709-85 of the American Society for Testing and Materials and certified by the bag manufacturer.

117635 - Biohazardous Waste:

“Biohazardous waste” means any of the following: January 2007

 a) Laboratory waste, including, but not limited to, all of the following:

(1) Human or animal specimen cultures from medical and pathology laboratories.

(2) Cultures and stocks of infectious agents from research and industrial laboratories.

(3) Wastes from the production of bacteria, viruses, spores, discarded live and attenuated vaccines used in human health care or research, discarded animal vaccines, including Brucellosis and Contagious Ecthyma, as identified by the department, and culture dishes and de-vices used to transfer, inoculate, and mix cultures.

(b) Human surgery specimens or tissues removed at surgery or autopsy, which are suspected by the attending physician and surgeon or dentist of being contaminated with infectious agents known to be contagious to humans.

(c) Animal parts, tissues, fluids, or carcasses suspected by the attending veterinarian of being contaminated with infectious agents known to be contagious to humans.

(d) Waste, which at the point of transport from the generator’s site, at the point of disposal, or thereafter, contains recognizable fluid blood, fluid blood products, containers or equipment containing blood that is fluid, or blood from animals known to be infected with diseases which are highly communicable to humans.

(e) Waste containing discarded materials contaminated with excretion, exudate, or secretions from humans or animals that are required to be isolated by the infection control staff, the attending physician and surgeon, the attending veterinarian, or the local health officer, to protect others from highly communicable diseases or diseases of animals that are highly communicable to humans.

(f)

(1) Waste which is hazardous only because it is comprised of human surgery specimens or tissues which have been fixed in formaldehyde or other fixatives, or only because the waste is contaminated through contact with, or having previously contained, chemotherapeutic agents, including, but not limited to, gloves, disposable gowns, towels, and intravenous solution bags and attached tubing which are empty. A biohazardous waste which meets the conditions of this paragraph is not subject to Chapter 6.5 (commencing with Section 25100) of Division 20.

(2) For purposes of this subdivision, “chemotherapeutic agent” means an agent that kills or prevents the reproduction of malignant cells.

(3) For purposes of this subdivision, a container, or inner liner removed from a container, which previously contained a chemotherapeutic agent, is empty if the January 2007 8

A container or inner liner removed from the container has been emptied by the generator as much as possible, using methods commonly employed to remove waste or material from containers or liners, so that the following conditions are met:

(A) If the material which the container or inner liner held is pourable, no material can be poured or drained from the container or inner liner when held in any orientation, including, but not limited to, when tilted or inverted.

(B) If the material which the container or inner liner held is not pourable, no material or waste remains in the container or inner liner that can feasibly be removed by scraping.

(g) Waste that is hazardous only because it is comprised of pharmaceuticals, as defined in Section 117747. Notwithstanding subdivision (a) of Section 117690, medical waste includes biohazardous waste that meets the conditions of this subdivision. Biohazardous waste that meets the conditions of this subdivision is not subject to Chapter 6.5 (commencing with Section 25100) of Division 20.

117640 - Common Storage Facility:

“Common storage facility” means any designated accumulation area that is onsite and is used by small quantity generators otherwise operating independently for the storage of medical waste for collection by a registered hazardous waste hauler.

117645 – Container:

“Container” means the rigid container in which the medical waste is placed prior to transporting for purposes of storage or treatment.

117650 - Enforcement Agency:

“Enforcement agency” means the department or the local agency administering this part.

117655 - Enforcement Officer:

“Enforcement officer” means the director, or agents or registered environmental health specialists appointed by the director, and all local health officers, directors of environmental health, and their duly authorized registered environmental health specialists and environmental health specialist trainees, or the designees of the director, local health officers, or the directors of environmental health.

117657 – Fund:

“Fund” means the Medical Waste Management Fund created pursuant to Section

117885.

