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Sewage and Biohazard Waste Cleanup in Bremerton, WA

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How companies are checked

A sewage backup, a septic failure, needles left behind, or a buildup of rodent droppings in Bremerton is cleaned up by an independent biohazard or restoration company that you hire directly. First, keep people and pets out of the area and do not try to clean it yourself. Biohazard Network can connect you with an independent local company; we do not clean, haul or inspect anything.

Finding this in your home, a rental you own, or a business you manage is stressful. This page explains what the work involves, what to leave alone, and how the waste must leave the property.

What this service covers

A biohazard is any material that can carry germs or substances that can make people sick. This page covers biohazards not tied to a death or a crime: sewage backups and septic failures, sharps (needles, syringes, lancets and blades that can pierce skin), rodent droppings and nests, and contaminated material left in rentals, vacant units and businesses.

Ordinary cleaning is not enough. Sewage soaks into porous materials, which are things like drywall, carpet and insulation that absorb liquid and cannot be fully disinfected, so wiping the surface leaves contamination behind. Needles can carry bloodborne pathogens, which are germs carried in blood that can cause disease. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) says to hire a cleaning professional if a moldy area has been contaminated by sewage.

If what you found is connected to a death, the Kitsap County Medical Examiner’s Office investigates all sudden, unexpected, or unnatural deaths in Kitsap County; see unattended death cleanup in Bremerton.

What to do first, and what to leave alone

  • Close off the area. Keep children, pets and tenants away, and shut the door if you can.
  • Leave needles alone. Do not pick them up or push them into a garbage bag. The Kitsap Public Health District1 (KPHD), the county health department, has guidance titled Safely Handling Sharps.
  • Do not sweep or vacuum rodent droppings. DOH2 says people can be exposed to hantavirus, a virus that infected deer mice shed in urine, saliva and droppings, by breathing dust stirred up from droppings or nests. DOH says to treat all droppings as infectious and notes that a dust mask does not protect against viruses.
  • Keep damaged belongings for now. The Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC) tells renters not to throw damaged things away yet, because the insurer may want to inspect them.
  • Bring septic or sewage spill questions to KPHD1. Its programs include Drinking Water & Onsite Sewage and Water Pollution Identification & Correction, and it lists Ordinance 2025-01 : Onsite Sewage System and General Sewage Sanitation Regulations. You can reach the Kitsap Public Health District at 360-728-2235 or online.

What to expect from the company you hire

Biohazard remediation is the full process of removing contamination and making a space safe to use again. Ask the company to explain each step before it starts:

  • Protective equipment: gloves, eye protection, breathing protection and protective suits for the crew.
  • Containment: sealing off the work area, for example with plastic sheeting, so contamination does not spread.
  • Removal: soaked porous materials are cut out and bagged. Ask for photos and a written list.
  • Disinfection: applying products that kill germs on hard surfaces after cleaning.
  • Odor work: this comes after the source is removed; see odor remediation in Bremerton.
  • Restoration: sewage cleanup overlaps with water damage restoration, and drying and rebuilding can follow once the biohazard is gone, sometimes by a different company. See how biohazard cleanup fits with water, fire and mold restoration.
  • Records: a written scope, photos and disposal paperwork for your insurer.

The OIC3 says you can ask your agent or company whether a loss is covered without filing a claim, and that most homeowner policies don’t cover gradual leaks. It also says homeowners have the right to choose their own contractor for covered repairs, and that signing a contractor’s assignment of benefit form could affect your rights.

Cleaning a former drug lab is a separate job in Washington; its decontamination workers and contractors must be certified through DOH’s Drug Lab Cleanup Program.

How to check a company

Before you hire, ask the company how it meets OSHA’s bloodborne pathogens standard4, 29 CFR 1910.1030, and whether its work follows the ANSI/IICRC S540 Standard for Trauma and Crime Scene Cleanup from the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC), a non-profit organization for the cleaning and restoration industries. You can also look the business up yourself with the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) tool Verify a Contractor, Tradesperson or Business, and biohazard cleanup certifications explained walks through what each of these means.

The process: how the waste leaves the property

Ask the company to explain how it will sort, pack and haul what it removes.

  1. Sort. Biomedical waste is a legal category of waste with its own handling rules. Washington’s definition, in RCW 70A.228.010, is limited to the types it lists, including sharps waste and discarded human blood and blood products. Ask which materials from your property fall into it.
  2. Keep it separate. A company that collects, transports and disposes of biomedical waste must keep an operating plan that holds that waste apart from other solid waste until treatment or disposal.
  3. Haul it through the regulated channel. In Kitsap County, the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission5 (UTC) and KPHD1 both regulate hauling biohazardous or biomedical waste, and companies need UTC approval and a KPHD Solid Waste Hauling Permit. KPHD publishes Permitted Solid Waste Companies in Kitsap County | 2026, so ask who will haul your waste and check the name.
  4. Other debris. A cleanup company that hauls site waste away in its own equipment needs the KPHD1 Site Restoration Hauler permit, which is not the biomedical waste hauling permit. Ask which permit covers which load.
  5. Confirm and keep records. Ask how the company confirms the area is clean, and keep every disposal document.

