Medical waste - New Mexico

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 New Mexico Environment Department regulates infectious waste as special waste under the Solid Waste Rules (20 NMAC 9.8.13). The regulations cover:

• A Applicability;
• B Exemptions;
• C Storage and containment requirements;
• D Permitted disposal facility requirement;
• E Operational requirements;
• F Processing, transformation, and disposal of infectious waste methods; and
• G Alternate treatment method approval.

General special waste requirements are located under the same part (20 NMAC 9.8). The regulations cover:

• 9.8.9 Restrictions, and
• 9.8.10 General requirements.

Further, commercial haulers of infectious waste must comply with specific regulations (20 NMAC 9.8.5.14(C)).

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
• New Mexico Administrative Code Part 20.9.8
• New Mexico Administrative Code Section 20.9.5.14(C)