117660 - Hazardous Waste Hauler:

“Hazardous waste hauler” means a person registered as a hazardous waste hauler pursuant to Article 6 (commencing with Section 25160) and Article 6.5 (commencing with Section 25167.1) of Chapter 6.5 of Division 20 and Chapter 30 (commencing with Section 66001) of Division 4 of Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations.

117662 - Health Care Professional:

“Health care professional” means any person licensed or certified pursuant to Division 2 (commencing with Section 500) of the Business and Professions Code; any person licensed pursuant to the Osteopathic Initiative Act, as set forth in Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 3600) of Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code, or pursuant to the Chiropractic Initiative Act, as set forth in Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 1000) of Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code; and any person certified pursuant to Division 2.5 (commencing with Section 1797).

117665 - Highly Communicable Diseases:

“Highly communicable diseases” means diseases, such as those caused by organisms classified by the federal Centers for Disease Control as Biosafety Level IV organisms, that, in the opinion of the infection control staff, the department, local health officer, attending physician and surgeon, or attending veterinarian, merit special precautions to protect staff, patients, and other persons from infection. “Highly communicable diseases” does not include diseases such as the common cold, influenza, or other diseases not representing a significant danger to nonimmunocompromised persons.

117670 - Household Waste:

“Household waste” means any material, including garbage, trash, and sanitary wastes in septic tanks and medical waste, that is derived from households, farms, or ranches. Household waste does not include trauma scene waste.

117671 – Home-generated Sharps Waste:

“Home-generated sharps waste” means hypodermic needles, pen needles, intravenous needles, lancets, and other devices that are used to penetrate the skin for the delivery of medications derived from a household, including a multifamily residence or household.

117672 - Industrial Hygienist :

“Industrial hygienist” means a person who has met the educational requirements of an industrial hygiene certification organization, as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 20700 of the Business and Professions Code, and who has had at least one year in the comprehensive practice of industrial hygiene, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 20700 of the Business and Professions Code.

117675 - Infectious Agent :

“Infectious agent” means a type of microorganism, bacteria, mold, parasite, or virus, including, but not limited to, organisms managed as Biosafety Level II, III, or IV by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, that normally causes, or significantly contributes to the cause of, increased morbidity or mortality of human beings.

117680 - Large Quantity Generator:

“Large quantity generator” means a medical waste generator, other than a trauma scene waste management practitioner, that generates 200 or more pounds of medical waste in any month of a 12-month period.

117685 - Local Agency:

“Local agency” means the local health department, as defined in Section 101185, or the local comprehensive environmental agency established in accordance with Section

101275, of a county that has elected to adopt a local ordinance to administer and enforce this part, pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 117800).

117690 - Medical Waste:

(a) “Medical waste” means waste which meets both of the following requirements:

(1) The waste is composed of waste which is generated or produced as a result of any of the following actions:

(A) Diagnosis, treatment, or immunization of human beings or animals.

(B) Research pertaining to the activities specified in subparagraph (A).

(C) The production or testing of biologicals.

(D) The accumulation of properly contained home-generated sharps waste that is brought by a patient, a member of the patient’s family, or by a person authorized by the enforcement agency, to a point of consolidation approved by the enforcement agency pursuant to Section 117904 or authorized pursuant to Section 118147.

(E) Removal of a regulated waste, as defined in Section 5193 of Title 8 of the California Code of Regulations, from a trauma scene by a trauma scene waste management practitioner.

(2) The waste is either of the following:

(A) Biohazardous waste.

(B) Sharps waste.

(b) For purposes of this section, “biologicals” means medicinal preparations made from living organisms and their products, including, but not limited to, serums, vaccines, antigens, and anti-toxins.

(c) Medical waste includes trauma scene waste.

117695 - Treated Medical Waste:

Medical waste that has been treated in accordance with Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 118215) and that is not otherwise hazardous, shall thereafter be considered solid waste as defined in Section 40191 of the Public Resources Code and not medical waste.

