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TITLE 25HEALTH SERVICES
PART 1DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES
CHAPTER 1MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
SUBCHAPTER KDEFINITION, TREATMENT, AND DISPOSITION OF SPECIAL WASTE FROM HEALTH CARE-RELATED FACILITIES
RULE §1.136Approved Methods of Treatment and Disposition

        (X) an approved alternate treatment process, provided that the process renders the item as unrecognizable, followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill.

    (B) 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:

        (I) grinding and discharging to a sanitary sewer system;

        (II) incineration followed by deposition of the residue in a sanitary landfill;

        (III) steam disinfection followed by interment;

        (IV) interment;

        (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) blood and body fluids:

        (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) 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) 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, provided that the process renders the item as unrecognizable, followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill.

    (C) 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.

    (D) 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.

  (5) Sharps.

    (A) All discarded unused sharps shall be disposed of in accordance with Title 30, Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 330.

    (B) 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:

        (I) 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;

        (II) steam disinfection, and if the item can cause puncture wounds, placement in a puncture-resistant container followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill;

        (III) incineration, and if the item can cause puncture wounds, placement in a puncture-resistant container followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill;

        (IV) encapsulation in a matrix which will solidify and significantly reduce the possibility of puncture wounds 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, provided that the process renders the item as unrecognizable and can no longer cause puncture wounds, followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill.

      (ii) 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:

        (I) 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;

        (II) steam disinfection, and if the item can cause puncture wounds, placement in a puncture-resistant container followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill;

        (III) incineration, and if item can cause puncture wounds, placement in a puncture-resistant container followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill;

        (IV) encapsulation in a matrix which will solidify and significantly reduce the possibility of puncture wounds 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, provided that the process renders the item as unrecognizable and can no longer cause puncture wounds, followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill.

      (iii) Intravenous stylets and rigid introducers (e.g., J wires) shall be subjected to one of the following methods of treatment and disposal:

        (I) 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;

        (II) 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;

        (III) incineration, and if the item can cause puncture wounds, placement in a puncture-resistant, leak-proof container followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill;

        (IV) encapsulation in a matrix which will solidify and significantly reduce the possibility of puncture wounds, 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, provided that the process renders the item as unrecognizable and can no longer cause puncture wounds, followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill.

      (iv) 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:

        (I) 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;

        (II) steam disinfection, and if the item can cause puncture wounds, placement in a puncture-resistant container followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill;

        (III) incineration, and if the item can cause puncture wounds, placement in a puncture-resistant container followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill;

        (IV) encapsulation in a matrix which will solidify and significantly reduce the possibility of puncture wounds 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, provided that the process renders the item as unrecognizable and can no longer cause puncture wounds, followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill.

      (v) Tattoo needles, acupuncture needles, and electrolysis needles shall be subjected to one of the following methods of treatment and disposal:

        (I) 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;

        (II) 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;

        (III) incineration, and if the item can cause puncture wounds, placement in a puncture-resistant, leak-proof container followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill;

        (IV) encapsulation in a matrix which will solidify and significantly reduce the possibility of puncture wounds, followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill;

Cont'd...

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