The Medical Waste Program ensures health and safety protection for members of the public and health care facility personnel by minimizing or eliminating exposure to biohazardous wastes containing pathogenic organisms and sharps. This is accomplished through the implementation and enforcement of medical waste regulations as they apply to handling, storage, treatment, and disposal of biohazardous waste within Yuba County. Specifically, Yuba County Environmental Health (YCEH) is responsible for implementing the Medical Waste Management Act (MWMA), Health and Safety Code 117600-118360. The MWMA regulates the generation, handling, storage, treatment and disposal of medical waste.
The Medical Waste Management Program is mandated to enforce State codes, and such regulations as may be adopted, pertaining to the management of regulated medical waste. To protect public health and the environment from potential infectious exposure to disease causing agents, YCEH permits and inspects businesses generating medical waste.
For information on whether your business requires a permit as a medical waste generator, please contact (530) 749 -5450 and ask to speak to Environmental Health staff regarding medical waste permitting .
Additional information can also be found on the Medical Waste FAQ page.
News and Information
AB 333: On September 25, 2014, Assembly Bill 333 (AB 333) was signed by the Governor. AB 333 amends multiple sections of the Medical Waste Management Act. As of January 1, 2014, medical waste facilities will be required to notify Yuba County Envrionmental Health (YCEH) of their participation in temporary medical-waste generating events, such as flu clinics, health fairs, and veteran stand down events. Additionally, YCEH will no longer issue Limited Quantity Hauling Exemptions (LQHE). Medical waste generating facilities may transport up to 35.2 pounds of medical waste under the Materials of Trade Exemption contained in Section 173.6 of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations. All LQHE permits will be transfered to a Conditionaly Exempt Small Quantity Generator permit. For more information on AB 333, please see the links below.
Letter Regarding Elimination of LQHE Program, 10/2/14
Letter Regarding Impacts of AB 333, 12/15/14
Home Generated Medical Waste: As of September 1, 2008, Senate Bill 1305 has prohibited the disposal of home generated sharps into any container used for private or commercial collection of solid waste, recyclable materials, or greenwaste. Sharps are now required to be placed in an approved sharps container and managed through a waste management facility, an approved home sharps collection site, or by using an approved mail back system. Below are links to home-generated medical waste disposal options in Sacramento County.
California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Medical Waste Program
Program Contact: Gary Cantwell - (530) 749-5450