Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 117915. Section 117915.
Containment and storage of medical waste shall be in accordance with Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 118275).
CHAPTER 4. Small Quantity Generator Requirements [117915. - 117946.]
Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC 4.
in effectCal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 117918. Section 117918.
Medical waste shall be treated using treatment technologies in accordance with Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 118215).
Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 117920. Section 117920.
The fee schedule specified in Section 117923 shall be for the issuance of medical waste registrations and for conducting inspections pursuant to this chapter when the department serves as the enforcement agency for small quantity generators. This fee schedule shall be adjusted annually in accordance with Section 100425, or as provided in the regulations adopted by the department, not to exceed the reasonable regulatory costs of the department. Local enforcement agencies shall set fees that shall be sufficient to cover their costs in implementing this part with regard to small quantity generators required to be registered pursuant to Section 117925.
Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 117923. Section 117923.
(a)
The registration and inspection fee for small quantity generators using onsite treatment, including an autoclave, incinerator, or microwave technology, to treat medical waste is one hundred dollars ($100), that shall be paid once every two years.
(b)
The annual permit fee for a common storage facility permitted pursuant to Section 117928 is the amount specified in the following schedule:
(1)
For storage
facilities serving 10 or fewer generators, the permit fee is one hundred dollars ($100).
(2)
For storage facilities serving 11 or more generators, but not more than 50 generators, the permit fee is two hundred fifty dollars ($250).
(3)
For storage facilities serving more than 50 generators, the permit fee is five hundred dollars ($500).
Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 117924. Section 117924.
(a)
When the department is the enforcement agency, the department shall impose and cause the collection of an annual medical waste generator fee in an amount not to exceed twenty-five dollars ($25) on small quantity generators of medical waste, except for those small quantity generators that are required to register pursuant to Section 117925 and those generators generating only pharmaceutical waste as defined in paragraph (3) of subdivision (b) of Section 117690. Nothing in this part shall prevent the department from contracting with entities other than the department for these fee collection activities or from entering into agreements with medical waste transporters for the collection of these fees, if the department determines that such a fee
collection arrangement would be cost effective.
(b)
If the department determines to enter into a contract with a medical waste transporter for the collection of the fees, the department shall do all of the following:
(1)
Establish that not more than 7.5 percent of the fees collected may be recovered by the medical waste transporter as administrative costs for the collection of those fees.
(2)
Establish that the administrative costs for the collection of the fees shall be the same for all medical waste transporters.
(3)
Prohibit any medical waste transporter from waiving the generator fee without the written approval of the department and only if the medical waste generator has made a written request for the waiver.
(4)
Require the medical waste transporter to report the fees collected pursuant to subdivision (a) to the department.
(5)
Prohibit the medical waste transporter from assuming the role of the department as an enforcement agent for purposes of collecting the medical waste generator fees.
(6)
Require medical waste transporters to include the following language in at least 12-point type on their invoices to medical waste generators:
“Pursuant to Section 117924 of the California Health and Safety Code, the State Department of Public Health has contracted with us to collect your annual medical waste generator fee. The department may offset our costs of collection and administration in an amount that may not exceed 7.5 percent of the fee collected. We may not waive the fee without
written approval of the department, and only if you have made a written request for the waiver.”
(7)
Ensure that generators subject to this section are required to pay the fee only once per year.
Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 117925. Section 117925.
(a)
Each small quantity generator using onsite steam sterilization, incineration, or microwave technology to treat medical waste shall register with the enforcement agency. Small quantity generators owning or operating a medical waste treatment facility shall also apply for a permit for that treatment facility pursuant to Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 118130).
(b)
Small quantity generators using onsite treatment, as specified in subdivision (a), that operate as a
business in the same building, or that are associated with a group practice in the same building, may register as one generator.
(c)
Small quantity generators using onsite treatment, as specified in subdivision (a), as specified in subdivision (b), operating in different buildings on the same or adjacent property, or as approved by the enforcement agency, may register as one generator.
(d)
“Adjacent,” for purposes of subdivision (c), means real property within 400 yards from the property boundary of the primary registration site.
Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 117928. Section 117928.
(a)
Any common storage facility for the collection of medical waste produced by small quantity generators operating independently, but sharing common storage facilities, shall have a permit issued by the enforcement agency prior to the commencement of storage of medical waste in the common storage facility.
(b)
A permit for any common storage facility specified in subdivision (a) may be obtained by any one of the following:
(1)
A provider of health care as defined in Section 56.05 of the Civil Code.
(2)
The registered hazardous waste transporter.
(3)
The property owner.
(4)
The property management firm responsible for providing tenant services to the medical waste generators.
Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 117930. Section 117930.
Small quantity generators that treat waste onsite, pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 117925, shall register with the enforcement agency prior to the commencement of treatment.
Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 117935. Section 117935.
A small quantity generator required to register with the enforcement agency pursuant to Section 117930 shall file with the enforcement agency a medical waste management plan on forms prescribed by the enforcement agency, if provided. The plans shall contain, but are not limited to, all of the following:
(a)
The name of the person.
