Biologic and Infectious Waste

Controlling waste is an important part of public health, whether it’s hospital infectious waste or household garbage. Improperly managed waste can create conditions that may have severe adverse effects on public health, safety, and the environment. Proper storage, collection, transportation, and disposal are key elements to controlling biologic and infectious waste.

Environmental health practitioners help ensure that waste controls are in place and are maintained. The potential for a disease outbreak and the threat of terrorism increases when proper controls are not in place.

This section contains general information on waste issues as well as new and emerging issues in biologic and infectious waste.

Environmental Health Training in Emergency Response (EHTER) – 10 modules that focus on key environmental health issues and challenges for emergency response

Links to information from outside CDC

Animal Feeding Operations (AFOs) (U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Services) – helps AFO owners and operators develop and implement comprehensive nutrient management plans to achieve production and natural resource conservation goals

Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Use of Information Technologies and Decision Support Systems (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality) – archival information on developing scientific information for other agencies and organizations on which to base clinical guidelines, performance measures, and other quality improvement tools

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

• A Guide to Biosolids Risk Assessment
• Biosolids Frequently Asked Questions
• EPA Medical Waste – information about medical waste management and regulation
• EPA Office of Wastewater Management – information about wastewater management and regulation
• Septic (Onsite/Decentralized) Systems – guidance on the management of onsite wastewater treatment systems
  • Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems Manual
  • Voluntary National Guidelines for Management of Onsite and Clustered Decentralized Wastewater Treatment Systems

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System: Animal Feeding Operations – information about animal feeding operations and biosolids

• Alternative Technologies/Uses for Manure DRAFT [PDF – 2.50 MB]
• Animal Feeding Operations Final Rules

Terrorism and Other Public Health Emergencies: A Reference Guide for Media (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) – information for the media on how to quickly and clearly communicate terrorism and public health emergency messages to the public

The Twin Cities Metro Advanced Practice Center – tools and resources for preparedness that can be used by public health departments nationwide, including

• Environmental Health Emergency Response Guide, Chapter 7: Solid Waste [PDF – 658 KB] – provides quick access to needed information before an incident strikes a community

World Health Organization (WHO)

• Environmental Health in Emergencies and Disasters: A Practical Guide
  • Chapter 8 – Sanitation [PDF – 640 KB]
  • Chapter 11 – Control of Communicable Diseases and Prevention of Epidemics [PDF – 204 KB]

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