Medical waste

{
  "id": "MLC-T-ENV-016888",
  "term": "Medical waste",
  "field": "Environment",
  "term_source": "Medical Waste",
  "definition": "1. All wastes from hospitals, clinics, or other health care facilities (\"Red Bag Waste\") that contain or have come into contact with diseased tissues or infectious microorganisms. Also referred to as infectious waste which is hazardous waste with infectious characteristics, including: contaminated animal waste, human blood and blood products, pathological waste, and discarded sharps (needles, scalpels, or broken medical instruments).\n\n2. Any solid waste generated in the diagnosis, treatment, or immunization of human beings or animals, in research pertaining thereto, or in the production or testing of biologicals, excluding hazardous waste identified or listed under 40 CFR Part 261 or any household waste as defined in 40 CFR Sub-section 261.4 (b)(1).\n\n3. Refers to any solid waste generated in the diagnosis, treatment, or immunization of human beings or animals, in research pertaining there to, or in the production or testing of biologicals, excluding hazardous waste identified or listed under 40 CFR Part 261 or any household waste as defined in 40 CFR Subsection 261.4 (b)(1).\n\n4. Culture and stocks of infectious agents, human pathological wastes, human blood and blood products, used sharps, certain animal wastes, certain isolation wastes, and unused sharps.\n\n5. Waste generated in the diagnosis, treatment, or immunization of human beings or animals, in research pertaining thereto, or in the production or testing of biologicals that is listed in paragraphs (1) through (7) of this definition. The definition of medical/infectious waste does not include hazardous waste identified or listed under the regulations in part 261 of this chapter; household waste, as defined in §261.4(b)(1) of this chapter; ash from incineration of medical/infectious waste, once the incineration process has been completed; human corpses, remains, and anatomical parts that are intended for interment or cremation; and domestic sewage materials identified in §261.4(a)(1) of this chapter. (1) Cultures and stocks of infectious agents and associated biologicals, including: Cultures from medical and pathological laboratories; cultures and stocks of infectious agents from research and industrial laboratories; wastes from the production of biologicals; discarded live and attenuated vaccines; and culture dishes and devices used to transfer, inoculate, and mix cultures. (2) Human pathological waste, including tissues, organs, and body parts and body fluids that are removed during surgery or autopsy, or other medical procedures, and specimens of body fluids and their containers. (3) Human blood and blood products including: (i) Liquid waste human blood; (ii) Products of blood; (iii) Items saturated and/or dripping with human blood; or (iv) Items that were\n\n6. Waste meeting the definition of medical/infectious waste contained in 40 CFR 60.51c of subpart Ec.",
  "subject": "Environmental events",
  "see_also": [
    "Infectious Waste"
  ],
  "references": [
    "Environmental Issues Terms & Acronyms; Pesticides Glossary",
    "Terms of Env; Terms of Environment; EPA Report on the Environment Glossary at http://www.epa.gov/ncea/roe/glossary.htm; Report on the Environment (ROE) Glossary",
    "U.S. EPA, 1994d",
    "RCRA Orientation Manual 2008 Glossary",
    "Definition truncated. For full definition, see 40 CFR 62.14490 (CFR 2018)",
    "40 CFR 62.15410 (CFR 2018)"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/environment/medical-waste/"
}