(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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