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Biomedical Waste

Environmental Health Services

Biomedical Waste Facilities include hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, laboratories, funeral homes, dentists, veterinarians, physicians, transporters, and storage and treatment facilities.
 
Any facility that generates, stores, or treats any form of biomedical waste in Brevard County is required to obtain the appropriate Biomedical Waste Permit or an Exemption Certificate from the Florida Department of Health in Brevard County Environmental Public Health Services (DOH-Brevard) prior to operation. Permits, exemptions, and registrations are not transferable from one person or entity to another.  All facilities must have a written Biomedical Waste Plan available for review and document that staff has been trained upon hire and annually.

If a facility generates 25 pounds of biomedical waste or more in any 30-day period, it does not qualify for exemption. Facilities that generate less than 25 pounds of biomedical waste in each 30-day period may apply for exemption from permitting and state fee requirements, but not from compliance with any other statue or rule requirements. The eligibility for exemption is based on records, either a log or transporter receipts, which document the actual weight of the generated biomedical waste for the previous 12 months.Exempted generators must continue to maintain documentation of the actual weight generated in order to maintain their exempt status. A permitted or exempted generator may work at a branch office for a maximum of six hours in any seven-day period without applying for a new permit or exemption, but must submit an amended application to DOH-Brevard for approval.

A fee totaling $105.00 ($85.00 state rule designated/$20.00 county fee resolution) must accompany the application in order to be processed unless applying for exemption. The permit year runs from October 1 to September 30. The annual fee must be paid prior to October 1 each year or a $40.00 late fee will be assessed. Exempt facilities will be required to pay a $50.00 Triennial Exemption Verification Fee.

Facilities that transport biomedical waste must obtain a permit through the Florida Department of Health; those facilities located in Brevard County shall be permitted through DOH-Brevard prior to operation. The initial/annual transporter registration fee is $85.00 which includes 1 truck. Additional trucks are $10.00 each. The permit year for biomedical waste transporters also runs from October 1 to September 30. The annual fee must be paid prior to October 1 or a $20.00 late fee will be assessed. Transporters must submit an application on form DH4160 and an annual report on Form DH4109 each year for renewal. 

Environmental Public Health Services conducts annual inspections of all permitted biomedical waste facilities and triennial inspections of facilities which possess an Exemption Certificate for compliance with state rule. EPHS also responds to complaints regarding spills or illegal dumping of biomedical waste. Facilities found in non-compliance can be charged a $60.00 re-inspection fee.

The Brevard County Solid Waste Management Department has a Brevard County Household Used Sharps Program (brevardfl.gov) available to citizens of Brevard County to safely dispose of any household generated sharps. Please contact 321-633-2042 or email SW.Webmis@BrevardCounty.us for more information.

For more information on biomedical waste in the State of Florida, please visit https://www.floridahealth.gov/environmental-health/biomedical-waste/index.html.

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