Medical Waste Treatment Guidelines

Regulated Medical Waste (RMW) comes from healthcare facilities. It can include blood, body fluids or other infectious materials. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) makes regulations for this waste.

All medical waste must be treated before it is thrown away. Treatment can be done at the place where the waste is made or at another approved place.

Allowed treatment processes:

• Burning (incineration)
• Using high heat and pressure (autoclave)
• Using chemicals to kill germs (chemical disinfection)
• Using electricity or steam to kill germs (electro-thermal or steam-thermal inactivation)