Massachusetts Medical Waste Regulations

Medical Waste Disposal Regulations in Massachusetts

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is an “anchor” (see what we did there? because oceans…and boats) for America’s origins and history.

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Classifications of Waste

Infectious Waste: defined as physically dangerous medical or biological waste, such as: sharps; blood and blood products; pathological wastes; cultures and stocks of infectious agents and associated biologicals; contaminated animal carcasses, body parts and bedding.

Types of Wastes

Medical or biological waste is waste that because of its characteristics may cause, or significantly contribute to, an increase in mortality or an increase in serious irreversible or incapacitating reversible illness; or pose a substantial present potential hazard to human health or the environment when improperly treated, stored, transported, disposed of or otherwise managed.

Storage Requirements

All medical or biological waste, except sharps, shall be contained in a primary container which is a red, fluorescent orange or orange-red plastic bag that is impervious to moisture and has sufficient strength to resist ripping, tearing or bursting under normal conditions of use and handling, and which meets the American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) standard D1922-06a and ASTM D1709-04. All areas for on-site storage of containers of medical or biological waste, excluding kiosks dedicated for the sole purpose of collecting waste.

Check out your local medical waste disposal service!