The state of Virginia makes headlines as the Virginia Waste Management Board alters the current medical waste management regulations to improve the handling and treatment of regulated medical waste in the state. The amendment was proposed back in May 2018 and is finally being put into effect in March of 2023. According to the Virginia Register of Regulations website, the alterations will include:
- Providing additional exceptions to encourage the safe collection and proper management of regulated medical waste, such as sharps.
- Further clarify regulated medical waste storage requirements for generators and permitted facilities.
- Streamlining the permit structure and clarifying activities exempt from permitting.
- Specifying the siting, design, operation, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements of regulated medical waste transfer stations and treatment facilities
- Requiring validation and periodic challenge testing for treatment technologies
- Clarifying procedures for Category A wastes (waste contaminated with infectious substances)
- Improving the alternate treatment technology petition process
- Improving the regulatory structure, procedures, and use
What does this mean and why is it important?
While the regulations are being altered, many of the existing provisions will remain unchanged except the Virginia Regulatory Town Hall aims to further clarify the requirements for generators and permitted facilities, improve the permitted procedures, and restructure the regulations for usage. These new alterations will help protect human health and Virginia’s natural resources. The buildup and improper storage of medical waste can have a significant on environmental health, including damaging ecosystems as well as soil and water contamination. It can also result in risking the health of people by being potentially exposed to infected personal protective equipment containing blood-borne pathogens that are linked to transmission of a variety of serious health conditions such as Hepatitis C (HCV), Hepatitis B (HBV), and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). This is why it is so important to enforce these types of regulations to help protect the health of the environment and humans.
How can MedPro Help?
In vol 39 issue 13 of the Department of Environmental Quality report, it states that the state of Virginia requires that all regulated medical waste shall be stored in accordance with the following timeframes:
- Generators of less than 250 gallons of regulated medical waste per calendar month shall arrange for the removal of all regulated medical waste stored onsite at least once per calendar month and provide shipment to a facility permitted to receive it for transfer, treatment, or disposal. No regulated medical waste shall be stored onsite for more than 45 calendar days, and no more than 250 gallons of regulated medical waste shall be stored onsite at any given time. Records shall be maintained in accordance with 9VAC20- 121-100 I.
- Generators of 250 gallons or more of regulated medical waste per calendar month shall arrange for the removal of all regulated medical waste stored onsite at least once per calendar week and provide shipment to a facility permitted to receive it for transfer, treatment, or disposal. No regulated medical waste shall be stored onsite for more than 10 calendar days. Records shall be maintained in accordance with 9VAC20-121-100 I.
MedPro Waste Disposal offers its medical and biohazard waste disposal services in six areas in Virginia, including, Alexandria, Richmond, Virginia Beach, Ashburn, Chesapeake, and Midlothian. MedPro plans to increase the frequency of waste pick-up to ensure your business will remain compliant with the adjusted regulations. Here at MedPro, our goal is to make disposing of your waste easier and less costly!
To learn more about how MedPro can help your business, click here.
Sources:
Virginia Regulatory Town Hall (NOIRA)
Virginia Town Hall (Final Write Up)
Virginia Register of Regulations:
