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Biomedical Waste
Disposal |
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The objective of the
biomedical waste program is to protect health care workers,
environmental-service staff, waste haulers, and the general
public from risks associated with potentially infectious
biomedical waste.
Both the Department of Health
and the Florida
Department
of Environmental Protection
have responsibilities under this program. The Department of
Environmental Protection has primary responsibility for
biomedical waste incineration and final disposal. The
Department of Health has primary authority and responsibility
for facilities that generate, transport, store, or treat
biomedical waste through processes other than incineration.
The Lee County Health Department issues permits and inspects
all biomedical waste generators, storage and transporters in
Lee, Charlotte, Hendry and Glades counties.
When biomedical waste is
improperly managed, it places health care workers, sanitation
workers, and the general public at risk for contracting
dangerous diseases.
Chapter 64E-16, Florida Administrative Code (80kb PDF)
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requires facilities that generate biomedical waste to ensure
proper management of that waste. A
model biomedical waste operating plan (93kb MS word)
is available to assist facilities in documenting their
procedures for management of biomedical waste. Many facilities
have their biomedical waste removed by a
registered biomedical waste transporter.
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Biomedical waste generated by
individuals in their own homes from use of syringes or
diagnostic lancets also should be properly managed.
Contact Environmental Health at 690-2100 for more
information on our Sharps Collection Program.. |
Complaints concerning
biomedical waste are investigated by the Lee County Health
Department . Small amounts of improperly disposed biomedical
waste are cleaned up under Department of Health supervision.
Emergency situations are referred to the Department of
Environmental Protection, Bureau of Emergency Response, at (850)
488-2974.
To apply for the
permit, complete and return Department of Health form
DH4089 (12kb PDF)
to the Lee County Health Department along with the required
$150.00 annual fee. For initial permits, the fee is pro-rated
during the last two quarters of the permit year, which is from
October 1 to September 30. |