Did you know improperly disposing of your medical waste can cost you millions of dollars? Improper disposal could be something as simple as throwing bloody bandages into the regular garbage, to something as irresponsible as dumping your medical waste into the ocean. Not only is this illegal, but it also can injure people, harm wildlife, and even transmit diseases.
In This Article
Fines
Illegally discarding your medical waste can be punished with fines and/or prison time. Companies located everywhere from California to Pennsylvania have been fined anywhere from $200,000 to
20 million dollars
! The amount of the fine is dictated by a few factors. Namely the amount of waste illegally discarded, the type of waste, and individual state regulations. Following proper
medical waste disposal guidelines
, or making sure your waste disposal company does, is very important not only for your company, but also for the environment.
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Environmental Effects
Improper disposal of medical waste can have many negative effects on the environment. Dumping waste in oceans, rivers, or lakes not only harms the marine life, but it can also harm people who visit these places. When medical waste washes up onto shores it is very dangerous for unsuspecting visitors and incredibly difficult to clean up. In the 1980s a company in New York was fined 1 million dollars after the waste they threw in the ocean washed up on several beaches in New York and New Jersey.
Throwing medical waste in the garbage can be similarly devastating on the environment. When the waste is taken to the landfill, it becomes incredibly dangerous. Not only can loose sharps injure garbage workers, but if the landfill is improperly constructed or damaged the discarded waste can contaminate local water supplies.
Danger to Humans
The
World Health Organization states
that in the year 2000, contaminated syringes caused 21 million cases of hepatitis B, 2 million hepatitis C infections, and 260,000 cases of HIV worldwide. They went on to claim that many of these infections could have been prevented if the
sharps
had been properly disposed of. While sharps are only account for around 1% of total medical waste generated every year, they are one of the
main sources of disease transmission
because of improper disposal.
The people in the most danger when waste isn’t disposed of properly are garbage workers, nurses, janitors, and anybody who takes their garbage out!
Have you ever been a victim of improper waste disposal? Let me know in the comments.
Common Questions
- What counts as medical waste?
- Medical waste is any waste generated during the diagnosis, treatment, or immunization of humans or animals that may be contaminated with blood, body fluids, or other infectious material — including sharps, blood-soaked dressings, cultures, and pathological tissue. Non-contaminated items like standard packaging are not regulated medical waste.
- How much does medical waste disposal cost?
- Cost depends on waste volume, pickup frequency, container size, waste type, and location. Most practices pay a flat monthly or per-pickup rate rather than being billed per pound. Typical monthly costs range from about $50-$200 for small practices and dental offices up to $1,000+ for long-term care facilities, with hospitals and large health systems running $1,000-$50,000+ per month — see our full pricing breakdown by facility type. MedPro customers also save an average of 30% by switching from their previous provider.
- Is medical waste disposal legally required?
- Yes. Any facility generating regulated medical waste must comply with OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, applicable EPA/DOT rules, and their state's specific medical waste regulations, which vary by state.
- What's the difference between medical waste and biohazard waste?
- Biohazard waste is a subset of medical waste. Medical waste is the broad category (including sharps and pharmaceuticals); biohazard waste specifically refers to material containing or potentially containing infectious agents.
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