Virginia Administrative Code › Title 9 - ENVIRONMENT › Agency 20 - VIRGINIA WASTE MANAGEMENT BOARD › Chapter 121 - REGULATED MEDICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT REGULATIONS › Part III - Standards for Management of All Regulated Medical Waste › Section 9VAC20-121-160 - Management of Category A waste

Current through Register Vol. 40, No. 24, July 15, 2024
A. Category A
				  waste shall be managed in accordance with the requirements of this
				  section.
B. Overarching Planning
				  Considerations and Waste Generator Information and Responsibilities for
				  Category A waste are specified in Sections 3 and 5 of Managing Solid Waste
				  Contaminated with a Category A Infectious Substance. In addition to the general
				  management requirements for regulated medical waste in Part III (9VAC20-121-100 et seq.), all
				  Category A waste shall be handled in accordance with the following additional
				  requirements:
1. Every effort shall be made to
				  minimize the amount of Category A waste generated. Category A waste shall be
				  physically separated, if practical, from other types of waste at the point of
				  origin. When other types of regulated medical waste are mixed with Category A
				  waste, the mixture shall be managed as Category A waste. Category A wastes not
				  suitable for conventional treatment methods, such as batteries, electronics,
				  and oxygen cylinders, shall be segregated from other waste at the point of
				  generation for special handling.
2.
				  All handling, storage, transfer, and treatment of Category A waste must be
				  conducted in areas with cleanable and impermeable surfaces. Carpets and floor
				  coverings with cracks or gaps shall not be used. Where tile floors are used and
				  seams are present in the tile, the floor must be sealed with wax or other floor
				  coatings in order to meet this requirement.
3. Equipment and handling techniques that
				  could potentially cause bioaerosols, such as cart tipping, slides, conveyors,
				  and mechanical cleaning or disinfection systems, shall not be used for Category
				  A waste unless the movement and impact is controlled to maintain the integrity
				  of the packaging, prevent exposure to the waste, and any aerosol, bioaerosol,
				  or mist caused by the process is collected and treated or filtered.
4. Category A waste shall not be conveyed in
				  reusable carts or containers unless the containers are subsequently cleaned and
				  disinfected in accordance with
				  9VAC20-121-130 using an
				  EPA-registered disinfectant appropriate for the type of Category A waste
				  managed and materials being disinfected.
5. All spills of Category A waste shall be
				  cleaned and disinfected in accordance with
				  9VAC20-121-140 using an
				  EPA-registered disinfectant appropriate for the type of Category A waste
				  managed and materials being disinfected.
6. Category A waste shall be stored in
				  accordance with the requirements of
				  9VAC20-121-120 B and C. Packages or
				  containers of Category A waste shall not be stacked.
7. A generator storing 250 gallons or more of
				  Category A waste shall notify the department within 24 hours of exceeding 250
				  gallons. At least once per calendar week, accumulated Category A waste shall be
				  treated onsite in accordance with this section or shipped offsite to a facility
				  permitted to receive it for treatment or disposal. No Category A waste shall be
				  stored onsite for more than 10 calendar days unless an extended storage
				  timeframe is approved by the department. Records shall be maintained in
				  accordance with
				  9VAC20-121-100 I.
8. The regulated medical waste transfer
				  station or treatment facility shall notify DEQ of receipt of any Category A
				  waste in accordance with
				  9VAC20-121-340.