2210

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 307

(G) (1) (I) IN THIS SUBSECTION, "INFECTIOUS WASTE" MEANS
REFERS TO ANY WASTE FROM HOSPITALS, CLINICS, AS DEFINED IN
REGULATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND MENTAL HYGIENE, OR
LABORATORIES THAT CAN CAUSE DISEASE OR INFECTION IN HUMANS.

(II) "INFECTIONS WASTE" INCLUDES:

1. INFECTIOUS ORGANS;

2. INFECTIOUS BLOOD;

3. INFECTIOUS TUMORS;

4. INFECTIOUS CYSTS; AND

5. DRESSINGS OR OTHER MATERIALS THAT ARE
USED IN A HOSPITAL, CLINIC, OR LABORATORY AND ARE ASSOCIATED WITH
INFECTIOUS HUMAN ORGANS, BLOOD, TUMORS, AND CYSTS.

(2) (I) "INFECTIOUS WASTE" MEANS DISPOSABLE

EQUIPMENT, INSTRUMENTS, UTENSILS AND FOMITES WHICH ARE KNOWN OR

SUSPECTED TO BE CONTAMINATED WITH ORGANISMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING

DISEASE IN HUMANS. INFECTIOUS WASTE ALSO INCLUDES CONTAMINATED

NEEDLES, SCALPELS, AND RAZOR BLADES; ANIMAL CONTACT ITEMS

CONTAMINATED WITH ORGANISMS THAT MAY BE PATHOGENIC TO HUMANS;
PATHOLOGICAL WASTE; BIOLOGICAL WASTE; AND LABORATORY WASTE.

(II) "FOMITES" MEANS ANY SUBSTANCE THAT MAY
HARBOR OR TRANSMIT PATHOGENIC ORGANISMS.

(III)    "PATHOLOGICAL WASTE" MEANS HUMAN TISSUES
AND ORGANS WHICH EMANATE FROM SURGERY, OBSTETRICS, AND AUTOPSY,
AND ANIMAL CARCASSES AND PARTS WHICH HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO
PATHOGENS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DISEASE IN HUMANS. PATHOLOGICAL
WASTE" DOES NOT INCLUDE BLOOD AND BLOOD PRODUCTS.

(IV) "BIOLOGICAL WASTE" MEANS FECES, URINE,
VOMITUS, SUCTIONINGS, LIVE VACCINES FOR HUMAN OR ANIMAL USE, AND
BLOOD AND BLOOD PRODUCTS OTHER THAN LABORATORY SPECIMENS.

(V) "LABORATORY WASTE" INCLUDES SPECIMENS SUCH
AS TISSUES AND BLOOD ELEMENTS, EXCRETA, SECRETIONS AND DISPOSABLE
FOMITES ATTENDANT TO THESE SPECIMENS.

(2) (3) A PERSON HOSPITAL, CLINIC OR LABORATORY MAY
NOT DISPOSE OF OR CAUSE TO BE DISPOSED OF INFECTIOUS WASTE IN ANY
LANDFILL SYSTEM IN THIS STATE.

(3) (4) IN ADDITION TO LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL IN
THIS STATE, THE SECRETARY SHALL MONITOR AND ENFORCE THE
PROHIBITION AGAINST DISPOSAL OF INFECTIOUS WASTE UNDER THIS
SUBSECTION.

9-229.