(a) Methods of Treatment for On-Site Treatment Facilities. Any person treating medical waste shall ensure that the medical waste is treated by one of the following methods, thereby rendering it solid waste, which is not otherwise hazardous, prior to disposal:
(1) Incineration at a permitted medical waste treatment facility in a controlled-air, multichamber incinerator, or other method of incineration approved by the department which provides complete combustion of the waste into carbonized or mineralized ash. Monitoring for release of airborne pathogens from medical waste incinerations shall be conducted as required by the medical waste treatment permit.
(2) Discharge to the sewerage system as defined in the San Francisco Public Works Code, if the medical waste is liquid or semiliquid. Any such medical waste discharge shall be consistent with the waste discharge requirements placed on the City and County of San Francisco by state or federal law, and with any pretreatment permit issued by the Department of Public Works pursuant to the Public Works Code; provided that such discharge shall not consist of either of the following:
(A) Liquid or semiliquid laboratory waste, as defined in Subsection 1502(c).
(B) Microbiological specimens, including those specified in Subsection 1502(c).
(3) Steam sterilization at a permitted medical waste treatment facility or by other sterilization, in accordance with all of the following operating procedures for steam sterilizers or other sterilization:
(A) Standard written operating procedures shall be established for biological indicators, or for other indicators of adequate sterilization approved by the department and included in the applicable permit, for each steam sterilizer, including time, temperature, pressure, type of waste, type of container, closure on container, pattern of loading, water content, and maximum load quantity.
(B) Recording or indicating thermometers shall be checked during each complete cycle to ensure the attainment of 121° Centigrade (250° Fahrenheit) for at least one-half hour, depending on the quantity and density of the load, in order to achieve sterilization of the entire load. Thermometers shall be checked for calibration annually. Records of the calibration checks shall be maintained as part of the facility's files and records for a period of three years or for the period specified in the regulations.
(C) Heat-sensitive tape, or another method acceptable to the Director, shall be used on each container that is processed to indicate the attainment of adequate sterilization conditions.
(D) The biological indicator Bacillus stearothermophilus, or other indicator of adequate sterilization as approved by the department and included in the applicable permit, shall be placed at the center of a load processed under standard operating conditions at least monthly to confirm the attainment of adequate sterilization conditions.
(E) Records of the procedures specified in Subparagraphs (A), (B), and (D) shall be maintained for a period of not less than three years.
(4) Rendered noninfectious prior to disposal, if sharps waste, by one of the following methods:
(A) Incineration;
(B) Steam sterilization;
(C) Disinfection and encasement using an alternative treatment method approved by the Department. Sharps waste which is encased in a sharps container which complies with Subsection 1502(x) meets the encasement requirements of this Paragraph, and may be disposed of solid waste pursuant to Paragraph (n)(4) of Section 1502.
(5) Other alternative medical waste treatment methods which are both of the following:
(A) Approved by the Department and included in the applicable permit;
(B) Result in the destruction of pathogenic microorganisms.
(Added by Ord. 375-92, App. 12/23/92)