Management of medical waste captures public attention only intermittently. Media headlines abound when syringes or other medical wastes wash up on beaches, or when infectious diseases such as Ebola necessitate use of highly protective procedures to handle patient waste. In contrast, the daily generation, transportation, processing and disposal of medical waste raises scant public concern, perhaps due to the success to date of regulatory programs and industry efforts to avoid adverse public health impacts.

Evaluating and minimizing the risks posed by different types of medical wastes to human health and the environment are fundamental elements of efficient and effective waste management programs. Infectious wastes are generated in the diagnosis, treatment, immunization or autopsy of humans or animals and have the potential to cause disease. Chemotherapeutic wastes result from use of agents to kill malignant cells and may have toxic effects. In Pennsylvania, the Solid Waste Management Act, the Infectious and Chemotherapeutic Waste Disposal Law and their implementing regulations provide a comprehensive program for managing infectious and chemotherapeutic waste (ICW). On Nov. 8, the Pennsylvania Environmental Quality Board (EQB) published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin final-form amendments to Pennsylvania’s ICW regulations. Using experience gained in implementing its ICW regulatory program, lessons learned from federal programs and capabilities enhanced by technology, the updated regulations more effectively address the risks that ICW pose to the public while recognizing the important economic role that health care businesses play.

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