There are an estimated 30,000 biomedical waste generators in Florida. These include hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, laboratories, funeral homes, dentists, veterinarians, and physicians. 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.
The Biomedical Waste Inspection Program is designed to protect the public from risks associated with potentially infectious biomedical waste. This is conducted by regulating the generation, transport, storage, and treatment of biomedical waste through processes other than incineration. The Department of Environmental Protection has primary responsibility for biomedical waste incineration and final disposal.
The governing authority for this program is Florida Statute 381.0098 and Florida Administrative Code 64E-16.