117700 - Not Medical Waste:

Medical waste does not include any of the following: (a) Waste generated in food processing or biotechnology that does not contain an infectious agent as defined in Section 117675.

(b) Waste generated in biotechnology that does not contain human blood or blood products or animal blood or blood products suspected of being contaminated with infectious agents known to be communicable to humans.

(c) Urine, feces, saliva, sputum, nasal secretions, sweat, tears, or vomitus, unless it contains fluid blood, as provided in subdivision (d) of Section 117635.

(d) Waste which is not biohazardous, such as paper towels, paper products, articles containing nonfluid blood, and other medical solid waste products commonly found in the facilities of medical waste generators.

(e) Hazardous waste, radioactive waste, or household waste, including, but not limited to, home-generated sharps waste, as defined in Section 117671.

(f) Waste generated from normal and legal veterinarian, agricultural, and animal livestock management practices on a farm or ranch.

117705 - Medical Waste Generator:

“Medical waste generator” means any person whose act or process produces medical waste and includes, but is not limited to, a provider of health care, as defined in subdivision (d) of Section 56.05 of the Civil Code. All of the following are examples of businesses that generate medical waste:

(a) Medical and dental offices, clinics, hospitals, surgery centers, laboratories, research laboratories, unlicensed health facilities, those facilities required to be licensed pursuant to Division 2 (commencing with Section 1200), chronic dialysis clinics, as regulated pursuant to Division 2 (commencing with Section 1200), and education and research facilities.

(b) Veterinary offices, veterinary clinics, and veterinary hospitals.

(c) Pet shops.

(d) Trauma scene waste management practitioners.

117710 - Medical Waste Management Plan:

“Medical waste management plan” means a document that is completed by generators of medical waste pursuant to Sections 117935 and 117960, on forms prepared by the enforcement agency.

117715 - Medical Waste Permit:

“Medical waste permit” means a permit issued by the enforcement agency to a medical waste treatment facility.

117720 - Medical Waste Registration:

“Medical waste registration” means a registration issued by the enforcement agency to a medical waste generator.

117725 - Medical Waste Treatment Facility:

(a) “Medical waste treatment facility” means all adjacent land and structures, and other appurtenances or improvements on the land, used for treating medical waste or for associated handling and storage of medical waste. Medical waste treatment facilities are those facilities treating waste pursuant to subdivision (a) or (c) of Section 118215. A medical waste treatment method approved pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 118215 may be designated as a medical waste treatment facility by the department.

(b) “Adjacent,” for purposes of subdivision (a), means real property within 400 yards from the property boundary of the existing medical waste treatment facility.

117730 - Mixed Waste:

“Mixed waste” means mixtures of medical and non-medical waste. Mixed waste is medical waste, except for all of the following:

(a) Medical waste and hazardous waste is hazardous waste and is subject to regulation as specified in the statutes and regulations applicable to hazardous waste.

(b) Medical waste and radioactive waste is radioactive waste and is subject to regulation as specified in the statutes and regulations applicable to radioactive waste.

(c) Medical waste, hazardous waste, and radioactive waste is radioactive mixed waste and is subject to regulation as specified in the statutes and regulations applicable to hazardous waste and radioactive waste.

117735 – Offsite:

“Offsite” means any location that is not onsite.

117740 – Onsite:

(a) “Onsite” means a medical waste treatment facility, or common storage facility on the same or adjacent property as the generator of the medical waste being treated.

(b) “Adjacent,” for purposes of subdivision (a), means real property within 400 yards from the property boundary of the existing medical waste treatment facility.

117742 - Parent Organization:

“Parent organization” means an organization that employs or contracts with health care professionals who provide health care services at a location other than at a health care facility specified in subdivision (a) of Section 117705.

117745 – Person:

“Person” means an individual, trust, firm, joint stock company, business concern, partnership, association, limited liability company, and corporation, including, but not limited to, a government corporation. “Person” also includes any city, county, district, commission, the state or any department, agency, or political subdivision thereof, the Regents of the University of California, any interstate body, and the federal government or any department or agency thereof to the extent permitted by law.

