Waste Category

Isolation wastes

Cultures and stocks of infectious agents and associated biologicals

Human blood and blood products

Pathological waste

Contaminated sharps

Contaminated animal carcasses, body parts, and bedding

TABLE 4-4A

Designation of Infectious Waste

Examples

• refer to Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Guidelines for Isolation Precautions in Hospitals, July 1983

• specimens from medical and pathology laboratories • cultures and stocks of infectious agents from clinical, research, and industrial laboratories; disposable culture dishes, and devices used to transfer, inoculate, and mix cultures

• wastes from production of biologicals

• discarded live and attenuated vaccines

• waste blood, serum, plasma, and blood products

tissues, organs, body parts, blood, and body fluids removed during surgery, autopsy, and biopsy

• contaminated hypodermic needles, syringes, scalpel blades, Pasteur pipettes, and broken glass

• contaminated animal carcasses, body parts, and bedding of animals that were intentionally exposed to pathogens

Miscellaneous
Contaminated
Wastes

Wastes from surgery and autopsy

Miscellaneous laboratory wastes

Dialysis unit wastes

Contaminated equipment

Examples

• soiled dressings, sponges, drapes, lavage tubes,
drainage sets, underpads, and surgical gloves

• specimen containers, slides, and cover slips;
disposable gloves, lab coats, and aprons

4.4.6.4 Packing and Storage. Regulations require units and

installations that generate infectious waste to segregate and store the waste in the area of generation until collected. Distinctive, clearly marked containers with tight-fitting lids and lined with an appropriate bag (normally red) shall be used for most solid or semi-solid infectious waste. Container liners are to be tightly sealed with twist ties, rubber bands, and/or taped before leaving the area of generation. Puncture-resistant containers shall be used for needles, syringes, and sharps. Liquid wastes shall be placed in capped or tightly closed bottles or flasks until treatment and disposal. When storage of pathological waste is necessary, the enclosed waste will be refrigerated until transferred for treatment. Infectious wastes shall be collected at regular intervals by properly trained personnel to minimize storage time.

4.4.6.5 Transporting. Infectious wastes are to be transported in the original containers, or the sealed bags can be transported in larger carts. Infectious wastes shall be manually transported to avoid rupture of the package. Containers and carts used to transport infectious waste are to be cleaned after each use.

4.4.6.6 Treatment. Incineration or steam sterilization are the methods to be used for treating infectious wastes. The ash from incineration or the solid waste after steam sterilization can be disposed of at a sanitary landfill. Pathological waste that has been steam sterilized shall be subjected to destruction (grinder) and flushed into the sanitary sewer. Treated liquid wastes shall also be discharged to the sewer system. Care must be taken when flushing waste down the sewer system to ensure that contamination of personnel or the public does not occur.

4.4.6.7 Correct identification and segregation procedures for infectious wastes management are important because the cost of disposal by incineration or sterilization has been estimated at $0.32/1b compared with $0.02/1b for normal landfill disposal. The high cost for permitting, purchasing, installation, and operation of infectious waste incinerators has caused most hospitals to use steam sterilization or private contractors for infectious waste treatment and disposal. Hospital wastes differ from normal municipal refuse in that they can contain as much as 50% disposable plastics. Upon incineration of PVC-containing plastics, HC1 gas is produced. Increasing regulatory requirements on HCI and particulate emissions require that most incinerators be equipped with an acid gas scrubber and particulate abatement system. The ash residue from infectious waste incinerators may also require special disposal depending upon the content of leachable heavy metals.

4.4.7 PCB Wastes. Polychlorinated biphenyl wastes are regulated under the Toxic Substance Control Act. Wastes containing or contaminated with PCBs must be disposed of in accordance with 40 CFR 761, Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) Manufacturing, Processing, Distribution in Commerce, and Use Prohibition, and any state or local regulations. The PCB disposal requirements specified in Section 761.10 are shown in Figure 4-4A.

4.5 HAZARDOUS WASTES. The Solid Wastes Act was replaced by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976. This means that solid wastes and hazardous wastes are both regulated under RCRA. However, hazardous wastes regulations are more stringent and require stricter compliance. Generally

speaking, any solid waste mixed in with hazardous wastes is considered a hazardous waste. Therefore, solid wastes must be kept segregated from hazardous wastes. The following information is based on regulations that are still changing. The expectation is that more stringent requirements will be enforced in the future. The discussion in this section is intended only to make readers aware of the complexities of handling hazardous materials. This document is not meant to be official military guidance in handling such

wastes.

