NR 526.09(4)
(4)
Minimum requirements for all persons storing infectious waste. No person may operate or maintain an infectious waste storage facility unless the storage area meets all of the following requirements:
NR 526.09(4)(a)
(a) The storage area shall be kept clean and be impermeable to liquids. Carpeted areas or wooden floors may not be used in storage areas.
NR 526.09(4)(b)
(b) The storage area designated for infectious waste may contain only infectious wastes and their containers. The storage area may be an area designated within a room.
NR 526.09(4)(c)
(c) The storage area shall be in an enclosed building, container or vehicle so that the infectious waste is not exposed to weather.
NR 526.09(4)(d)
(d) Access to the storage area shall be limited to authorized personnel.
NR 526.09(4)(e)
(e) Nuisance conditions shall be prevented from developing. Appropriate measures shall be taken to prevent odors, including but not limited to refrigerating the infectious waste below 42
° Fahrenheit until treated.
NR 526.09(4)(f)
(f) If the infectious waste is to be treated off-site, the operator of the infectious waste storage facility shall relinquish the infectious waste only to an infectious waste transporter licensed by the department or to a person exempt from licensing under s.
NR 526.10 (2).
NR 526.09(4)(g)
(g) The containers of infectious waste shall be removed and emptied as necessary, but at least every 90 days.
NR 526.09(4)(h)
(h) The operator of the infectious waste storage facility shall keep records of how much and where the infectious waste has been sent off-site. Records may consist of any of the following: copies of infectious waste manifests, invoices, logs or other written documentation of the amount of infectious waste sent off-site for treatment.
NR 526.09(5)
(5)
Operating requirements for sharps collection stations. No person may operate or maintain a sharps collection station unless the person complies with all of the following requirements:
NR 526.09(5)(a)
(a) The person accepts only sharps and sharps containers from infectious waste generators, each of which generates less than 50 pounds of sharps per month, including items which may be mixed with the sharps.
NR 526.09(5)(b)
(b) The person provides the service on a not-for-profit and cost-only basis.
NR 526.09(5)(c)
(c) The person stores no more than 500 pounds of infectious waste in the sharps collection station at any one time.
NR 526.09(5)(e)
(e) The person registers the sharps collection station with the department by mailing or delivering a letter of registration to the chief of the solid waste management section, bureau of solid and hazardous waste management, department of natural resources, P.O. Box 7921, 101 S. Webster Street, Madison, Wisconsin 53707-7921. The person shall also send copies of the letter to the appropriate department district and area offices. The letter of registration shall state all of the following:
NR 526.09(5)(e)1.
1. Name, street address, county and phone number, if any, of the place where the sharps collection station is located.
NR 526.09(5)(e)2.
2. Name, mailing address and phone number of person responsible for operating the sharps collection station.
NR 526.09(5)(e)3.
3. Name, mailing address and phone number of the owner of the sharps collection station, if different than the operator.
NR 526.09(5)(e)4.
4. Fees charged for use of the sharps collection station and what costs the fees cover.
NR 526.09(5)(f)
(f) The person notifies the department immediately in writing if the sharps collection station moves or ceases to operate.
NR 526.09 History
History: Cr.
Register, October, 1994, No. 466, eff. 11-1-94; am. (1) (c), (d), (3), (4) (e), (5) (e) 1., r. (5) (e) 4., renum. (5) (e) 5. to be (5) (e) 4.,
Register, June, 1996, No. 486, eff. 7-1-96; correction in (5) (d) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats.,
Register March 2003 No. 567; correction in (2) (d) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats.,
Register April 2013 No. 688.
NR 526.10
NR 526.10 Transportation and shipping. No person may transport or ship infectious waste in Wisconsin unless adequate measures are taken to protect waste handlers, the public and the environment from exposure to the infectious waste, and all of the following requirements are met:
NR 526.10(1)
(1)
Licenses. Except as provided in sub.
(2), no person may transport infectious waste or operate or maintain an infectious waste transportation service unless the person has obtained an infectious waste transportation license from the department for each vehicle and complies with both the minimum transportation requirements in sub.
(3) and the operating requirements for licensed infectious waste transporters in sub.
(4). To apply for an operating license, the applicant shall submit an application form and the infectious waste transportation license fee according to s.
NR 520.04, Table 2.
NR 526.10(2)
(2)
Exemptions. Persons who meet any of the following conditions are exempt from licensing under this section, but shall meet the minimum requirements for transporting infectious waste in sub.
(3):
NR 526.10(2)(a)
(a) Persons transporting infectious waste only on private roads on the same property where the infectious waste was generated and using vehicles or covered carts owned or leased by the infectious waste generator.
NR 526.10(2)(am)
(am) Persons transporting infectious waste only on private roads between the property where the infectious waste was generated and a contiguous property, and using vehicles or covered carts owned or leased by either the infectious waste generator and the owner of the contiguous property.
NR 526.10(2)(b)
(b) Persons transporting less than 50 pounds of infectious waste per calendar month.
NR 526.10(2)(c)
(c) Persons operating vehicles owned or leased by the United States postal service and handling infectious waste sent through the mail.
NR 526.10(2)(d)
(d) Persons operating vehicles owned by a parcel carrier service for which infectious waste constitutes an incidental portion of the carrier's business, if the infectious waste is handled in accordance with all applicable state and federal regulations.
NR 526.10(2)(e)
(e) Persons transporting infectious waste through Wisconsin who are not stopping to collect, drop off or transfer the infectious waste, and who handle the infectious waste in accordance with all applicable state and federal regulations.
NR 526.10(2)(f)
(f) Persons transporting infectious waste which is also a hazardous waste under s.
291.01 (7), Stats., provided that the transportation is regulated under s.
291.23, Stats., and ch.
NR 663.
NR 526.10(3)
(3)
Minimum requirements for all persons transporting infectious waste. No person may transport infectious waste unless the person complies with all of the following minimum requirements:
NR 526.10(3)(c)
(c) The vehicle used to transport the infectious waste shall meet all of the following requirements:
NR 526.10(3)(c)1.
1. The portion of the vehicle where the infectious waste is contained shall be completely enclosed to prevent littering, spillage or leakage. The enclosed portion shall be leak-resistant, if necessary, considering the type of waste and its moisture content. Roll-off boxes or dumpsters may not be used to transport infectious waste.
NR 526.10(3)(c)3.
3. The vehicle shall be cleaned as frequently as necessary to prevent nuisances.
NR 526.10(3)(c)4.
4. Nuisance conditions shall be prevented from developing. Appropriate measures shall be taken to prevent odors, including but not limited to refrigerating the infectious waste below 42
° Fahrenheit until treated.
NR 526.10(3)(d)
(d) The person shall transport the infectious waste only to solid waste facilities which are one of the following:
NR 526.10(3)(d)2.
2. Exempt from licensing by the department under the storage requirements in s.
NR 526.09 (2) or under the treatment facility requirements in s.
NR 526.12 (2) or are exempt from manifesting requirements under s.
NR 526.14 (2), such as a registered sharps collection station.
NR 526.10 Note
Note: Other transportation regulations, such as USDOT standards, may also apply. For more information, contact USDOT helpline at 1-800-467-4922.
NR 526.10(3)(d)3.
3. Facilities licensed or exempt by another state to store, incinerate or treat infectious waste.
NR 526.10(4)
(4)
Operating requirements for licensed infectious waste transporters. Infectious waste transporters which are required to be licensed by the department shall comply with all the following requirements in addition to those in sub.
(3):
NR 526.10(4)(a)
(a) Each vehicle shall have “WDNR" followed by the infectious waste transportation license number lettered on the driver's and passenger's doors. The letters shall be at least 2 inches high with a minimum of 1/2 inch brush stroke. The lettering shall contrast with the background so it is easy to read.