117747 – Pharmaceutical:

(a) “Pharmaceutical” means a prescription or over-the-counter human or veterinary drug, including, but not limited to, a drug as defined in Section 109925 or the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, as amended, (21 U.S.C.A. Sec. 321(g)(1)).

(b) For purposes of this part, “pharmaceutical” does not include any pharmaceutical that is regulated pursuant to either of the following:

(1) The federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, as amended (42 U.S.C.A. Sec. 6901 et seq.).

(2) The Radiation Control Law (Chapter 8 [commencing with Section 114960] of Part 9).

117750 - Sharps Container:

“Sharps container” means a rigid puncture-resistant container that, when sealed, is leak resistant and cannot be reopened without great difficulty.

117755 - Sharps Waste:

“Sharps waste” means any device having acute rigid corners, edges, or protuberances capable of cutting or piercing, including, but not limited to, all of the following:

(a) Hypodermic needles, hypodermic needles with syringes, blades, needles with attached tubing, syringes contaminated with biohazardous waste, acupuncture needles, and root canal files.

(b) Broken glass items, such as Pasteur pipettes and blood vials contaminated with biohazardous waste.

(c) Any item capable of cutting or piercing that is contaminated with trauma scene waste.

117760 - Small Quantity Generator:

“Small quantity generator” means a medical waste generator, other than a trauma scene waste management practitioner, that generates less than 200 pounds per month of medical waste.

117765 – Storage:

“Storage” means the holding of medical wastes, in accordance with Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 118275), at a designated accumulation area, offsite point of consolidation, transfer station, other registered facility, or in a vehicle detached from its means of locomotion.

117770 - Tracking Document:

“Tracking document” means the medical waste tracking document specified in Section 118040.

117775 - Transfer Station:

(a) “Transfer station” means any offsite location where medical waste is loaded, unloaded, stored, or consolidated by a registered hazardous waste hauler, or a holder of a limited quantity hauling exemption granted pursuant to Section 118030, during the normal course of transportation of the medical waste.

(b) “Transfer station” does not include any onsite facility, including, but not limited to, common storage facilities, facilities of medical waste generators employed for the purpose of consolidation, or onsite treatment facilities.

117776 - Trauma Scene:

(a) “Trauma scene” means a location soiled by, or contaminated with, human blood, human body fluids, or other residues from the scene of a serious human injury, illness, or death.

(b) For purposes of this section, a location may include, but is not limited to, a physical structure that is not fixed geographically, such as mobile homes, trailers, or vehicles.

117777 - Trauma Scene Waste:

“Trauma scene waste” means waste that is a regulated waste, as defined in Section 5193 of Title 8 of the California Code of Regulations, and that has been removed, is to be removed, or is in the process of being removed, from a trauma scene by a trauma scene waste management practitioner.

117778 - Trauma Scene Waste Management Practitioner:

“Trauma scene waste management practitioner” means a person who undertakes as a commercial activity the removal of human blood, human body fluids, and other associated residues from the scene of a serious human injury, illness, or death, and who is registered with the department pursuant to Chapter 9.5 (commencing with Section 118321).

117780 - Treatment:

“Treatment” means any method, technique, or process designed to change the biological character or composition of any medical waste so as to eliminate its potential for causing disease, as specified in Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 118215).

117800 - Local Agency:

A local agency may implement a medical waste management program by the adoption of an ordinance or resolution by the local governing body, in accordance with this part.

117805 - Notify Department:

Except as provided in subdivision (a) of Section 117810, a local agency that elects to implement a medical waste management program shall notify the department within 90 days from the effective date of the act enacting this part.

117810 – Implementation:

(a) If a local agency does not elect to implement a medical waste management program, the local agency may elect to contract with another local agency to implement a medical waste management program or to implement it at a later date. This election shall be made by the local governing body, that shall take effect 90 days after a notice of election is filed with the department.

