Registration Types / Types of Medical Waste Facilities (Generators):

Small Quantity Generator (SQG) / Large Quantity Generator (LQG) / Home Generated Consolidation Point (HGCP) / Common Storage Facility (Click for definitions)

• Small Quantity Generator (SQG)— A person, facility or business that generates less than 200 pounds of regulated medical waste per month.
• Large Quantity Generator (LQG)— A person, facility or business that generates 200 pounds or more of regulated medical waste during any month within the fiscal year.
• SQG or LQG with On-site Treatment— SQG or LQG utilizing an approved method or process that renders medical waste into solid waste. Treatment includes facilities that utilize Isolyser, Sterilizer (Autoclave) or any other alternative on-site medical waste treatment methods.
• Home Generated Consolidation Point (HGCP) — A site that accepts and consolidates unused/expired pharmaceuticals and/or sharps (generated from any households) into a secured and properly labeled container stored on-site. Consolidated unused/expired pharmaceuticals and/or sharps require proper disposal.
• SQG or LQG with Materials of Trade Exemption — A generator that employs health care professionals who generate medical waste (from services in the field such as nurses providing home health medical services or mobile vaccination sites) may transport medical waste generated in limited quantities up to 35.2 pounds to the (registered and permitted) central location of accumulation, provided that all of the following are met:
• Common Storage Facility — Any designated accumulation area that is onsite and is used by (more than 1) small quantity generators otherwise operating independently for the storage of medical waste for collection by a registered Medical Waste Transporter.

What is Medical Waste?

• Medical Waste include sharps waste, biohazardous waste, pharmaceutical waste, trace chemotherapy waste, and pathology waste.
• Services that generate Medical Waste:

Who Needs a Health Permit?

• Any facility or person who generates ANY quantity of medical waste from the services listed above in section “What is Medical Waste.”
• Any facility or business providing services as either a Home Generated Consolidation Point or Common Storage Facility (See “Registration Type” listed above for definition(s)).

Each Health Permit is Only Valid During the Fiscal Year (July 1 – June 30) the Permit was Acquired or Renewed

• Health Permits expire on July 1 of each year. The period of time the Health Permit is valid (validity period) is listed on the Health Permit.
• A facility is required to renew and pay for the Health Permit before July 1 of each year if the facility will continue to operate into the new fiscal year (July 1-June 30) and are either:
• For information on how to renew your Health Permit, scroll down to section “How to Renew your Health Permit”

How to Register as a Medical Waste Generator/HGCP/Common Storage Facility and Acquire a Health Permit? Click here for instructions

1. Acquire the proper medical waste containers for each type of medical waste generated (or will be generated) and/or consolidated at your facility. Ensure all medical waste containers have labels.

2. Acquire at a minimum of 1 of the approved medical waste disposal methods listed below:

3. Ensure the medical waste are meeting the required disposal frequencies. (Disposal Frequencies Requirements)

4. Fill-out and submit the Medical Waste Generator Registration Application form (English)(Spanish) and Medical Waste Management Plan(English) (Spanish) to Health Department.

*A Medical Waste Management Plan is only required for SQG with onsite treatment and LQG, but we strongly recommend all medical waste facilities complete and submit this document.

5. Pay Health Permit fee(s) (Health Permits for HGCP are free at no cost and do not require payment).

6. Schedule an inspection.

7. The Health Permit will be either issued at the time of your inspection or mailed to the mailing address listed on your application.

8. The facility will be inspected to ensure compliance with Medical Waste Management Act.

How to Renew your Health Permit? Click here for more information

• Each Health Permit is ONLY valid during the Fiscal Year (July 1 – June 30) the permit was acquired or renewed.

• Facilities will be invoiced automatically, and the invoice will be mailed to the mailing address the Health Department has on file in the month of May or June prior to the start of the new fiscal year. Health Permit renewals must be paid before July 1 to avoid accruing late penalty charges. Health Permit(s) for HGCP are free at no cost and do not require payment.

• If your business is a medical waste generator or a business that provides medical waste consolidation services, a health inspector will conduct an unannounced inspection at your business any time during the new fiscal year. A minimum of 1 inspection will be conducted per fiscal year unless a re-inspection is required. If the Health Department receives a complaint regarding a medical facility, the complaint warrants an inspection.

What you Need to Know About your Health Permit:

Each Health Permit issued is specific to ALL of the following:

• Business owner,
• Business, and
• The business address where the business is operating at the time of registration.

Are you closing your Business or Facility? Click here

• Closing facility will not automatically close your facility registration status or discontinue receiving an annual invoice statement for the Health Permit.

• Your business is required to provide a written notification to the Health Department to provide a statement of business closure and the date of closure. Once the Health Department is notified, the Health Department will close the facility registration status. Once your registration status is closed, your facility will not be automatically invoiced annually before each fiscal year.

Are you changing Business Owner or Selling Your Business? Click here

• Health Permits CAN NOT be transferred if the business owner changes or you are selling your business.

Are you moving your Facility to a New Location (Business Location)? Click here

• Each Health Permit DOES NOT transfer with your facility when your facility relocates to a new location (business address).

Encouraging proper containment and disposal for home generated sharps & expired medication.

The program also encourages, through public education and awareness, proper containment and disposal of home-generated sharps such as needles, lancets and syringes.

As home-generated sharps can pose a unique public health threat when improperly contained and disposed such as in a garbage container or recycle bin. The public is advised to use sharps containers for containment and approved locations for safe disposal. Please refer to the article Sharps/Medications Disposal.

MONTEREY COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
1270 Natividad Road,
Salinas, California 93906

If you have any questions, please contact the Environmental Health Department.
Phone #: (831)755-4505 Fax #: (831) 796-8693 E-mail: SWTeam@countyofmonterey.gov

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES