Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 459 § 459.390 — Procedures for segregation and containment of infectious waste; exemption

Procedures for segregation and containment of infectious waste; exemption. (1)(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this subsection, infectious waste shall be segregated from other wastes by separate containment at the point of generation. (b) A person may consolidate sharps and waste pharmaceuticals into a single container, which may be reusable, provided that: (A) The container satisfies the requirements of subsection (3) of this section; and (B) The entire contents of the container are managed as infectious waste in accordance with ORS 459.386 to 459.405. (c) Enclosures used for storage of infectious waste shall be secured to prevent access by unauthorized persons and shall be marked with prominent warning signs. (2) Infectious waste, except for sharps, shall be contained in disposable red plastic bags or containers made of other materials impervious to moisture and strong enough to prevent ripping, tearing or bursting under normal conditions of use. The bags or containers shall be closed to prevent leakage or expulsion of solid or liquid wastes during storage, collection or transportation. (3)(a) Sharps shall be contained for storage, collection, transportation and disposal in leakproof, rigid, puncture-resistant red containers that are taped closed or tightly lidded to prevent loss of the contents. Sharps may be stored in such containers for more than seven days. (b) Sharps consolidated with waste pharmaceuticals shall be contained for storage, collection, transportation and treatment in leakproof, rigid, puncture-resistant and tightly lidded containers that are a distinctive color other than red and conspicuously labeled with the international biohazard symbol. Sharps consolidated with waste pharmaceuticals may be stored in such containers for more than seven days. (4) All bags, boxes or other containers for infectious waste and rigid containers of discarded sharps shall be clearly identified as containing infectious waste. (5) Infectious waste shall be stored at temperatures and only for times established by rules of the Oregon Health Authority. (6) Infectious waste shall not be compacted before treatment and shall not be placed for collection, storage or transportation in a portable or mobile trash compactor. (7) Infectious waste contained in disposable bags as specified in this section shall be placed for collection, storage, handling or transportation in a disposable or reusable pail, carton, box, drum, dumpster, portable bin or similar container. The container shall have a tight-fitting cover and be kept clean and in good repair. The container may be of any color and shall be conspicuously labeled with the international biohazard symbol and the words “Biomedical Waste” on the sides so as to be readily visible from any lateral direction when the container is upright. (8) Each time a reusable container for infectious waste is emptied, the container shall be thoroughly washed and decontaminated unless the surfaces of the container have been protected from contamination by a disposable red liner, bag or other device removed with the waste. (9) Trash chutes shall not be used to transfer infectious waste between locations where it is contained or stored. (10) Generators that produce 50 pounds or less of infectious waste in any calendar month shall be exempt from the specific requirements of subsections (5), (7) and (8) of this section. [1989 c.763 §5; 2009 c.595 §942; 2025 c.257 §2]