NR 526.10(4)(b)
(b) Vehicles or containers used for the collection or transportation of infectious waste shall be durable and easy to clean.
NR 526.10(4)(c)
(c) Each vehicle hauling infectious waste shall carry a written contingency plan for spills and accidents and shall carry tools and materials sufficient to implement the contingency plan. In case of spill or accident, the driver shall implement the contingency plan immediately after spillage occurs and follow the provisions of s.
292.11, Stats.
NR 526.10(4)(d)
(d) The portion of the vehicle where the infectious waste is placed shall be cleaned and disinfected before hauling materials other than infectious waste, solid waste or supplies related to managing waste.
NR 526.10(4)(e)
(e) The person transporting the infectious waste shall sign all manifests which accompany the infectious waste, even if the waste is exempt from manifesting under s.
NR 526.14 (2), and deliver the manifests to the next person who handles the waste.
NR 526.10(4)(f)
(f) If infectious waste is not accompanied by an infectious waste manifest, the person transporting the waste shall initiate an infectious waste manifest for that waste, unless the person transporting the waste hauls less than 50 pounds of unmanifested infectious waste per month.
NR 526.10(5)
(5)
Changes in service. Licensed infectious waste transporters shall notify the department in writing of all significant changes in service. The written notice shall be given to the department's area or district office at least 30 days prior to the effective date of the change. If the change was not anticipated, the written notice shall be sent within 30 days after the change first occurred. Changes in service to individual clients or in the routes driven are not significant changes in service. All of the following actions are “significant changes in service":
NR 526.10(5)(c)
(c) Changing the destination to which the infectious waste is hauled.
NR 526.10 History
History: Cr.
Register, October, 1994, No. 466, eff. 11-1-94, am. (1), (3) (c) 4.,
Register, June, 1996, No. 486, eff. 7-1-96; correction in (2) (f) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats.,
Register April 2013 No. 688.
NR 526.11
NR 526.11 Treatment methods. Except as provided in s.
NR 526.04, no person may dispose of infectious waste in a solid waste disposal facility unless the infectious waste has undergone treatment in accordance with this section. The treatment method shall effectively render the waste non-infectious. The treatment method shall be chosen by considering the properties of the waste being treated and the degree of microbial contamination.
NR 526.11 Note
Note: The treatment method may also need to comply with air standards for control of hazardous pollutants in ch.
NR 445 and with state or federal regulations for wastewater and occupational health and safety.
NR 526.11(1)
(1)
Methods. Except as provided in s.
NR 526.04, all infectious waste shall be treated by one or more of the following infectious waste treatment methods:
NR 526.11(1)(a)
(a) Incineration. Treatment by incineration shall consist of incineration in a controlled air, multi-chambered incinerator which provides complete combustion of the waste to carbonized or mineralized ash. The incinerator shall be one that is regulated by the department under s.
NR 502.09 or
502.13.
NR 526.11(1)(b)
(b) Steam disinfection. Treatment by steam disinfection, including but not limited to autoclaving, shall subject all the waste to a combination of operational temperature, pressure (if applicable) and time proven to render the waste non-infectious at the design capacity of the installed equipment.
NR 526.11(1)(c)
(c) Chemical disinfection. Treatment by chemical disinfection shall expose the infectious waste to an appropriate type and concentration of disinfectant for a period of time sufficient to render the waste non-infectious. The chemical disinfectant shall be chosen based on the manufacturer's recommended use of the disinfectant, the cleanliness of the surface of the waste, the contact time, the physical and chemical properties of the waste, the concentration of the disinfectant and the degree of microbial contamination.