(b) A local agency that elects to implement a medical waste management program shall continue to implement that program until the local governing body terminates the election by resolution or ordinance or the department revokes the authority of the local agency to administer a medical waste management program. The local agency shall file the notice of termination with the department at least 180 days prior to the termination date.

117815 - Program Consistency:

Any local agency that has elected to implement a medical waste management program shall maintain a program that is consistent with Section 117820 and the regulations adopted pursuant to that section. With the approval of the department, the local agency may administer or enforce this part with respect to any person.

117820 - Medical Waste Management Program:

A medical waste management program shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:

(a) Issuing medical waste registrations pursuant to Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 117950) and permits pursuant to Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 118130).

(b) Processing and reviewing the medical waste management plans and inspecting onsite treatment facilities in accordance with Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 117925) for all small quantity medical waste generators required to be registered.

(c) Conducting an evaluation, inspection, or records review for all facilities or               persons issued a large quantity medical waste registration pursuant to Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 117950) or issued a permit for an onsite medical waste treatment facility pursuant to Section 118130.

(d) Inspecting medical waste generators in response to complaints or emergency incidents, or as part of an investigation or evaluation of the implementation of the medical waste management plan.

(e) Inspecting medical waste treatment facilities in response to a complaint or as part of an investigation or emergency incident.

(f) Taking enforcement action for the suspension or revocation of medical waste permits issued by the local agency pursuant to this part.

(g) Referring or initiating proceedings for civil or criminal prosecution of violations specified in Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 118335).

(h) Reporting in a manner determined by the department so that the statewide effectiveness of the program can be determined.

117825 - Registration and Permit Fees:

Each local enforcement agency that elects to implement the medical waste management program may prescribe, by resolution or ordinance, the registration and permit fees necessary to pay its reasonable expenses to administer the program.

117830 - Enforcement Agency

(a) A local agency electing to implement a medical waste management program is the enforcement agency for the jurisdiction where it is located and so designated by the department.

(b) In any local jurisdiction where the local agency does not elect to implement a medical waste management program, the department is the enforcement agency.

(c) Nothing in this chapter shall prevent a district attorney, city attorney, or city

prosecutor from bringing any enforcement action for violation of this chapter.

117835 - Department’s Database:

The department shall establish and maintain a data-base of persons registered under Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 117925) and persons registered under Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 117950) for whom the department is the enforcement agency.

117840 - Intent of the Legislature:

It is the intent of the Legislature that the program carried out pursuant to this part be fully supported from the fees received pursuant to this part.

117845 - Department shall implement:

The department shall implement this part so as to maximize the funds that may be received from the federal government.

117850 - Share Information:

Information may be shared between the department and the Environmental Protection Agency.

117855 – Withdrawal:

If the department finds that a local enforcement agency is not consistently fulfilling its responsibilities, the department shall notify the agency of the particular reasons for finding that the agency is not fulfilling its responsibilities and of the department’s intention to withdraw its designation if, within a time to be specified in that notification, but in no event less than 30 days, the agency does not take the corrective action specified by the department.

117860 - Department Becomes Enforcement Agency:

If the department withdraws its designation of a local enforcement agency, the department shall become the enforcement agency within the jurisdiction of the local enforcement agency.

117870 - Department Identifies Significant Violations:

If the department identifies significant violations of minimum requirements that were not identified and resolved through previous inspections by the local enforcement agency, the department shall do all of the following:

(a) Conduct a performance review of the agency within 120 days.

(b) Prepare a written performance report within 60 days of the review.

(c) Require the submission of a plan of correction by the agency within 90 days of receiving the report.

117875 – Withdrawal:

The department shall withdraw a local enforcement agency’s designation pursuant to Section 117860 if it determines that the enforcement agency has failed to submit an adequate plan of correction or has failed to implement the plan.

117880 – Fees:

If the department becomes the enforcement agency, it may charge the fees specified in this

part.

