SB 1305 (Figueroa, 2005-06) Medical Waste - Support
Summary.
This measure would prohibit disposal of Hypodermic Needles (Sharps) in household trash.
Status.
SB 1305 was approved by Gov. Schwarzenegger on July 12, 2006 and will take effect September 1, 2008.
Description.
Every year more than 2 billion needles and syringes are used nationwide outside of healthcare settings and most end up in trash or recycling containers or flushed down toilets, posing serious health risks to children, workers, and the general public.
This bill would revise a section of the state's Medical Waste Management Act to make it a violation of state law for home-generated sharps waste to be placed in solid waste collection containers, including recycling and greenwaste containers. SB 1305 would also require sharps waste to transported in an approved sharps containers and managed by a specified facility (i.e., household hazardous waste facility, medical waste generator facility, or a facility managed as part of a mail back program).
CAW Staff Contacts.
(916) 443-5422
Supporters.
Californians Against Waste
Alameda County Board of Supervisors
Alameda County Health Care Services Agency
Alameda County Environmental Health
Alameda County Health Care for the Homeless Program
Alameda County Sharps Coalition
American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees
AFL-CIO
California Hepatitis C Task Force
California Refuse Removal Council
California State Association of Counties
League of California Cities
Planning and Conservation League
Royal Medical Inc United Pharmacy
San Francisco Bay Area Assn. of Diabetes Educators
Sharps Compliance, Inc.
Sierra Club California
Solid Waste Association of North America
Waste Management
Opponents.
American Diabetes Association
California Association for Health Services at Home