NR 526.11(1)(d)
(d) Mechanical grinding and chemical disinfection. Treatment by mechanical grinding and chemical disinfection shall expose all of the waste to the chemical disinfectant for a period of time sufficient to render the waste non-infectious. The chemical disinfectant shall be chosen based on the use of the disinfectant in medical situations, the cleanliness of the surface of the waste, the contact time, the physical and chemical properties of the waste, the concentration of the disinfectant and the degree of microbial contamination. Treatment by mechanical grinding and chemical disinfection shall prevent the release of infectious liquid or infectious gaseous discharges into the environment.
NR 526.11(1)(e)
(e) Mechanical grinding and heat disinfection. Treatment by mechanical grinding and heat disinfection, including but not limited to low frequency wave radiation and microwave radiation, shall expose all of the waste to heat for a period of time sufficient to render the waste non-infectious. Treatment by mechanical grinding and heat disinfection shall prevent the release of infectious liquid or infectious gaseous discharges into the environment.
NR 526.11(1)(f)
(f) Gas disinfection. Treatment by gas disinfection shall allow gas to penetrate all the infectious waste and shall render the waste non-infectious. The unit shall be operated in a manner that does not pose an occupational risk of exposure to the gas.
NR 526.11 Note
Note: For ethylene oxide sterilizers, refer to OSHA regulations in
29 CFR 1910.1047. Air toxic rules in ch.
NR 445 may also apply.
NR 526.11(1)(g)
(g) Other methods. Treatment by other treatment methods and processes shall render the waste non-infectious and shall be appropriate with respect to all of the following: the properties of the waste being disinfected, the manufacturer's recommended use of the disinfectant, the cleanliness of the surface of the waste, the contact time, the physical properties of the waste, the concentration of the disinfectant and the degree of microbial contamination.
NR 526.11(2)
(2)
Special considerations. No person may treat the following categories of infectious waste except as follows:
NR 526.11(2)(a)
(a) Human tissue. Human tissue, except teeth containing mercury amalgam treated according to par.
(f), shall be treated by any of the following methods:
NR 526.11(2)(a)1.
1. Methods which render the tissue both non-infectious and unrecognizable as human tissue.
NR 526.11(2)(a)2.
2. Incineration where the tissue is transformed into an ash which would not be recognized as being from a human being.
NR 526.11(2)(b)
(b) Animal tissue. Animal tissue known to be carrying or experimentally infected with a zoonotic infectious agent shall be treated by any of the following methods:
NR 526.11(2)(b)4.
4. Rendering or other methods which incorporate the animal into a consumer product in accordance with all other applicable state and federal regulations.
NR 526.11 Note
Note: For animals and animal waste used in HIV and HbV research, refer to OSHA blood-borne pathogen standard
29 CFR 1910.1030 (e).
NR 526.11(2)(c)
(c) Sharps. Sharps shall be treated by any of the following methods:
NR 526.11(2)(c)1.
1. A method which both renders the sharp non-infectious and renders the sharp broken and not able to be reused, such as by a grinding or shredding process.
NR 526.11(2)(d)
(d) Bulk blood. Bulk blood shall be treated by any of the following methods:
NR 526.11(2)(d)1.
1. Biological treatment in a municipal or industrial wastewater treatment facility which has been approved under s.
281.41, Stats., or permitted under ch.
283, Stats. Bulk blood may be transported to the wastewater treatment facility through the sewer system.
NR 526.11(2)(e)
(e) Body fluids and blood-contaminated urine and feces. Body fluids and blood-contaminated urine and feces shall be treated by any of the methods listed in par.
(d) or by disposal in a septic system.
NR 526.11(2)(f)
(f) Teeth containing mercury amalgam. Infectious waste generators shall disinfect a tooth containing mercury amalgam using procedures allowed under sub.
(1) (c), except bleach, which leaches mercury, and shall manage the disinfected tooth in one of the following ways:
NR 526.11(2)(f)1.
1. Recycle the disinfected tooth containing mercury amalgam with other mercury-containing wastes.