117885 – Fund:

(a) There is in the State Treasury the Medical Waste Management Fund, that shall be administered by the director. Money deposited in the fund shall be available to the department, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for the purposes of this part.

(b) In addition to any other funds transferred by the Legislature to the Medical Waste Management Fund, the following shall be deposited in the fund:

(1) Fees, penalties, interest earned, and fines collected by, or on behalf of, the department pursuant to this part.

(2) Funds granted by the federal government for purposes of carrying out this part.

(c) This section shall become operative on July 1, 1993.

117890 - Large Quantity Generator (LQG) Registration:

No large quantity generator shall generate medical waste unless the large quantity generator is registered with the enforcement agency pursuant to this part.

117895 - Small Quantity Generator (SQG) Registration:

A small quantity generator that treats medical waste onsite by steam sterilization, incineration, or microwave technology shall register with the enforcement agency pursuant to this part.

117900 - Medical Waste Hauler Registration:

No person shall haul medical waste unless the person meets either of the following requirements:

(a) The person is registered pursuant to Article 6 (commencing with Section 25160) and Article 6.5 (commencing with Section 25167.1) of Chapter 6.5 of Division 20 and Chapter 30 (commencing with Section 66001) of Division 4 of Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations.

(b) The person has an approved limited-quantity exemption granted pursuant to Section 118030.

117903 - Treat Medical Waste:

No person shall treat medical waste unless the person is permitted by the enforcement agency as required by this part or unless the treatment is performed by a medical waste generator and is a treatment method approved pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 118215.

117904 – Consolidation:

(a) In addition to the consolidation points authorized pursuant to Section 118147, the enforcement agency may approve a location as a point of consolidation for the collection of home-generated sharps waste, which, after collection, shall be transported and treated as medical waste.

(b) A consolidation location approved pursuant to this section shall be known as a “home-generated sharps consolidation point.”

(c) A home-generated sharps consolidation point is not subject to the requirements of Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 118275), to the permit or registration requirements of this part, or to any permit or registration fees, with regard to the activity of consolidating home-generated sharps waste pursuant to this section.

(d) A home-generated sharps consolidation point shall comply with all of the following requirements:

(1) All sharps waste shall be placed in sharps containers.

(2) Sharps containers ready for disposal shall not be held for more than seven days without the written approval of the enforcement agency.

(e) An operator of a home-generated sharps consolidation point approved pursuant to this section shall not be considered the generator of that waste.

(f) The medical waste treatment facility which treats the sharps waste subject to this section shall maintain the tracking documents required by Sections 118040 and 118165 with regard to that sharps waste.

117905 - Offsite Treatment:

The department is the enforcement agency for offsite treatment facilities.

117908 - Common Storage Facility:

The accumulated medical waste of more than one medical waste generator shall not be stored in a common storage facility unless that facility is registered with the enforcement agency.

117910 - Technical Assistance & Guidance:

The department shall provide ongoing technical assistance and guidance to local enforcement agencies to assist them in their decision making processes. This assistance shall include, but is not limited to, providing all of the following:

(a) Technical studies and reports.

(b) Copies of innovative facility operation plans.

(c) Investigative findings and analysis of new waste management practices and procedures.

Small Quantity Generator Requirements

117915 - Containment and Storage:

Containment and storage of medical waste shall be in accordance with Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 118275).

117918 – Treatment:

Treatment of medical waste shall be in accordance with Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 118215).

117920 – Registration:

The fee schedule specified in Section 117923 shall be for the issuance of medical waste registrations and for conducting inspections pursuant to this chapter when the department serves as the enforcement agency for small quantity generators. This fee schedule shall be adjusted annually in accordance with Section 100425. On or before January 1, 1993, the department may adjust by regulation the fees specified in Section 117923 to reflect the actual costs of implementing this chapter. Local enforcement agencies shall set fees that shall be sufficient to cover their costs in implementing this part with regard to small quantity generators required to be registered pursuant to Section 117925.

