QuestionsQuestions (KAUTUSANG TAGAPAGPAGANAP BLG. 60)
It is issued pursuant to, among others, the Clean Air Act (RA 8749), Toxic Substances/Hazardous and Nuclear Waste Control Act (RA 6969), Ecological Solid Waste Management Act (RA 9003), Refuse Disposal provisions of the Sanitation Code (PD 856, Chapter XVIII IRR), Clean Water Act (RA 9275), EIS System (PD 1586), and the Hospital Licensure Act (RA 4226).
It applies to health care waste generators, health care waste transporters, owners/operators of treatment, storage and disposal (TSD) facilities, and final disposal facilities.
Health care wastes include wastes generated from diagnosis, treatment, management and immunization of humans/animals; research related to these activities; producing/testing biological products; and waste from minor or scattered sources (e.g., dental clinics, alternative medicine clinics).
Examples include hospitals (primary/secondary/tertiary care), infirmaries, birthing homes, clinics (medical/surgical/dialysis/alternative medicine/dental/veterinary), laboratories and research centers, blood banks, drug manufacturers, nursing homes, mortuary and autopsy centers.
A transporter is a person licensed by the DENR-EMB to convey health care waste through air, water or land.
TSD facilities are facilities where hazardous wastes are stored, treated, recycled, reprocessed and/or disposed of, as prescribed under DENR AO No. 2004-36, Chapter 6-2 (Categories of TSD Facilities).
It is the primary agency for rules on transport, treatment, storage and disposal; issues permits/clearances; oversees compliance; conducts wastewater sampling/monitoring for RA 9275; requires microbiological test results for certain disinfecting units before permit renewal; provides technical assistance; and notifies DOH of non-compliance for DOH-licensed facilities.
DOH regulates health facilities through licensure and accreditation; formulates HCWM policies/standards; develops training modules; requires technical assistance in preparing HCWM plans for licensing/renewal; requires DOH-BHDT registered treatment equipment; performs equipment/device performance evaluation; monitors microbiological tests of treated wastes; evaluates hospital compliance; issues circulars; and notifies DENR of non-compliance.
From DENR-EMB: ECC (for establishments covered by PD 1586), Permit to Operate for air pollution sources, Discharge Permit (RA 9275; LLDA jurisdiction where applicable), Hazardous Waste Generator Registration (RA 6969 implementing rules). From DOH-BHFS: licenses for hospitals/clinics/labs/dialysis/birthing homes/infirmaries/psychiatric hospitals/dental prosthetic labs/blood banks/ambulatory clinics/drug rehab centers; certificate of accreditation for certain medical/training/OFW clinics and related labs.
They must register with EMB Central Office as a transporter, secure a Transport Permit from the DENR-EMB Regional Office, comply with the DENR Manifest System, and comply with other requirements in RA 6969’s IRR.
DENR: ECC for sanitary landfill (SLF) and TSD facility, Notice to Proceed for controlled dump facility as repository, registration as TSD facility under RA 6969 IRR, Technology Approval for non-burn technologies before P/O, Permit to Operate (air pollution source/control installation), Discharge Permit (DENR/LLDA). DOH: Certificate of Product Registration for equipment/devices used for treating health care wastes.
Autoclave/microwave/hydroclave facilities must use microbiological tests to determine treatment efficiency; results must be recorded and reported to DENR for compliance/renewal under RA 6969 and RA 9003.
A level of microbial inactivation of 6log10 reduction or greater than the most resistant microorganism of concern in the given process.
Treated wastes and inert residues must be disposed in controlled disposal or sanitary landfill facilities duly licensed by DENR to handle the same. The use of final disposal facilities is limited to health care wastes that have undergone the necessary treatment under the standards in the DOH HCWM Manual.
A CDF is an interim disposal facility for municipal solid waste/non-hazardous and non-toxic substances and may accept treated health care waste when sanitary landfill is absent, with specific operational requirements (lined cell, signage, recordkeeping, soil cover). An SLF is a designed/constructed/operated disposal site with engineering control of impacts, requiring dedicated cells for treated health care wastes and ECC amendment/requirements under RA 9003/IRR.
It must: identify a specific lined cell for health care waste disposal with adequate capacity; place signage; line the cell with low-permeability material (clay or geo-membrane/HDPE liner); apply soil cover right after spreading; and maintain basic records (receipt time/volume/weight, source, certification of treatment/condition).
It may be allowed in remote/rural areas where no TSD facilities are available, provided the on-site burial pit load/capacity is not exceeded, and chemical treatment/disinfection is done prior to safe burial, following DOH manual standards and minimum landfill requirements.
Concrete vault disposal is allowed only as an alternative for used sharps/syringes; it must have caution signage, be watertight, and be constructed at least 1.5 meters above groundwater level. The procedures also require isolation and appropriate distance from groundwater supply sources/dwellings.
Facilities must have their own wastewater treatment facility (WTF) or be connected to a sewage treatment plant; laboratories must pre-treat wastewater prior to discharge into a sewage treatment plant.
Effectivity: it takes effect immediately. Repealing clause: all other DENR/DOH issuances inconsistent with its provisions are repealed or modified accordingly.