(b)
The business address of the person.
(c)
The type of business.
(d)
The types, and the estimated average monthly quantity, of medical waste generated.
(e)
The
type of treatment used onsite.
(f)
The name and business address of the registered hazardous waste hauler used by the generator for backup treatment and disposal, for waste when the onsite treatment method is not appropriate due to the hazardous or radioactive characteristics of the waste.
(g)
The name of the registered hazardous waste hauler used by the generator to have untreated medical waste removed for treatment and disposal, if applicable.
(h)
The name of the common carrier used by the generator to transport pharmaceutical waste offsite for treatment and disposal pursuant to Section 118032, if applicable.
(i)
If applicable, the steps taken to categorize the pharmaceutical wastes generated at the facility to ensure that the wastes are properly
disposed of as follows:
(1)
Pharmaceutical wastes classified by the federal Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) as “controlled substances” are disposed of in compliance with DEA requirements.
(2)
The name and business address of the registered hazardous waste hauler used by the generator to have wastes that are not regulated pursuant to the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 and nonradioactive pharmaceutical wastes regulated as medical waste safely removed for treatment in compliance with subdivision (b) of Section 118222 as waste requiring specific methods.
(j)
A closure plan for the termination of treatment at the facility using, at a minimum, one of the methods of decontamination specified in subdivision (a) or (b) of Section 118295, thereby rendering the property to an acceptable sanitary condition
following the completion of treatment services at the site.
(k)
A statement certifying that the information provided is complete and accurate.
Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 117938. Section 117938.
(a)
Small quantity generators using onsite steam sterilization, incineration, or microwave technology to treat medical waste are subject to biennial inspection of that onsite treatment facility by the enforcement agency and may be subject to the permitting requirements for onsite medical waste treatment facilities as determined by the enforcement agency.
(b)
(1)
The operators of the treatment equipment specified in subdivision (a) shall be required to receive training in the operation of the treatment equipment, proper protective equipment to wear, if any, how to clean up spills, and other information required to operate the treatment equipment in a safe and
effective manner.
(2)
Annual training for the operators shall be provided after the initial training has been completed.
(3)
The training shall be documented for each treatment operator and retained on file at the generator facility for a minimum of two years. Training shall comply with applicable federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations, including those found in Section 1910 of Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 117940. Section 117940.
(a)
Each enforcement agency shall follow procedures consistent with this chapter in registering medical waste generators.
(b)
Each medical waste generator registration for small quantity generators issued by the enforcement agency shall be valid for two years.
(c)
An application for renewal of the registration for small quantity generators shall be filed with the enforcement agency on or before the expiration date.
(d)
Generators shall submit an updated application form when any of the information specified in their medical waste management plan, created
pursuant to Section 117935, changes. The updated application form shall be submitted within 30 days of the change.
Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 117943. Section 117943.
(a)
A medical waste generator required to register pursuant to this chapter shall maintain for a minimum of three years individual treatment operating records, and if applicable, the tracking document for all untreated medical waste shipped offsite for treatment, and shall report or submit to the enforcement agency, upon request, all of the following:
(1)
Treatment operating records. Operating records shall be maintained in written or electronic form.
(2)
An emergency action plan complying with regulations adopted by the department.
(3)
Tracking documents or electronically archived tracking
documents maintained by the facility and medical waste hauler of all untreated medical waste shipped offsite for treatment.
(b)
Documentation shall be made available to the enforcement agency onsite.
Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 117945. Section 117945.
(a)
A small quantity generator who is not required to register pursuant to this chapter shall maintain on file in its office all of the following:
(1)
An information document stating how the generator contains, stores, treats, and disposes of any medical waste generated through any act or process of the generator.
(2)
Records required by the United States Postal Service of any medical waste shipped offsite for treatment and disposal. The small quantity generator shall maintain, or have available electronically at the facility or from the medical waste hauler or common carrier, these records, for not less than three years.
(b)
Documentation shall be made available to the enforcement agency onsite.
Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 117946. Section 117946.
(a)
A small quantity medical waste generator or parent organization that employs health care professionals who generate medical waste may transport medical waste generated in limited quantities up to 35.2 pounds to the central location of accumulation, provided that all of the following are met:
(1)
The principal business of the generator is not to transport or treat regulated medical waste.
(2)
The generator shall adhere to the conditions and requirements set forth in the materials of trade exception, as specified in Section 173.6 of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
(3)
A person transporting medical waste pursuant to this section shall provide a form or log to the receiving facility, and the receiving facility shall maintain the form or log for a period of two years, containing all of the following information:
(A)
The name of the person transporting the medical waste.
(B)
The number of containers of medical waste transported.
(C)
The date the medical waste was transported.
(b)
A generator transporting medical waste pursuant to this section shall not be regulated as a hazardous waste hauler pursuant to Section 117660.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026