117923 – Fees:

(a) The registration and inspection fee for small quantity generators using onsite treatment, including an autoclave, incinerator, or microwave technology, to treat medical waste is one hundred dollars ($100), that shall be paid once every two years.

(b) The annual permit fee for a common storage facility permitted pursuant to Section 117928 is the amount specified in the following schedule:

(1) For storage facilities serving 10 or fewer generators, the permit fee is one hundred dollars ($100).

(2) For storage facilities serving 11 or more generators, but not more than 50 generators, the permit fee is two hundred fifty dollars ($250).

(3) For storage facilities serving more than 50 generators, the permit fee is five hundred dollars ($500).

117924 - Collect Fees:

(a) When the department is the enforcement agency, the department shall impose and cause the collection of an annual medical waste generator fee in an amount not to exceed twenty-five dollars ($25) on small quantity generators of medical waste, except for those small quantity generators that are required to register pursuant to Section 117925 and those generators generating only biohazardous waste as defined in subdivision (g) of Section 117635. Nothing in this part shall prevent the department from contracting with entities other than the department for these fee collection activities or from entering into agreements with medical waste transporters or providers of medical waste mail-back systems for the collection of these fees, if the department deter-mines that such a fee collection arrangement would be cost-effective.

(b) If the department determines to enter into a contract with a medical waste transporter or provider of medical waste mail-back systems for the collection of the fees, the department shall do all of the following:

(1) Establish that not more than 5 percent of the fees collected may be recovered by the medical waste transporter or provider of medical waste mail-back systems as administrative costs for the collection of those fees.

(2) Establish that the administrative costs for the collection of the fees shall be the same for all medical waste transporters and providers of medical waste mail-back systems.

(3) Prohibit any medical waste transporter or provider of medical waste mail-back systems from waiving the generator fee without the written approval of the department and only if the medical waste generator has made a written request for the waiver.

(4) Require the medical waste transporter or provider of medical waste mail-back systems to report the fees collected pursuant to subdivision (a) to the department.

(5) Prohibit the medical waste transporter or provider of medical waste mail-back systems from assuming the role of the department as an enforcement agent for purposes of collecting the medical waste generator fees.

(6) Require medical waste transporters or providers of medical waste mail-back systems to include the following language in at least 12-point type on their invoices to medical waste generators. “Pursuant to Section 117924 of the California Health and Safety Code, the State Department of Health Services has contracted with us to collect your annual medical waste generator fee. The department may offset our costs of collection and administration in an amount that may not exceed 5 percent of the fee collected. We may not waive the fee without written approval of the department, and only if you have made a written request for the waiver.”

117925 - Onsite Treatment:

(a) Each small quantity generator using onsite steam sterilization, incineration, or microwave technology to treat medical waste shall register with the enforcement agency. Small quantity generators owning or operating a medical waste treatment facility shall also apply for a permit for that treatment facility pursuant to Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 118130).

(b) Small quantity generators using onsite treatment, as specified in subdivision (a), that operate as a business in the same building, or that are associated with a group practice in the same building, may register as one generator.

(c) Small quantity generators using onsite treatment, as specified in subdivision (a), as specified in subdivision (b), operating in different buildings on the same or adjacent property, or as approved by the enforcement agency, may register as one generator.

(d) “Adjacent,” for purposes of subdivision (c), means real property within 400                         yards from the property boundary of the primary registration site.

117928 - Common Storage Facility:

(a) Any common storage facility for the collection of medical waste produced by small quantity generators operating independently, but sharing common storage facilities, shall have a permit issued by the enforcement agency.

(b) A permit for any common storage facility specified in subdivision (a) may be obtained by any one of the following:

(1) A provider of health care as defined in subdivision (d) of Section 56.05 of the Civil Code.

(2) The registered hazardous waste transporter.

(3) The property owner.

(4) The property management firm responsible for providing tenant services to the medical waste generators.

