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<br />2020 Solid Waste and Moderate <br />Risk Waste Management Plan Update <br /> <br />7-10 AX0304191054PDX <br />7.5.3.3 Pharmaceutical Waste <br /> Evaluate options for managing pharmaceutical waste and packaging, including establishing drop-off <br />sites and promoting mail-back options. <br /> Support private efforts to take-back medical waste, including hospital and law enforcement programs. <br />7.6 Veterinary Wastes <br />7.6.1 Background <br />Veterinary wastes pose some of the same hazards in the waste stream as untreated medical wastes <br />pose. Like medical offices, untreated surgical wastes, specimen cultures, syringes, and blades can enter <br />the waste stream from veterinary offices. Such wastes, when incinerated or properly sterilized by <br />autoclave or chemical methods, are considered treated wastes and do not fall within the definition of <br />biomedical or biohazards wastes. <br />The large farming, cattle, bison and sheep ranches within the County require more than the normal need <br />of veterinarians. Because of this it is important to address this waste stream separately. <br />7.6.2 Existing Conditions <br />Disposal practices for veterinary waste, including sharps and dead small animals, generally is similar to <br />those of medical facilities. There is a need to support viable options for the proper handling of large <br />animal carcasses, as there is currently no facility to handle them inside of the County. The County <br />currently provides technical assistance to explain proper disposal of large animals; however, owing to the <br />high water table in much of the County, burial of large animals is difficult. <br />7.6.3 Veterinary Waste Needs and Opportunities <br />There is a need for ongoing support of viable options regarding the proper handling and disposal of large <br />animal carcasses, as there is currently no County facility to handle them. <br />Although the current system is adequate to meet the County’s needs at this time; there may be <br />circumstances that could require an exploration by SWAC of additional or other options for dealing with <br />veterinary wastes. If such analysis or exploration is required, the SWAC will evaluate and recommend <br />alternatives for inclusion in this Plan to the Board of County Commissioners, and thus may be eligible for <br />funding. <br />7.6.4 Veterinary Waste Recommended Options and Implementation Actions <br />The following options for improving veterinary waste management are recommended. Each option and <br />the associated implementation actions are discussed below. <br />7.6.4.1 Large Animal Disposal <br />Support viable statewide, neighboring County, and privately developed programs for long-term <br />alternatives for large animal disposal. <br />7.6.4.2 Education and Outreach - Large Animal <br /> Provide information to the public on options within the County for the legal removal and/or disposal of <br />large animals, such as current contact information for rendering and burial service companies. <br /> Since disposal on private property is no longer permitted (KCHD 1999-01, p. 19), onsite composting <br />is a viable alternative. The County may provide information on proper composting techniques to <br />minimize the impact to environmental health and groundwater.