Medical waste - Pennsylvania

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 Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection oversees regulated medical waste.

• The regulated medical waste regulations (25 PC 284) cover:
  • Subchapter A General provisions,
  • Subchapter B General permits,
  • Subchapter C Transfer facilities,
  • Subchapter D Processing facilities,
  • Subchapter E Segregation and storage,
  • Subchapter F Collection and transportation,
  • Subchapter G Transporter licensing for regulated medical waste, and
  • Subchapter H Tracking of regulated medical waste.
• The municipal waste regulations (25 PC 285) cover:
  • 285.131 Storage and containment of ash residue from regulated medical incineration,
  • 285.211 General provisions,
  • 285.218 Signs on transportation vehicles, and
  • 285.221 Transportation of ash residue from regulated medical waste incineration.
• The municipal waste management regulations (25 PC 271) cover:
  • Subchapter A General requirements, and
  • Subchapter B General requirements for permits and permit applications.
• The municipal waste landfill regulations (25 PC 273) cover:
  • 273.411 Processed regulated medical waste disposal application, and
  • 273.511 Processed regulated medical waste disposal.

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
• Pennsylvania Code Chapter 25-284
• Pennsylvania Code Chapter 25-285
• Pennsylvania Code Chapter 25-271
• Pennsylvania Code Chapter 25-273