Question & AnswerQ&A (LTO MEMORANDUM)
The primary purpose is to provide policies and guidelines on the effective and proper handling, collection, transport, treatment, storage, and disposal of health care wastes in the Philippines.
The guidelines are based on the Clean Air Act of 1999 (RA 8749), Toxic Substances, Hazardous Waste, and Nuclear Waste Control Act of 1990 (RA 6969), Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 (RA 9003), Sanitation Code of the Philippines (PD 856), Clean Water Act of 2004 (RA 9275), Environmental Impact Statement System (PD 1586), and Hospital Licensure Act (RA 4226).
Health care waste generators include hospitals, infirmaries, birthing homes, clinics (medical, ambulatory, dialysis, surgical, alternative medicine, dental, veterinary), laboratories and research centers, drug manufacturers, health-related institutions, mortuary and autopsy centers, and similar establishments engaged in activities that generate health care waste.
DENR-EMB is responsible for implementing pertinent rules and regulations, issuing necessary permits and clearances, formulating policies and guidelines, overseeing compliance, conducting monitoring and sampling of wastewater, requiring microbiological test results prior to permit renewal, providing technical assistance, and coordinating with DOH for non-compliance cases.
Health care waste generators must secure an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC), Permit to Operate (P/O) for Air Pollution Source and Control Installation, Discharge Permit under RA 9275, and Hazardous Waste Generator's Registration from the EMB Regional Office.
Licenses for hospitals, laboratories, dialysis clinics, birthing homes, infirmaries, psychiatric hospitals, dental prosthetic laboratories, blood banks, ambulatory clinics, and drug treatment and rehabilitation centers; and Certificate of Accreditation for OFW medical clinics, surgical clinics, drug testing laboratories, HIV testing laboratories, water testing laboratories, medical technologist intern training centers, and training centers for embalmers.
A health care waste transporter is a person licensed by the DENR-Environmental Management Bureau to convey health care waste through air, water, or land, who must register with EMB, secure a Transport Permit, comply with the DENR Manifest System, and follow the requirements under RA 6969.
Allowed healthcare waste treatment technologies include thermal, chemical, irradiation, biological processes, encapsulation, and inertization, subject to compliance with RA 8749, RA 6969, and RA 9003. Autoclave, microwave, and hydroclave facilities must use microbiological testing to determine treatment efficiency.
For Controlled Dump Facilities, treated health care waste must be isolated in a specific lined cell with signage, proper soil cover, and record keeping. For Sanitary Landfills, dedicated cells must be built, construction must conform with RA 9003, and an Environmental Compliance Certificate or amendment thereof is required. Mixing treated healthcare waste with municipal solid waste is prohibited unless properly segregated.
Failure to comply shall subject the violator to penalty provisions of the applicable laws stipulated in the Order, such as RA 6969, RA 8749, RA 9003, RA 9275, and others relevant to environmental and health laws.