4.5.1 Definition of Hazardous Wastes. In accordance with Section

1004 (5) of RCRA (PL 94-580), the term "hazardous waste" means a solid waste or combination of solid wastes, which because of its quantity, concentration, or physical, chemical, or infectious characteristics may: (1) cause, or significantly contribute to, an increase in mortality or an increase in serious irreversible, or incapacitating reversible, illness; or (2) pose a substantial present or potential hazard to human health or the environment when improperly treated, stored, transported, or disposed of, or otherwise managed.

4.5.2 Hazardous Wastes Identification

follows:

1.

2.

4.5.2.1

The criteria for identifying hazardous wastes are

Waste can be analyzed to determine its characteristics using
standard test methods, which can be done either in-house or
contracted out to certified laboratories.

Wastes can be reasonably identified as hazardous by the generator through familiarity with the waste streams.

4.5.2.2

Hazardous Wastes Characteristics. characteristics of hazardous wastes are listed below:

1.

2.

3.

4.

The four common

Ignitability wastes that could catch fire during normal handling. Dangers from such fires not only include heat and smoke but also the spread of particles detrimental to health over wide

areas.

Corrosivity - wastes that attack standard materials, thereby requiring special type of containers. These wastes must be segregated because they could dissolve toxic contaminants from other wastes.

These

Reactivity (explosiveness) wastes that may react spontaneously
and vigorously with water and air during normal handling.
wastes are unstable to shock or heat, and may explode and generate
toxic gases.

Toxicity wastes containing toxicants which, if released in sufficient quantities, pose substantial hazard to human health or

the environment.

Test procedures to determine the above characteristics are described in 40 CFR 261, Subpart C.

4.5.2.3 Criteria For Listing Hazardous Wastes. Per 40 CFR 261.11, Subpart B, the basis for listing solid wastes as hazardous are as follows:

1.

2.

3.

wastes exhibiting any of the characteristics identified in
40 CFR 261, Subpart C, shown above

wastes found to be fatal to humans in low doses, or capable of
causing serious illness

wastes containing any of the toxic constituents listed in

40 CFR 261, Appendix VIII, unless the waste is not capable of posing

a hazard to human health when improperly treated, stored,

transported or disposed of.

4.5.2.4 An EPA hazardous waste number is assigned for each hazardous waste. Lists of hazardous wastes from specific and nonspecific sources are found in 40 CFR 261.31 and 40 CFR 261.32. Exclusions from these lists are shown in 40 CFR 261, Appendix IX.

4.5.2.5 Discarded commercial products, off-specification species, and container and spill residues containing the generic substances listed in 40 CFR 261.33 are considered hazardous wastes. Any solid waste containing identified hazardous generic substances as an active ingredient of the mixture is a hazardous waste. Additional information regarding the identification of hazardous waste can be obtained from the installation environmental specialist.

4.5.3 Responsibilities

4.5.3.1 In addition to the standards imposed by the initial enactment of RCRA in 1976, the Congress enacted the Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments of 1984, Public Law 98-616 (November 8, 1984), which substantially strengthened EPA's ability to protect health and the environment.

4.5.3.2 Regulations imposing requirements upon those who generate and transport hazardous waste, as well as those who own or operate a hazardous waste storage, treatment, or disposal facility are found in 40 CFR 260-267. Permit requirements and standards concerning state plan approval are found in 40 CFR 270-271. Each part regulates a different facet of hazardous waste management. Copies of the regulations are available from the U.S. Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.

4.5.3.3 State hazardous wastes regulations vary nationwide. Some are more stringent than the federal regulations. For example, used oil is classified as hazardous waste in California and other states but not by EPA. Therefore, if an installation located in California plans to burn used oil as fuel in their boilers, a Part B permit may be required. This makes burning of used oil as fuel not economically feasible in California.

4.5.3.4 DLA Responsibilities. The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) is responsible for disposition of all excess and surplus properties (including scrap and hazardous wastes) generated by DOD. The DLA has been charged with the management of hazardous wastes and other waste materials [except those defined in Defense Environmental Quality Program Policy (DEQPP)