Medical waste - Rhode Island

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 Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management regulates medical waste through the Medical and Infectious Waste Program (250 RICR 140-15-1). The regulations cover:

• 1.2 Applicability;
• 1.6 Identification and segregation of regulated medical wastes;
• 1.7 Packaging and containment of regulated medical wastes;
• 1.8 Storage of regulated medical wastes;
• 1.9 Decontamination standards for reusable containers;
• 1.10 On-site transport of regulated medical wastes;
• 1.11 Labeling and marking regulated medical wastes for off-site transport;
• 1.12 On-site treatment and/or destruction of regulated medical waste;
• 1.13 Generator requirements for off-site transportation of regulated medical waste;
• 1.14 Transporter requirements for off-site transportation of regulated medical waste;
• 1.15 Treatment, destruction, and destination facilities;
• 1.16 Registration for generators of regulated medical waste; and
• 1.17 Licenses for storage, treatment, and/or destruction of regulated medical waste.

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
• Rhode Island Code of Regulations Part 140-15-1