Medical waste - Florida

The EPA has not had regulatory authority over medical waste since the Medical Waste Tracking Act of 1988 expired in 1991. Most states have since developed their own programs, resulting in significant differences for each state. A summary of this state’s requirements includes the following.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has primary regulatory responsibility for biomedical waste incineration and final disposal (64E FAC 16). Florida’s Department of Health (DH) has primary regulatory authority and responsibility for facilities that generate, transport, store, and/or treat biomedical waste through processes other than incineration (19 FS 381.0098).

• The Florida DEP regulates on- and off-site incineration and disposal of biomedical waste. Florida’s DH regulates the packaging, transport, storage, and treatment of biomedical waste.
• Chapter 64E-16 contains the requirements for managing biomedical waste for all facilities that generate, transport, store, or treat biomedical waste and sets minimum standards for permitting biomedical waste generators, storage facilities, and treatment facilities and for registering biomedical waste transporters. It covers:
  • 16.001 General requirements,
  • 16.003 Facility policies and procedures,
  • 16.004 Storage and containment,
  • 16.005 Labeling,
  • 16.006 Generator requirements,
  • 16.007 Treatment,
  • 16.008 Biomedical waste transport,
  • 16.009 Registration of biomedical waste transporters,
  • 16.010 Inspections,
  • 16.011 Permits, and
  • 16.012 Fees.
• Section 381.0098 contains the public health requirements for biomedical waste. It covers:
  • 381.0098(3) Operating standards,
  • 381.0098(4) Permits and fees,
  • 381.0098(5) Transporters,
  • 381.0098(6) The tracking system,
  • 381.0098(7) Enforcement and penalties

Related information

• Medical waste RegSense

Citations

• Federal regulation 40 CFR Part 261
• Federal regulation 40 CFR Part 262
• Federal regulation 29 CFR 1910.1030
• Federal Regulation 49 CFR Subchapter C
• Florida Administrative Code Chapter 64E-16
• Florida Statutes Section 381.0098