The State - News from Dec. 14, 1988

The State Lands Commission, pondering what to do about instances of medical trash washing up on Southern California beaches, heard calls for tougher controls on disposal of infectious medical wastes. Lt. Gov. Leo McCarthy, a commission member, told a hearing in Santa Monica that he will urge legislation to prohibit the disposal of infectious waste in ordinary landfills. Currently, he said, such disposal is legal under state law with the approval of the county health officer. Although witnesses said such disposal rarely if ever occurs in Southern California, it has been allowed in some Northern California counties.