NR 526.12(2)(a)(a) Individual infectious waste treatment facilities which are located on the property where the infectious waste was generated and which treat less than 500 pounds of infectious waste per day. These treatment facilities may accept infectious waste from other infectious waste generators if the waste is accepted on a not-for-profit and cost-only basis. Persons operating these infectious waste treatment facilities shall follow all the requirements in sub. (4) for operating and testing the treatment unit and for keeping records.

NR 526.12(2)(b)(b) Incinerators and municipal solid waste combustors, which are regulated under s. NR 502.09 or 502.13. In addition to what is required under those sections, persons operating incinerators and municipal solid waste combustors shall follow the requirements in sub. (4) (a) and (c) for operating an infectious waste treatment unit and for keeping records.

NR 526.12(3)(3) Plan of operation. Except as provided in sub. (2), no person may establish or construct an infectious waste treatment facility or expand an existing facility unless the person has met the applicable requirements of s. NR 502.08 for solid waste processing facilities and has obtained from the department a plan of operation approval and applied for an operating license as a solid waste processing facility. The plan of operation shall specify the intent and objectives of the proposal and indicate methods and procedures to prevent and minimize adverse environmental and health impacts. Unless otherwise approved by the department in writing, the plan shall be submitted in accordance with s. NR 500.05 and shall contain, at a minimum, the information listed in s. NR 502.08 (3) to (5) and any other details necessary to address the requirements in this chapter, including but not limited to requirements for handling, containment and storage and the requirements in subs. (4) and (5).

NR 526.12(4)(a)(a) Operating. The person shall demonstrate that the treatment unit renders infectious waste non-infectious. The operator shall follow a written operational manual or documented quality assurance procedures for operating the treatment unit. The operational procedures shall be available to the operator at all times the treatment unit is in operation.

NR 526.12(4)(b)(b) Testing. At a minimum, the person shall ensure that a qualified person tests the treatment unit at the frequency specified by the manufacturer’s instructions or after every 100 hours of operation, whichever is more frequent. Test methods shall be appropriate for the treatment method and shall be based on medically-accepted procedures and the manufacturer’s instructions. Acceptable test methods may be physical, chemical or microbiological in nature, as appropriate for the treatment method.

NR 526.12(4)(c)(c) Keeping records. The person shall maintain an operating log for each treatment unit in the treatment facility and retain the operating log for at least 3 years. If the 3-year period expires during an unresolved enforcement action, the period is automatically extended until resolution of the pending enforcement action. For treatment units treating 50 pounds or more of infectious waste per month, the operating log shall be kept for all test cycles and treatment cycles. For treatment units treating less than 50 pounds of infectious waste per month, the operating log shall be kept for test cycles only. The operating log shall contain all of the following information for all test cycles and, if required, treatment cycles:

NR 526.12(4)(c)3.3. Operating parameters, including any of the following that apply to the treatment method being used: temperature, pressure, type of disinfectant, concentration of disinfectant, duration of treatment cycle and contact time.

NR 526.12(4)(d)(d) Using manifests. Unless USDOT regulations apply, when treating infectious waste which is accompanied by an infectious waste manifest, the operator of an infectious waste treatment facility shall certify that the infectious waste has been treated according to s. NR 526.11 by doing all of the following:

NR 526.12(4)(d)2.2. The operator shall send a copy of the signed infectious waste manifest form along with the treated infectious waste to the solid waste disposal facility where the waste is disposed. The department may approve alternative procedures for certifying that waste has undergone infectious waste treatment before being disposed.

NR 526.12(4)(d)3.3. Within 30 days of when the infectious waste was treated, the operator shall return to the generator the signed original infectious waste manifest form which certifies to the infectious waste generator that the infectious waste has been treated according to s. NR 526.11. The department may approve alternative procedures for certifying that waste has undergone infectious waste treatment.

NR 526.12(5)(5) Operating requirements for licensed treatment facilities. In addition to the requirements in sub. (4), persons who operate infectious waste treatment facilities which are required to be licensed as solid waste processing facilities under sub. (1) shall meet the requirements in ss. NR 502.08 (6) to (8), 502.04 and 502.05.

NR 526.12 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, October, 1994, No. 466, eff. 11-1-94; am. (1) (a), (c), (d), (2) (b), (3), (5), Register, June, 1996, No. 486, eff. 7-1-96; CR 05-020: am. (1) (c), (4) (c) 4. and 5., (d) (intro.) and 2. Register January 2006 No. 601, eff. 2-1-05.

NR 526.13NR 526.13 Disposal. No person may dispose of infectious waste in a solid waste disposal facility unless the infectious waste has undergone infectious waste treatment and is otherwise managed according to s. NR 526.11. Infectious waste generators shall ensure that infectious waste generated by them has undergone infectious waste treatment before disposal.

NR 526.14(1)(a)(a) Records. Except as provided in sub. (2), all infectious waste generators shall keep records of the amount of infectious waste sent off-site for treatment. Records shall include all the information listed under sub. (3) and retained as provided in sub. (4). Records may consist of any of the following: originals or copies of infectious waste manifests, USDOT shipping papers, invoices or records received from the infectious waste treatment facility, logs or other written documentation of the amount of infectious waste sent off-site for treatment. If USDOT shipping papers are used as records, infectious waste generators shall keep separate records of information required under sub. (3) which is not written on their USDOT shipping papers.

NR 526.14(1)(b)(b) Manifests. When USDOT regulations apply, the generator shall use a USDOT shipping paper instead of an infectious waste manifest prepared in accordance with this paragraph. Unless USDOT regulations apply or as provided in sub. (2), no person may store, transfer, transport or treat infectious waste beyond the property where the waste was generated unless the waste is accompanied by an infectious waste manifest. The infectious waste manifest may either be a Wisconsin infectious waste manifest form supplied by the department or an alternative manifest form which includes all the information required in sub. (3). After an infectious waste manifest has been initiated, all persons who store, transfer, transport or treat the waste shall sign the infectious waste manifest form, even if the infectious waste generator is exempt from manifesting under sub. (2), and shall deliver the infectious waste manifest form to the next person who handles the waste. The infectious waste transporter shall leave a copy of the manifest with the infectious waste generator at the time that the waste is removed from the generator’s facility.

NR 526.14 NoteNote: Wisconsin infectious waste manifest forms (DNR form 4400-176) may be obtained from the department of natural resources by writing to Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Bureau of Waste Management, P. O. Box 7921, Madison, Wisconsin, 53707-7921 or by calling 608-266-2111. For more information about USDOT regulations contact USDOT helpline at 1-800-467-4922.