Sewage and biohazard cleanup in Bremerton

Bremerton is an incorporated city, and its Department of Community Development processes permit applications. If removing wet drywall or flooring leads to repairs, ask your contractor whether you need to file one. For a home, rental or business near Harborside Fountain Park, or near the Puget Sound Navy Museum by the downtown ferry terminal, KPHD1 is the health department to contact.

If the company you choose is based outside Kitsap County, ask what route it takes and how that affects when it can arrive. The county’s road links include the Hood Canal Bridge, a 7,867-foot floating bridge over saltwater, and the Agate Pass Bridge on SR 305, which is Bainbridge Island’s road link to the Kitsap Peninsula.

Who to call first

In an emergency, call 911.These official offices may be part of the first steps. They are government pages, not ours.

Sewage and biohazard waste cleanup: every town we cover

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What this covers

Unattended death

Unattended death cleanup means cleaning a home after someone died and was not found right away. When someone is found after they have died, RCW 68.50.010 gives the county coroner or medical examiner jurisdiction over the body.

The details, if you want them

OSHA said in a 2007 letter that its Bloodborne Pathogens standard is concerned with exposure to blood no matter how long the blood has been exposed to air. The same letter says there are studies stating that the hepatitis B virus is likely to survive on surfaces for longer than two weeks.

Unattended death cleanup in Bremerton

Suicide

Suicide cleanup means cleaning the place where someone died by suicide. Grief support: 988 (call or text, free, any time).

The details, if you want them

The 988 line offers live help in English and Spanish, and interpretation in more than 240 languages and dialects, the Department of Health says.

Crime and trauma scene cleanup in Bremerton

Crime or trauma scene

Crime or trauma scene cleanup means cleaning a home, business or other place after a violent crime, a serious accident or another traumatic event. An industry standard for this work, IICRC S540, sets out the procedures and precautions to follow. It assumes law enforcement or a regulatory agency has already released the scene.

The details, if you want them

OSHA addressed in a 2020 letter how its Bloodborne Pathogens and HAZWOPER (Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response) standards apply to crime and trauma scene cleanup in homes and businesses. Under OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogens standard4, regulated waste includes liquid or semi-liquid blood, items that would release blood if squeezed, and items caked with dried blood that can release it when handled.

Crime and trauma scene cleanup in Bremerton

Blood and bodily fluids

Blood and bodily fluid cleanup means cleaning up blood or other body fluids after an injury, an illness or a death. Washington’s workplace rule on blood (WAC 296-823-099) describes treating all human blood and certain body fluids, whoever they came from, as if they carry HIV, hepatitis B and other germs carried in blood.

The details, if you want them

Professionals call this approach universal precautions. Under WAC 296-823-100, the rule applies to employers whose workers have occupational exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM), even if no exposure incident has happened. WAC 296-823-099 defines bloodborne pathogens as germs in human blood that can cause disease, such as HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C.

Blood and bodily fluid cleanup in Bremerton

Hoarding

Hoarding cleanup means clearing and cleaning a home where belongings have built up over time. The U.S. Fire Administration says belongings that fill a living space until it can no longer be used create fire risks for the people who live there and for firefighters. It advises keeping doorways and windows clear, for escape in a fire and to prevent injuries from falls.

The details, if you want them

A 2012 National Institute of Mental Health science update describes hoarding disorder, then a proposed category in psychiatry’s diagnostic manual (DSM-5), as marked by avoiding decisions about possessions. The U.S. Fire Administration says blocked windows and doors make it hard for firefighters to get into a home to fight a fire and search for the people inside.

Hoarding cleanup in Bremerton

Sewage

Sewage cleanup means cleaning up after a toilet, drain or sewer line backs up into a home or building. Raw sewage carries bacteria, viruses, parasites and intestinal worms, the EPA says. Washington’s Department of Health says indoor sewage spills need thorough cleaning, started as soon as possible, to protect people, especially small children.

The details, if you want them

The EPA says rugs, curtains, flooring, wallboard and upholstered furniture that come into contact with sewage usually must be replaced.

Infectious disease

Infectious disease cleaning means cleaning and disinfecting a home or workplace after an illness that can spread.

