Sharps & Medical Waste Disposal North Carolina

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) keeps a strong eye and steady hand on diverse environmental challenges, including avian flu, storm seasons, drought, coal ash, offshore energy, and much more. All issues are important when it comes to public health and stewardship of the environment. This includes all aspects of medical waste management, including packaging, storage, transportation, treatment, and disposal. North Carolina waste management regulations are administered by the NCDEQ and Natural Resources, Division of Waste Management. There are other agencies that have additional regulatory control over aspects of medical waste disposal and management, including OHSA, the USDOT, the USEPA, and the North Carolina Hazardous Waste Section.

For North Carolina, medical waste is defined as any solid waste which is generated in the diagnosis, treatment, or immunization of human beings or animals, in research pertaining thereto, or in the production or testing of biologicals. More specific definitions and types of medical waste can be found in Medical Waste Management Rules Section .1200 from the NCDEQ.

NCDEQ storage regulations require that medical waste must be stored in a manner so as not to create a nuisance either by noxious odors or by encouraging the presence of vermin. Regulated medical waste must be maintained in a non-putrescent state. Regulated medical waste must be stored in a manner that maintains the integrity, including labels and markings. Areas used to store regulated medical waste must be accessible only to authorized personnel. Vermin and insects must be controlled. All floor drains in the storage area must discharge directly to an approved sanitary sewer (sewer or septic system). Ventilation must be provided. A plan must be maintained at the facility to ensure proper management of regulated medical waste.

North Carolina medical waste storage and disposal regulations are complex, and differ depending on the type of health care facility you are work for. The definitions vary from integrated medical facilities to health service facilities. An integrated medical facility is located in a single county or two contiguous counties, is affiliated with a university medical school or are under common ownership or control, and serves a single service area. Health service facilities may be defined as a hospital, long-term care hospital, psychiatric facility, rehabilitation facility, nursing home facility, adult care home, kidney disease treatment center, including freestanding hemodialysis units, intermediate care facility for the mentally retarded, home health agency office, chemical dependency treatment facility, diagnostic center, hospice office, hospice inpatient facility, hospice residential care facility, and ambulatory surgical facility, or a funeral home, veterinary hospital, dental and research lab. Each of these facilities is likely to be involved in medical waste disposal and biohazard waste disposal, but each one is also likely to be regulated differently under the various rules and codes of local, state and federal agencies.

To help understand your particular medical waste disposal compliance regulations, MedPro Disposal can provide you with the resources and knowledgeable guidance you need. Along with one-on-one customer service, our resources include Frequently Asked Question guides, tips on how to become a medical waste disposal industry insider, quick start guides for OHSA and other regulatory agencies, a MedPro Disposal blog that is up-to-date on the issues, infographics on costs and savings, live chat on our website to direct you to what you are looking for, and an Online Safety Compliance Portal – to name just a few. With these resources at your disposal, medical waste disposal is comprehensible, affordable, doable. You can also be sure that we will stay in touch with you, to make sure that as your company grows and changes, your needs are met and we can address any questions or concerns you might have. We will be partners in your medical waste disposal management plan, for you and for the respectful citizens of North Carolina.