OAR 333-056-0020
Definitions Relating to Infectious Waste

As used in OAR 333-056-0010 (Purpose of Infectious Waste Administrative Rules) through 333-056-0050 (Prevention of Disease Transmission by Blood-Contaminated Sharp Objects), unless the context requires otherwise, the following definitions apply:
(1) “Act” means chapter 763, Oregon Laws, 1989, codified as ORS 459.386 (Definitions for ORS 459.386 to 459.405) to 459.405 (Transport of infectious waste).
(2) “Disposal” has the meaning given that term in ORS 459.386 (Definitions for ORS 459.386 to 459.405).
(3) “Disposal site” has the meaning given that term in ORS 459.005 (Definitions for ORS 459.005 to 459.437, 459.705 to 459.790 and 459A.005 to 459A.665).
(4) “Division” means the Oregon Health Authority, Public Health Division.
(5) “Incineration” has the meaning given that term in ORS 459.395 (Treatment of infectious wastes).
(6) “Infectious waste” means biological waste, cultures and stocks, pathological waste, or sharps, as those terms are defined in ORS 459.386 (Definitions for ORS 459.386 to 459.405); or syringes.
(7) “Landfill” means a facility for the disposal of solid waste involving the placement of solid waste on or beneath the land surface.
(8) “Noninfectious” means a state in which a disease causing agent is not capable of causing an infection to occur.
(9) “Saturated waste” means waste that contains enough body fluid that it would cause dripping of the body fluid from the waste container, with or without compaction.
(10) “Sterilization” means, for purposes of these rules, any process which changes infectious waste so that disease causing agents contained within it are rendered non-infectious at the time the process is completed.
(11) “Storage” has the meaning given that term in ORS 459.386 (Definitions for ORS 459.386 to 459.405).
(12) “Syringe” means an instrument for the injection of medicine or the withdrawal of body fluids that consists of a hollow barrel fitted with a plunger and a hollow needle.
(13) “Transportation” has the meaning given that term in ORS 459.386 (Definitions for ORS 459.386 to 459.405).
(14) “Treatment” means incineration, sterilization or other method, technique or process approved by the Oregon Health Authority, Public Health Division that changes the character or composition of any infectious waste so as to render the waste noninfectious. Treatment also includes methods of rendering waste noninfectious, which are approved by the Environmental Quality Commission.

Source: Rule 333-056-0020 — Definitions Relating to Infectious Waste, https://secure.­sos.­state.­or.­us/oard/view.­action?ruleNumber=333-056-0020 (accessed May 26, 2025).

May 26, 2025

Rule 333-056-0020's source at or​.us