Biomedical Waste Control

Used Sharps-Needles Depository Program

The Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County's (DOH-Palm Beach) biomedical waste program prescribes minimum sanitary practices relating to the management of biomedical waste, including segregation, handling, storage, transport, and treatment. Biomedical waste is any solid or liquid waste which may present a threat of infection to humans. It includes non-liquid tissue, body parts, blood, blood products, and body fluids from humans and other primates, laboratory and veterinary wastes which contain human disease-causing agents, and discarded sharps. DOH-Palm Beach personnel inspect and permit on an annual basis facilities that generate, store, treat, or transport biomedical waste to ensure the public's health is protected. Facilities exempt from permit (generating less than 25 lbs. of biomedical waste per month) are inspected at least once every three years.

Enforcement actions are initiated as a result of noncompliance with specific rules and regulations. the type of violation determines the enforcement action taken. Penalties vary depending on the nature and severity of the violation's.

Authority:
Chap 381.0098 F.S.
Chap 64E-16 F.A.C.