Texas Register

TITLE 25 HEALTH 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
ISSUE 09/30/2016
ACTION Proposed
Preamble Texas Admin Code Rule

(a)Introduction. The following treatment and disposition methods for special waste from health care-related facilities are approved by the department [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 subchapter [ undesignated head]. Disposal of special waste from health care-related facilities in sanitary landfills or otherwise is under the jurisdiction of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality [Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission] and is governed by its rules found in 30 TAC Chapter 326 (relating to Medical Waste Management) and Chapter 330 (relating to Municipal Solid Waste) [ Title 30, Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 330].

  (1) - (2)(No change.)

  (3)Microbiological waste. Microbiological waste shall be subjected to one of the following methods of treatment and disposal.

    (A) - (C)(No change.)

    (D)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 30 TAC Chapters 326 and 330 [Title 30, Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 330].

      (ii)(No change.)

    (E)(No change.)

  (4)Pathological waste. Pathological waste shall be subjected to one of the following methods of treatment and disposal.

    (A)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, other than fetal tissue:

        (I)interment;

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

        (III)steam disinfection followed by interment;

        (IV)moist heat disinfection, provided that the grinding/shredding renders the item as unrecognizable, followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill;

        (V)chlorine disinfection/maceration, provided that the grinding/shredding renders the item as unrecognizable, followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill; or

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

      (ii)tissues, other than fetal tissue [or fetuses]:

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

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

        (III)interment;

        (IV)steam disinfection followed by 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;

      (iii)organs, other than fetal tissue:

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

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

        (III)interment;

        (IV)steam disinfection followed by 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;

      (iv)bulk human blood and bulk human body fluids removed during surgery, labor and delivery, autopsy, embalming, or biopsy:

        (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;[.]

       (v)fetal tissue, regardless of the period of gestation:

        (I)interment;

        (II)cremation;

        (III)incineration followed by interment; or

        (IV)steam disinfection followed by interment.

    (B)The products of spontaneous or induced human abortion shall be subjected to one of the following methods of treatment and disposal:

      (i) fetal tissue, [body parts, tissues, or organs] regardless of the period of gestation:

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

        (I)[(II)] incineration followed by interment [deposition of the residue in a sanitary landfill];

        (II)[(III)] steam disinfection followed by interment;

        (III)[(IV)] interment; or

        (IV)cremation;

         [(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;

       (iii)any other tissues, including placenta, umbilical cord and gestational sac:

        (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.

    (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 disposed of in a manner specified by §479.4 of this title (relating to Final Disposition of the Body and Disposition of Remains). [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 30 TAC Chapters 326 and 330 [Title 30, Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 330].

    (B)(No change.)

(b)Records. The facility treating the wastes shall maintain records to document the treatment of the special waste from health care-related facilities processed at the facility as to method and conditions of treatment in accordance with 30 TAC [Title 30, Texas Administrative Code,] Chapter 326 [330].

(c)(No change.)

The agency certifies that legal counsel has reviewed the proposal and found it to be within the state agency's legal authority to adopt.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on September 19, 2016

TRD-201604843

Lisa Hernandez

General Counsel

Department of State Health Services

Earliest possible date of adoption: October 30, 2016

For further information, please call: (512) 776-6972



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