Medical waste - Virginia

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 Virginia Department of Environmental Quality oversees regulated medical waste (9 VAC 20-121). The regulations cover:

• Part I Definitions,
• Part II General information (including applicability and identification of regulated medical waste),
• Part III Standards for management of all regulated medical waste,
• Part IV Standards for regulated medical waste transfer stations and treatment facilities,
• Part V Permitting of regulated medical waste management facilities, and
• Part VI Variance application procedures.

The Virginia DEQ also regulates the transportation of solid and medical wastes in state waters (9-20-170). The regulations cover:

• Part I Definitions and program administration (including applicability),
• Part II Standards for containers,
• Part III Standards for loading and off-loading receiving facilities,
• Part IV Permitting of off-loading receiving facilities,
• Part V Monthly fees collected by receiving facilities,
• Part VI Financial responsibility requirements for vessels transporting solid wastes or regulated medical wastes,
• Part VII Compliance of vessels transporting solid wastes or regulated medical wastes with federal statutes and regulates and state spill response requirements, and
• Part VIII Variances.

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
• Virginia Administrative Code Chapter 9-20-121
• Virginia Administrative Code Chapter 9-20-170