There are approximately 30,000 biomedical waste facilities in Florida. These include hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, laboratories, funeral homes, dentists, veterinarians, physicians, transporters, and storage and treatment facilities. The objective of the biomedical waste program is to protect health care workers, environmental-service staff, waste haulers, and the general public from risks associated with potentially infectious biomedical waste.

Both the Department of Health and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection have responsibilities under this program. The Department of Environmental Protection has primary responsibility for biomedical waste incineration and final disposal. The Department of Health has primary authority and responsibility for facilities that generate, transport, store, or treat biomedical waste through processes other than incineration.

When biomedical waste is improperly managed, it places health care workers, sanitation workers, and the general public at risk for contracting dangerous diseases. Chapter 64E-16, Florida Administrative Code (60kb PDF) , requires facilities that generate biomedical waste to ensure proper management of that waste. A model biomedical waste operating plan (38kb PDF) is available to assist facilities in documenting their procedures for management of biomedical waste. Many facilities have their biomedical waste removed by a registered biomedical waste transporter.

Biomedical waste generated by individuals in their own homes from use of syringes or diagnostic lancets also should be properly managed. Many homeowners can find assistance through a local county needle collection program. Where biomedical waste is produced in a home through injury or other major traumatic conditions, the guidelines for home cleanup of biomedical waste (40KB PDF) provide guidance for proper cleanup or trauma scene clean up providers can be contacted to manage site decontamination.

Complaints concerning biomedical waste are investigated by County Health Departments. Small amounts of improperly disposed biomedical waste are cleaned up under Department of Health supervision. Emergency situations are referred to the Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Emergency Response, at (850) 488-2974.

Business Issues

The 1993 Florida Legislature provided funding for the Biomedical Waste Program from the Solid Waste Management Trust Fund. Additional funding is provided through the annual permitting of facilities that generate at least 25 pounds of biomedical waste in any 30-day period. Permitted facilities are inspected annually. Facilities that produce less than 25 pounds of biomedical waste in each 30-day period are exempt from permitting, and are inspected every three years.

Department of Health oversight of biomedical waste management is conducted to assure proper identification, segregation, containment, storage, and labeling of biomedical waste. The department has established parameters for the safe handling and treatment of biomedical waste. The department has produced lists of commercial biomedical waste treatment facilities and of red bags for biomedical waste containment that meet the standards of Chapter 64E-16, F.A.C. Other red bags also may be used if they meet the construction standards required by Chapter 64E-16, F.A.C.

Chapter 64E-16, F.A.C., requires biomedical waste facilities to provide training to personnel whose responsibilities include some aspect of managing biomedical waste. Such personnel must be trained prior to assuming any duties associated with biomedical waste, and they must receive an annual refresher course. Training must detail the procedures included in the facility's written operating plan, as well as compliance with Chapter 64E-16, F.A.C. A video on VHS tape, CD, or DVD to assist in meeting the training requirement can be purchased from the Department of Health for $22.00. The order form can be downloaded from below.

If you are in business as a biomedical waste generator or transporter, or operate a storage or treatment facility, or intend to do so, you can download from below the permit, registration, and report forms you require.

Download Files

The rules and forms for this program are available from the links listed below. All the files are in pdf format. If your computer cannot read pdf files, you can download Adobe Acrobat Reader, at no charge, from the Adobe Internet site at http://www.adobe.com/ . All the links below open a new window.

(NOTE: Before applying for any biomedical waste permit, a transporter registration, or for a generator exemption, please contact your local County Health Department for current information concerning the correct mailing address and fee.)

Application for Biomedical Waste Generator Permit/Exemption DH4089 (21kb PDF)
Application for Biomedical Waste Transporter Registration DH4106 (19kb PDF)
Application for Biomedical Waste Storage Permit DH4107 (19kb PDF)
Application for Biomedical Waste Sharps Collection Program Permit DH4108 (8kb PDF)
Biomedical Waste Transporter Annual Report DH 4109 (10kb PDF)
Biomedical Waste Treatment Facility Annual Report DH4110 (10kb PDF)
Application for Biomedical Waste Treatment Permit DH4111 (19kb PDF)
Biomedical Waste Training Video: Order Form (8kb PDF)
Biomedical Waste Rules Chapter 64E-16, F.A.C. (60kb PDF)
Biomedical Waste Receipt Log (14kb PDF)
Biomedical Waste Transport Log (16kb PDF)
Biomedical Waste Non Regular Pickup Log (12kb PDF)

Apply for a Permit

Biomedical Waste Generator Permits (issued to facilities that produce biomedical waste) are issued by area biomedical waste coordinators. To find out who your coordinator is, check the list of biomedical waste coordinators. To apply for the permit, complete and return Department of Health form DH4089 (21kb PDF) to your biomedical waste coordinator along with the required $85.00 annual fee.

Individuals interested in transporting biomedical waste must obtain a Biomedical Waste Transporter Registration. To register as a transporter, complete Department of Health form DH 4106 (19kb PDF) and submit it to your area biomedical waste coordinator. The fee for transporter registration varies, as it is based on the number of transport vehicles used. Your area biomedical waste coordinator will help you determine the correct fee for your business. Rule requirements for transporters are included in Chapter 64E-16, F.A.C. (60kb PDF) .

Biomedical waste storage facilities also must be permitted. Completed Application for Biomedical Waste Storage Permit forms, DH4107 (19kb PDF) , should be submitted with the required $85.00 fee to your area biomedical waste coordinator. Rule requirements for storage facilities are included in Chapter 64E-16, F.A.C. (60kb PDF) .

Facilities for the commercial treatment of biomedical waste must complete an Application for Biomedical Waste Treatment Permit, form DH4111 (19kb PDF) , and submit it to their area biomedical waste coordinator along with the required $85.00 fee. Rule requirements for treatment facilities are included in Chapter 64E-16, F.A.C. (60kb PDF) .

Sharps-collection programs also must be permitted. An Application for Biomedical Waste Sharps Collection Program Permit, form DH4108 (8kb PDF) , must be completed and submitted to your area biomedical waste coordinator. There is no charge for this permit. Rule requirements for sharps-collection programs are included in Chapter 64E-16, F.A.C. (60kb PDF) .

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