Alternative Treatments of Infectious Waste in Oregon

On this page:

• General Information
• Oregon Rules and Statutes
• Alternative Treatment
• Internet Resources
  
• Oregon Agency Contacts
  

General Information

• Approved Alternative Infectious Waste Treatment Processes (pdf) - October 2024 
  
• Frequently Asked Questions
  

Oregon Rules and Statutes

• Oregon Laws 1989, Chapter 763: An Act Relating to Solid Waste Disposal 
• Oregon Revised Statutes - ORS 459.386 to 459.405 (scroll through to section 386)
• Oregon Health Authority Administrative Rules - 333-056-0010 through 333-056-0050

Alternative Treatment

Technical Assistance Manual: State Regulatory Oversight of Medical Waste Technologies

The Oregon Public Health Division uses the Technical Assistance Manual: State Regulatory Oversight of Medical Waste Treatment Technologies as a guideline for determining approval of alternative treatment of infectious waste. State and Territorial Association on Alternate Treatment Technologies (STAATT) report establishes a framework or guideline that defines medical waste treatment technology efficacy criteria. It also delineates the components required to establish an effective state medical waste treatment technology process.

The links for the specific documents on medical waste treatment are:

• Introduction and Table of Contents (pdf)
• Pages 1-10 (pdf)
• Pages 11-20 (pdf)
• Pages 21-30 (pdf)
• Pages 31-39 (pdf)
• Appendix A (pdf)
• Appendix B (pdf)
• Appendix C (pdf)
• Appendix D (pdf)

Internet Resources

Disclaimer
By selecting the links below, you will be leaving the Oregon Public Health Division (PHD) website. These sites are not affiliated with PHD. PHD is not responsible for the content of the sites you access. PHD accepts no legal responsibility for, nor does it endorse any material or opinion that may be accessed through these sites, nor for any material or other loss or damage that results from access to, or denial of access to, any of these sites. As with any source of information, you need to have a critical eye and assess the credibility of your sources.

• Oregon DEQ: Infectious Waste
  
• CDC: Sterilization and Disinfection
  
• Metro: Sharps and Container Exchange Program
  
• U.S. EPA website on waste
  
• Oregon Occupational Safety and Health
  
• U.S. OSHA
  
• California Medical Waste Program: Medical Waste Management Program of the Department of Health Services.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) Guidelines for Environmental Infection Control in Healthcare Facilities, 2003

Oregon Agency Contacts

The following agencies deal with infectious waste in Oregon. Select a link to view contact information.

• Department of Environmental Quality - Infectious waste disposal: incinerations and landfills, household hazardous waste
• Oregon Health Authority, Public Health Division - Infectious waste treatment: approval of alternative methods
• Metro - Infectious waste: landfilling of treated waste from the metro area
• Occupational Safety and Health Division - Infectious waste: occupational exposures
• Oregon Department of Transportation - Infectious waste: regulation of transportation

Oregon Health Authority: Public Health Division Stephen G. Ladd-Wilson, Surveillance Manager Acute and Communicable Disease Prevention Center for Public Health Practice Oregon Health Authority, Public Health Division 800 NE Oregon Street, Suite 772 Portland, OR 97232 Phone: (971) 673-1111 Fax: (971) 673-1100 E-mail: stephen.g.ladd-wilson@oha.oregon.gov (Infectious waste treatment: approval of alternative methods)
Metro Kim Liebich, Environmental Health and Safety Analyst Metro Environmental Services 600 NE Grand Ave Portland, OR 97232 Phone: (503) 797-1853 Fax: (503) 797-1795 E-mail:liebichk@metro.dst.or.us (Infectious waste: landfilling of treated waste from the metro area) *Recycling Information Center Hotline: 503-234-3000
Occupational Safety and Health Division Dave J. McLaughlin, Technical Specialist Department of Consumer and Business Services Oregon OSHA 350 Winter Street, NE Salem, OR 97310 Phone: (503) 378-3272 Fax: (503) 947-7461 E-mail: dave.mclaughlin@oregon.gov (Infectious waste: occupational exposures)
Oregon Department of Transportation Jess E. Brown, Hazardous Material Transportation Specialist Motor Carrier Transportation Branch Oregon Department of Transportation 550 Capitol Street, NE Salem, OR 97310-1380 Phone: (503) 378-3667 Fax: (503) 378-8815 E-mail:jess.e.brown@odot.oregon.gov (Infectious waste: regulation of transportation)