The details, if you want them

The EPA defines cleaning as removing dirt and organic matter from surfaces with soap or detergents, and disinfecting as killing viruses and bacteria on surfaces with chemicals. It says to follow the label on EPA-registered disinfectants and to pay attention to the contact time, which is how long the surface must stay wet.

Rodent and animal waste

Rodent and animal waste cleanup means removing droppings, urine and nests left by mice, rats or other animals. Washington’s Department of Health2 says a person may be exposed to hantavirus by breathing contaminated dust after disturbing or cleaning rodent droppings or nests. The Department of Health’s rodent guidance says not to vacuum or sweep around rodent waste, and that homeowners should consider hiring a professional company for heavily contaminated areas.

The details, if you want them

Because you cannot tell how old a dropping is, the Department of Health2 says to handle all rodent droppings as if they are infectious. For heavy infestations, the Department of Health’s rodent guidance says to wear respiratory protection, such as a half-mask respirator with a HEPA filter or a powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR).

Drug residue

Drug residue is what is left on surfaces where people used illegal drugs. Washington’s Department of Health says testing and cleanup at illegal drug labs and drug storage sites are regulated under state law. See our guide to drug lab cleanup.

The details, if you want them

Under WAC 246-205-091, a contractor may do decontamination, demolition or disposal work at an illegal drug manufacturing or storage site only after getting a certificate from the state health department. The Department of Health says it has no policy on when to test for residue from drug use, and that your local health officer decides whether an area is considered contaminated.

Vehicle cleanup

Vehicle cleanup means cleaning blood or other biohazards inside a car, truck or boat. This can follow an accident, a crime or a death in the vehicle.

Blood and bodily fluid cleanup in Bremerton

Questions people ask

Who cleans up a sewage backup in Bremerton, WA?

An independent biohazard or restoration company that you hire directly cleans up a sewage backup. Sewage soaks into drywall, carpet and insulation, so those materials are removed rather than wiped clean. If the home is on a septic system, the Kitsap Public Health District1 lists a Drinking Water & Onsite Sewage program. Biohazard Network can connect you with an independent local company but does not do the work.

Is it safe to clean up mouse droppings myself in Washington?

It carries real risk, because the Washington State Department of Health2 (DOH) says people can be exposed to hantavirus by breathing dust after disturbing or cleaning rodent droppings or nests. DOH says not to vacuum or sweep, to wear rubber, latex, vinyl or nitrile gloves, and to thoroughly wet droppings with a bleach solution before removing them. It also notes that a dust mask does not protect against viruses.

What should a landlord do about needles found in a vacant rental in Kitsap County?

Leave the needles where they are, keep people out of the unit, and do not put them in regular garbage. The Kitsap Public Health District1 has guidance titled Safely Handling Sharps. A cleanup company can remove the needles as biomedical waste, which in Kitsap County must be hauled by a company with approval from the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission5 and a KPHD Solid Waste Hauling Permit.

Does homeowners insurance cover sewage cleanup in Washington?

It depends on your policy, so ask your agent or insurance company whether the loss is covered; the Office of the Insurance Commissioner3 says you can ask without filing a claim. The OIC says most homeowner policies don't cover gradual leaks, and many offer only limited mold coverage when the mold results from a covered loss. Homeowners also have the right to choose their own contractor for covered repairs.

Usually covered: If your home is on a sewer system, sewer backup coverage can be added to a home policy as an optional endorsement, says the Insurance Commissioner’s flood insurance page.

Usually not covered: A standard home policy does not cover sewer backup, but it can be added as an optional endorsement, says the Insurance Commissioner’s flood insurance page. If you rent, your landlord’s or property management company’s policy covers the building but not your belongings, says the Commissioner’s renter insurance page.

Ask your insurer: “Does my policy include a sewer backup endorsement, and does it cover this backup?” Source: Learn how home insurance works (Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner)

Where does biohazard waste go after cleanup in Kitsap County?

Biomedical waste must be kept separate from other solid waste and hauled through a permitted channel until it is treated or disposed of. In Kitsap County, hauling biohazardous or biomedical waste is regulated by the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission5 and the Kitsap Public Health District1, and companies need UTC approval and a KPHD Solid Waste Hauling Permit. The district publishes a list titled Permitted Solid Waste Companies in Kitsap County | 2026.

Sources

  1. Kitsap Public Health District (opens in a new tab)Kitsap Public Health District
  2. DOH (opens in a new tab)Washington State Department of Health
  3. Filing a homeowner insurance claim (opens in a new tab)Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner
  4. 29 CFR 1910.1030 (opens in a new tab)U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration
  5. Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (opens in a new tab)Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission

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