Medical Waste Disposal At SFSU

Examples of medical waste at SFSU may include(California HSC 117690-Medical Waste):

• SHARPS: Used needles, syringes, and other sharps contaminated with biological material such as blood.
• Contaminated Items: personal protective equipment (PPE) like gloves and gowns, absorbent pads, and laboratory supplies.
• Infectious Biological waste, such as cultures, human and animal tissue, and blood products.
• Pharmaceutical waste- such as expired or unwanted over-the-counter and prescribed medicines.

Environmental Health & Safety:

• Primary: Juliana Cayetano Email: jcayetano@sfsu.edu Telephone: (415) 361-2135

  OR

• Secondary: Dipak Janda (Dk) Email: Dipakjanda@sfsu.edu Telephone: (415)-542-8046

Sharps Container (California HSC 117750- Sharps Container) and (California HSC 118275, 118280- Medical Waste Segregation and Storage, Containment and Storage). Containers shall be leak-resistant, with tight-fitting lids, and be kept clean and in good condition. For transportation -containers must comply with Department of Transportation requirements. 

Labels must have the words "BIOHAZARDOUS" or with the international Biohazard Symbol and the word "BIOHAZARD" on lids and sides to be visible from any lateral direction. (California HSC 118280 (c)- Contaiment and Storage). 

At SFSU, Medical waste must be removed from campus every week unless stored frozen. (California HSC 118280 (e) (1) (A)- Containment and Storage). Frozen medical waste must be removed from campus within 90 days without obtaining prior written approval from the enforcement agency. (California HSC 118280 (e) (2) Containment and Storage)

At SFSU, medical waste and sharps are taken by designated personnel to a designated accumulation area. (California HSC 118310 -Designated Accumulation Areas). There are three (3) accumulation areas on the main campus. These areas are kept locked with warning signs "CAUTION-BIOHAZARD WASTE STORAGE AREAS-UNAUTHORIZED PERSONS KEEP OUT". A licensed and permitted medical waste hauler removes the waste from accumulation areas and transports it offsite to a licensed and permitted medical treatment facility. 

Medical Waste is collected each week by a registered and permitted medical waste disposal contractor. (California HSC 118000-118025- Transportation of Medical Waste and Registration). 

When medical waste leaves the university property, it is transported by a registered and permitted medical waste contractor to a licensed and permitted medical waste treatment facility that uses methods such as autoclaving, incineration, or other approved treatments to ensure the inactivation of pathogens and proper disposal of the waste in compliance with environmental and health regulations. A tracking document is provided to SFSU-designated personnel, and a copy is with the transporter during transit to the medical waste facility. Once the waste reaches the facility, the tracking document is provided to the facility. (California HSC 118040-Tracking Records).