BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 762
SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
Senator S. Joseph Simitian, Chairman
2011-2012 Regular Session
BILL NO: AB 762
AUTHOR: Smyth
AMENDED: May 11, 2011
FISCAL: No HEARING DATE: June 27, 2011
URGENCY: No CONSULTANT: Caroll
Mortensen
SUBJECT : MEDICAL WASTE
SUMMARY :
Existing law :
1) Requires that various types of medical waste be segregated
except in the case where it is to be treated with an
alternative technology using extremely high heat and
approved by the Department of Public Health (DPH) (Health
and Safety Code �118275).
2) Allows for the incineration of various types of medical
waste (�118275).
3) Provides that reusable containers may be used under
specified conditions (��118295 and 118305).
This bill :
1) Authorizes various types of medical waste to be comingled
if it is to be treated by incineration.
2) Permits the use of a reusable container for comingled
medical waste.
COMMENTS :
1) Purpose of Bill . According to the author: "Senate Bill
(SB) 419?Chapter 477, statutes of 2004 ? allow�s]
consolidation of the medical waste stream if it is sent for
high heat treatment of at least 1300 degrees Fahrenheit in
AB 762
Page 2
an alternative treatment technology. ?high heat
alternative treatment technologies have not developed due
to high development costs and the inability to operate them
in a cost-efficient manner. ? Over time and with no
alternative high heat treatment being introduced, some
hospitals used the SB 419 provision incorrectly to
consolidate sharps and pharmaceutical wastes into a single
container and sending it for incineration."
2) Amendment needed . AB 762 should be amended to clarify that
the consolidation provisions only apply to sharps and
pharmaceuticals and not to other medical wastes such as
biohazards or pathology wastes.
SOURCE : California Hospital Association
SUPPORT : Association of California Health Care Districts
Kaiser Permanente
OPPOSITION : None on file