117930 - Treat Onsite:

Small quantity generators that treat waste onsite, pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section

117925, shall register with the enforcement agency prior to the commencement of treatment.

117933 - Common Storage Facility Permit:

Common storage facilities subject to Section 117928 shall obtain a permit from the enforcement agency on or before April 1, 1991, where the storage of medical waste in the common storage facility began prior to that date. In those cases where the storage of medical waste begins after April 1, 1991, permits shall be obtained pursuant to this chapter prior to commencement of storage of medical waste in the common storage facility.

117935 - Medical Waste Management Plan:

Any small quantity generator required to register with the enforcement agency pursuant to

Section 117930 shall file with the enforcement agency a medical waste management plan, on forms prescribed by the enforcement agency containing, but not limited to, all of the following:

(a) The name of the person.

(b) The business address of the person.

(c) The type of business.

(d) The types, and the estimated average monthly quantity, of medical waste generated.

(e) The type of treatment used onsite.

(f) The name and business address of the registered hazardous waste hauler used by the generator for backup treatment and disposal, for waste when the onsite treatment method is not appropriate due to the hazardous or radioactive characteristics of the waste, or the name of the registered hazardous waste hauler used by the generator to have untreated medical waste removed for treatment and disposal.

(g) A statement indicating that the generator is hauling the medical waste generated in his or her business pursuant to Section 118030 and the name and any business address of the treatment and disposal facilities to which the waste is being hauled, if applicable.

(h) The name and business address of the registered hazardous waste hauler service provided by the building management to which the building tenants may subscribe or are required by the building management to subscribe and the name and business address of the treatment and disposal facilities used, if applicable.

(i) A statement certifying that the information provided is complete and accurate.

117938 - Biennial Inspection:

(a) Small quantity generators using onsite steam sterilization, incineration, or microwave technology to treat medical waste are subject to biennial inspection of that onsite treatment facility by the enforcement agency and may be subject to the permitting requirements for onsite medical waste treatment facilities as determined by the enforcement agency.

(b) The inspection and permitting requirements of subdivision (a) do not apply when onsite steam sterilization is not used for the treatment or disposal of medical waste.

117940 - Medical Waste Generator Registration

(a) Each enforcement agency shall follow procedures consistent with this chapter in registering medical waste generators.

(b) Each medical waste generator registration issued by the enforcement agency shall be valid for two years.

(c) An application for renewal of the registration shall be filed with the enforcement agency on or before the expiration date.

(d) Generators shall submit within 30 days an updated application form when any of the information specified in subdivisions (a) to (i), inclusive, of Section 117935 changes.

117943 - Treatment and Tracking Records:

A medical waste generator required to register pursuant to this chapter shall maintain individual treatment, and tracking records, if applicable, for three years, or for the period specified in the regulations, and shall report or submit to the enforcement agency, upon request, both of the following:

(a) Treatment operating records. January 2007 24

(b) An emergency action plan complying with regulations adopted by the department.

117945 - Information Documentation and Transportation Records:

Small quantity generators who are not required to register pursuant to this chapter shall maintain on file in their office all of following:

(a) An Information document stating how the generator contains, stores, treats, and disposes of any medical waste generated through any act or process of the generator.

(b) Records of any medical waste transported offsite for treatment and disposal, including the quantity of waste transported, the date transported, and the name of the registered hazardous waste hauler or individual hauling the waste pursuant to Section 118030. The small quantity generator shall maintain these records for not less than two years

Also in this Act are Laws for medical waste treatment, storage, hauling & transporting, as well as rules and regulations for proper disposal and records thereof. If you would like to see more information on this California Act please check out the California Department of Health and Public Safety website at: www.cdph.ca.gov/certlic/medicalwaste/Documents/MedicalWaste/MedicalWasteManagementAct.pdf  Please give us a call at 1(877)BIO-HAZARD or 1(877)246-4292…and let us help you.