Title 10 Regulation of Activities
Division II. License Code
Chapter 10.35 Garbage Collection
Section 10.35.040 Infectious Waste – Findings
Infectious waste is generated from business sources such as hospitals, clinics, medical, surgical and dental offices, nursing homes, veterinarian offices and laboratories.
Infectious waste is also generated from private residential sources through home treatment of diabetes, allergies and other conditions and through illegal drug use. It is impractical for the City to attempt to license potential generators of infectious waste or others who may come in contact with infectious waste prior to consignment for transfer, storage, processing or disposal.
Generators of infectious waste are required to sterilize, package or otherwise process infectious waste appropriately within the producing facility so that when the waste enters the solid waste stream, it may be collected as general municipal solid waste without undue hazard.
Some infectious waste generators hire others to perform infectious waste collection service. The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission grants authority to provide such service to qualified applicants.
A municipal infectious waste collector license requirement will enable tracking and control of infectious waste, prevent the spread of disease and protect the public health and safety. Such municipal license is supplemental to and in addition to any requirement imposed by the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission, the Washington State Health Department, the Spokane County health district, or any other regulatory authority.
Date Passed: Monday, June 4, 2007
Effective Date: Wednesday, July 11, 2007
ORD C34041 Section 1 (Recodification)