Affiliated Generator. An associated, professional entity including a business partner, colleague or subsidiary that generates medical or biological waste.

Approved Incineration Facility. A facility approved and classified by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection for incineration of waste or an out-of-state incinerator approved for incineration of waste by the appropriate regulatory agency.

Board of Health. The appropriate and legally designated health authority of the city, town, or other legally constituted governmental unit within the Commonwealth having the usual powers and duties of the board of health of a city or town its authorized agent or representative.

BSL 1, 2, 3 and 4. Biosafety levels comprised of combinations of laboratory practices and techniques, safety equipment, and laboratory facilities specifically appropriate for the operations performed, the documented or suspected routes and ease of transmission of the infectious agents used, the severity of the disease, and the laboratory function or activity conducted according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services publications, Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories, and the NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA Molecules.

Challenge Testing. Quality control testing conducted during standard operating conditions, using a pre-determined biological indicator, to verify the effectiveness of approved disinfection methods for the treatment of medical or biological waste.

Department. Massachusetts Department of Public Health

Disinfection. The reduction in level of microbial contamination.

Generator. See Waste Generator

Home Sharps (HS). All spent non-commercially generated, hypodermic needles and lancets that have been used or are not in their original, intact and sealed packaging and that result from personal use or from pets at a residence or outside the home. The term Home Sharps does not include needles or lancets generated by home health aides, visiting nurses, or any other person providing a professional service in a private residence.

Incinerate/Incineration. The controlled flame combustion of materials in an enclosed system to thermally break down and render the waste noninfectious.

Interment. Burial in a cemetery.

IStAATT. The International Society on Analytical Analysis of Treatment Technologies (formerly the State and Territorial Association on Alternative Treatment Technologies – STAATT), or its successor, comprised of a group of state and international regulators, as well as other experts, which reviews and publishes guidance documents related to medical waste treatment technologies.

Kiosk. A secured, leak-proof receptacle or collection drop box, the contents of which are inaccessible to unauthorized personnel, designed to temporarily store approved sharps containers prior to pickup and transportation for treatment in accordance with 105 CMR 480.000.

Medical and Biological Waste Alternative Treatment Review Group (MBWAT). An advisory group, established by the Department, which is comprised of Department and Local Board of Health staff and, at the discretion of the Department, industry experts, that meets at a minimum annually to review alternative methods of treatment, storage or disposal of medical and biological waste and related issues.

Medical or Biological Waste. Waste that because of its characteristics may cause, or significantly contribute to, an increase in mortality or an increase in serious irreversible or incapacitating reversible illness; or pose a substantial present potential hazard to human health or the environment when improperly treated, stored, transported, disposed of, or otherwise managed. The following types of waste are identified and defined as medical or biological waste, and shall be subject to the requirements of 105 CMR 480.000:

1. (1) Blood and Blood Products. Discarded bulk human blood and blood products in free draining, liquid state; body fluids contaminated with visible blood; and materials saturated/dripping with blood. Blood Products shall not include; feminine hygiene products.
2. (2) Pathological Waste. Human anatomical parts, organs, tissues and body fluids removed and discarded during surgery, autopsy, or other medical or diagnostic procedures; specimens of body fluids and their containers; and discarded material saturated with body fluids other than urine. Pathological waste shall not include: Teeth and contiguous structures of bone without visible tissue, nasal secretions, sweat, sputum, vomit, urine, or fecal materials that do not contain visible blood or involve confirmed diagnosis of infectious disease.

3. (3) Cultures and Stocks of Infectious Agents and Associated Biologicals. All discarded cultures and stocks of infectious agents and associated biologicals, including culture dishes and devices used to transfer, inoculate, and mix cultures, as well as discarded live and attenuated vaccines intended for human use, that are generated in:

   1. (a) Laboratories involved in basic and applied research;
   2. (b) Laboratories intended for educational instruction; or
   3. (c) Clinical laboratories

4. (4) Contaminated Animal Waste. Contaminated carcasses, body parts, body fluids, blood or bedding from animals known to be:

   1. (a) Infected with agents of the following specific zoonotic diseases that are reportable to the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, Bureau of Animal Health pursuant to 105 CMR 300.140: African swine fever, Anthrax, Avian influenza – H5 and H7 strains and any highly pathogenic strain, Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), Brucellulosis, Chronic wasting disease of cervids, Foot and mouth disease, Glanders, Exotic Newcastle disease, Plague (Yersinia pestis), Q Fever (Coxiella burnetti), Scrapie, Tuberculosis, Tularemia (Francisella tularensis); or
   2. (b) Infected with diseases designated by the State Epidemiologist and the State Public Health Veterinarian as presenting a risk to human health; or
   3. (c) Inoculated with infectious agents for purposes including, but not limited to, the production of biologicals or pharmaceutical testing.
5. (5) Sharps. Discarded medical articles that may cause puncture or cuts, including, but not limited to, all needles, syringes, lancets, pen needles, pasteur pipettes, broken medical glassware/plasticware, scalpel blades, suture needles, dental wires, and disposable razors used in connection with a medical procedure.
6. (6) Biotechnology By-product Effluents. Any discarded preparations, liquids, cultures, contaminated solutions made from microorganisms and their products including genetically altered living microorganisms and their products.

Medical Waste Tracking Form. A paper or electronic form approved by the Department that provides confirmation to a generator of receipt of medical or biological waste by an off-site treatment facility.

Parametric Monitoring. Automated equipment that records critical parameters appropriate for the treatment process of rendering medical or biological waste non-infectious including but not limited to time, temperature, pressure and pH.

RG 1, 2, 3, and 4 Agents. Risk group levels resulting from the classification of the biohazardous agents based on their association with human disease, and the resulting severity of the disease, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services publications, Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories, and the NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA Molecules.

Record-keeping Log. A log book with secured, consecutively numbered pages which is used solely for the purpose of keeping and recording the information required by 105 CMR 480.500(B).

Sharps Collection Center (SCC). An identified site within a community that is established for the sole purpose of collecting home sharps pursuant to M.G.L. c. 94C, § 27A.

Shipping Papers. A form(s) which accompanies material shipped off-site and contains relevant information, as specified in 105 CMR 480.000 and Federal hazardous material transportation laws and regulations, regarding the material shipped.

Small-scale Generator (SSG). A waste generator, excluding home sharps users, that generates less than 50 pounds of medical or biological waste every 30 days.

Treatment Facility. The off-site facility where medical or biological waste is rendered non­ infectious prior to disposal as solid waste, in accordance with Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection regulations or in the case of out-of-state disposal, in accordance with the appropriate regulatory agency responsible for solid waste disposal within that jurisdiction.

Unprocessed Liquid Pathological Waste. Whole body fluids, not derived mechanically or chemically, which are removed and discarded during surgery, autopsy, or other medical or diagnostic procedures.

Waste Generator (Generator). Any person, corporation, partnership, trust, association, society, organized group of persons, body politic and corporate, public agency, authority, department, office and political subdivision of the Commonwealth, that generates medical or biological waste except home sharps and other waste generated by residents at private dwellings. The term "waste generator" shall include but not be limited to hospitals, long-term care facilities, laboratories, clinics, physician’s and dentist’s offices, schools, veterinarians, funeral homes, body piercing and body art facilities, trauma scene responders and home health agencies providing services in private dwellings.