Section 250.1720  Garbage, Refuse and Solid Waste Handling and Disposal

a)         All garbage and refuse shall be collected, stored, and disposed of in a manner that will not permit the transmission of a contagious disease, create a nuisance or fire hazard, or provide a breeding place for vermin or rodents.

b)         Solid waste shall be handled in a safe and sanitary manner within the facility. Garbage and refuse receptacles within the facility shall be made of metal or other appropriate material provided with disposable liners or shall be cleaned and disinfected after each emptying. Receptacles in areas where wet or hazardous wastes are generated shall have tight fitting lids and shall be kept closed except during use.  Carts used for transport shall be of easily cleanable construction, and shall be kept in a sanitary condition. Trash chutes shall comply with Subpart T or Subpart U, and shall be kept clean and sanitary. Pulping-transport systems, if installed, shall be operated and maintained in a safe and sanitary manner.  All refuse shall be in impervious bags during transport within the facility.  Potentially infectious material shall be identified and bagged in durable bags resistant to puncture and tears. Waste may be single-bagged if it can be put in the bag without contaminating the outside, otherwise double-bagging is required. Wastes capable of producing injury, such as needles and scalpel blades, shall be stored and transported in rigid containers.  Blood specimens shall be disposed of pursuant to 29 CFR 1910.1030.  For handling of radioactive wastes, see Subpart F.

c)         Collected garbage and refuse shall be stored in stable, durable, watertight, vermin and rodent proof containers, with tight fitting lids.  Lids shall be kept closed except during use.  Containers shall be emptied at frequent intervals, and shall be kept clean and sanitary.  Garbage storage areas shall be kept in a clean and nuisance-free condition.

d)         Final disposal of general hospital solid waste may be by incineration (see Subpart T or Subpart U), grinding and flushing to the municipal sewerage system, or removal to a sanitary landfill.  Incinerators shall be approved by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, for the types of wastes being generated.  Sanitary landfills shall be approved by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.  Surgical, obstetrical, and other tissue wastes shall be disposed of by grinding and flushing, incineration, or burial.  Other potentially infectious wastes shall be rendered safe by grinding and flushing, incineration or steam autoclaving.

e)         Alternative systems will be permitted when approved in writing by the Department.

f)         Any potentially infectious medical waste such as blood, blood components, organs, semen, or other human tissue, and any other materials or paraphernalia exposed to, or contaminated by, blood, blood components, organs, semen, or other human tissue shall be completely incinerated, sterilized, or sealed in order to render the materials innocuous before disposal or removal from the premises.

1)         The incineration of materials shall be done in accordance with the requirements of the Pollution Control Board concerning the operation of an incinerator (35 Ill. Adm. Code 724).

2)         The sterilization of materials shall be done by autoclaving the materials in accordance with the recommendations of the manufacturer of the autoclave. The effectiveness of the autoclave shall be verified and documented at least weekly with a biological spore assay containing B. stearothermophilus.

3)         Incinerated or sterilized materials shall be disposed of through routine waste disposal methods without precautions against possible contamination.

4)         Materials that have not been incinerated or sterilized shall be disposed of by a waste hauler with a permit from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency under the rules of the Pollution Control Board (35 Ill. Adm. Code 809). These materials shall be sealed, transported, and stored in biohazard containers. These containers shall be marked "Biohazard," shall bear the universal biohazard symbol, and shall be orange, orange and black, or red. The containers shall be rigid and puncture-resistant, such as a secondary metal or plastic can with a lid that can be opened by a step-on pedal. These containers shall be lined with one or two high density polyethylene or polypropylene plastic bags with a total thickness of at least 2.5 mil. or equivalent material. The containers that are marked "Biohazard" shall be sealed before being removed from the hospital.

(Source:  Amended at 39 Ill. Reg. 13041, effective September 3, 2015)