Medical waste - Michigan

The EPA has not had regulatory authority over medical waste since the Medical Waste Tracking Act of 1988 expired in 1991. Most states have since developed their own programs, resulting in significant differences for each state. A summary of this state’s requirements includes the following.

The Michigan Medical Waste Regulatory Program regulates medical waste-producing facilities through the Michigan Medical Waste Regulatory Act (MCL 368-1978-12-138), Part 138 of Act 368 of 1978 of the Public Health Code. The regulations cover:

• 333.13809 Producing facility not incinerating medical waste on-site: containment of medical waste;
• 333.13810 Producing facility incinerating medical waste on-site: containment of medical waste;
• 333.13811 Storage, decontamination, and disposal of medical waste;
• 333.13813 Producing facility requirements;
• 333.13815 Registration fee;
• 333.13817 Medical waste management plan contents, compliance, update, and availability;
• 333.13819 Medical waste management plan modification and warning;
• 333.13821 Manner of packaging medical waste;
• 333.13823 Investigation and confirmation of reported medical waste on land or water;
• 333.13825 Investigation and confirmation of violation; and
• 333.13831 Violation and administrative fine.

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy regulates medical waste-producing facilities. The regulations cover:

• 325.1542 Packaging, labeling, storage, and transportation;
• 325.1543 Treatment of medical waste;
• 325.1544 Equipment maintenance and record retention;
• 325.1545 Registration of multiple producing facilities, medical waste management plan content, and registration fee;
• 325.1546 Fee payment for producing facilities with expired registrations and change of ownership; and
• 325.1547 Training requirement, training schedule, and record of training.

Related information

• Medical waste RegSense

Citations

• Federal regulation 40 CFR Part 261
• Federal regulation 40 CFR Part 262
• Federal regulation 29 CFR 1910.1030
• Federal Regulation 49 CFR Subchapter C
• Michigan Administrative Code 339-10317
• Michigan Compiled Laws Part 368-1978-12-138 (Michigan Medical Waste Regulatory Act)