Section 096-900-7 - Definition of Biomedical WasteA. Identification of Biomedical WasteThe following wastes may contain human pathogens of sufficient virulence and in sufficient concentrations that exposure to them by a susceptible host could result in disease and are, therefore, biomedical wastes for the purposes of this rule.
(1) Discarded Human Blood, Blood Products, and Body Fluids: Discarded blood, serum, plasma, blood products, and body fluids. Body-fluids are defined as fluids which are generated or removed during surgery, autopsy, obstetrics, emergency care, or embalming and include cerebrospinal fluid, synovial fluid, pleural fluid; peritoneal fluid, pericardial fluid and amniotic fluid.(2) Waste Saturated With Human Blood, Blood Products, or Body Fluids: These may include items such as sponges, surgical gloves and masks, drapes, aprons, dressings, disposable sheets and towels, underpads, plastic tubing, suction canisters, used syringes without needles and dialysis unit waste. NOTE: The intent is to include waste which at the time of generation is soaked or dripping with human blood, blood products or body fluids. An example of material which may be included is a first change surgical dressing.
(3) Pathological Waste: Human tissues, organs, and anatomical parts including teeth, discarded from surgery, autopsy, obstetrical procedures, and laboratory procedures.(4) Discarded Sharps Used In Patient, Animal, Cadaver Care or In Medical and Biomedical Research Laboratories: These include, but are not limited to, hypodermic needles, syringes, scalpel blades, suture needles, disposable razors, lancets, capillary tubes, Pasteur pipettes, broken glassware, IV tubing with needles attached, and dialysis bags with needles attached.(5) Discarded cultures and stocks of infectious agents and the culture dishes and devices used to transfer, inoculate and mix cultures; discarded clinical specimens and the associated containers or vials; discarded biologicals; and waste from the production of biologicals and recombinant DNA research.(6) Discarded Carcasses, Body Parts, Bedding and Other Waste Generated By Research Facilities From Animals Containing Organisms or Agents Not Usual To The Normal Animal Environment And Which Are Pathogenic or Hazardous to Humans.B.Cytotoxic Drugs, Chemotherapy WasteThe following wastes may be managed as biomedical waste for the purpose of this rule:
(1) Cytotoxic (antineoplastic) drugs not identified as hazardous wastes in Chapter 850 of the Department's regulations.(2) Chemotherapy waste - All materials that have come in contact with, and have no more than trace amounts of, cytotoxic (antineoplastic) agents.C.ExclusionsThe following wastes are not biomedical waste for the purpose of this rule:
(1) Human remains. Human remains that are stored, transported or otherwise handled for the purpose of internment or cremation are not subject to the requirements of this rule.(3) Sludge and septage. Sludge means the semi-solid or liquid residual generated from a municipal, commercial or industrial wastewater treatment plant. Septage means waste, refuse, effluent, sludge and any other materials from septic tanks, cesspools, or any other similar facilities.(4) Water and wastewater samples. Wastes generated as a result of the routine screening of water and wastewater samples are not subject to the requirements of this rule. 06-096 C.M.R. ch. 900, § 7