CA Health & Safety Code Section 118295

A person shall thoroughly wash and decontaminate reusable rigid containers for medical waste by a method approved by the enforcement agency each time they are emptied, unless the surfaces of the containers have been completely protected from contamination by disposable liners, bags, or other devices removed with the waste. These containers shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary manner. Approved methods of decontamination include, but are not limited to, agitation to remove visible soil combined with one of the following procedures:

(a)

Exposure to hot water of at least 82° Centigrade (180° Fahrenheit) for a minimum of 15 seconds.

(b)

Exposure to chemical sanitizer by rinsing with, or immersion in, one of the following for a minimum of three minutes:

(1)

Hypochlorite solution (500 ppm available chlorine).

(2)

Phenolic solution (500 ppm active agent).

(3)

Iodoform solution (100 ppm available iodine).

(4)

Quaternary ammonium solution (400 ppm active agent).