Medical Waste Disposal in California
MedPro Disposal provides regulated medical waste, sharps and pharmaceutical waste pickup and disposal for healthcare facilities everywhere in California — on a schedule that fits California’s storage limits, with a tracking document at every pickup.
How is medical waste disposal regulated in California?
California regulates medical waste under its own Medical Waste Management Act (Health and Safety Code §117600 et seq.), overseen by the California Department of Public Health and enforced locally by either CDPH or a county or city environmental health agency. Generators must separate medical waste at the point of origin, use red biohazard bags, labeled rigid containers and FDA-approved sharps containers, and keep it only as long as the Act allows — as little as 7 days for biohazardous waste. Only a registered hazardous waste hauler may pick it up, with a tracking document for every shipment, and it must be treated at a permitted facility.
- State law
- Medical Waste Management Act
- Code
- Health & Safety Code §117600 et seq.
- Overseen by
- CDPH + local agencies
- Storage limit
- 7 or 30 days (unfrozen)
Key takeaways
- California regulates medical waste under the Medical Waste Management Act, Health and Safety Code §§117600–118360.
- In California, a site generating 20 lb or more of biohazardous waste a month may store it above 32°F for no more than 7 days; smaller generators get 30 days, and frozen waste 90 days.
- California requires full sharps containers to be removed within 30 days, and pharmaceutical waste containers within 90 days of being ready for disposal.
- Medical waste in California may be hauled only by a registered hazardous waste hauler, with a tracking document that follows it from pickup to treatment.
- California employers follow Cal/OSHA’s own Bloodborne Pathogens standard, 8 CCR §5193, which includes a Sharps Injury Log and annual training.
California Medical Waste Management Act Rules
Medical waste is regulated mainly by each state, with a few federal rules on top. California has its own law — the Medical Waste Management Act, Health and Safety Code §§117600–118360 — and its own bloodborne pathogens standard under Cal/OSHA. Here’s what they require of a practice, clinic or other healthcare facility.
What California regulates
Medical Waste
Biohazardous, pathology, pharmaceutical or trace chemotherapy waste not regulated under the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, plus sharps and trace chemotherapy waste generated in a health care setting in the diagnosis, treatment, immunization or care of humans or animals. It also covers waste from autopsy or necropsy, preparation of a body for final disposition, research with microbiologicals or pathogens, the consolidation of home-generated sharps, and trauma scene cleanup. Teeth are excluded from pathology waste.
- Biohazardous waste
- Pathology waste
- Pharmaceutical waste
- Sharps waste
- Trace chemotherapy waste
- Trauma scene waste
Who regulates medical waste in California
California Department of Public Health — Medical Waste Management Program
Oversees the Medical Waste Management Act statewide: permits and inspects offsite treatment facilities and transfer stations, keeps the list of medical waste transporters, and acts as the enforcement agency for generators in the jurisdictions without a local program (26 counties and one city, including most of Los Angeles County).
1616 Capitol Avenue, MS-7405, P.O. Box 997377, Sacramento, CA 95899-7377
Official websiteLocal enforcement agencies (county and city environmental health)
Counties and cities that elect to run their own medical waste program — including San Diego, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Sacramento, Alameda, Santa Clara, San Francisco and Long Beach — register and inspect generators there. CDPH publishes the map and contact list.
Department of Toxic Substances Control
Registers hazardous waste haulers — the registration every medical waste hauler in California must hold — and regulates pharmaceutical and other wastes that are hazardous waste rather than medical waste.
Cal/OSHA (Division of Occupational Safety and Health)
Enforces California’s Bloodborne Pathogens standard, 8 CCR §5193, for private employers and state and local government workplaces.
Key California requirements
| Topic | Requirement | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Registration & plans | Large quantity generators (200 lb or more of medical waste in any month) must register with their enforcement agency before generating waste, renew yearly and keep a medical waste management plan. Small quantity generators that treat waste onsite must also register and file a plan; other small generators keep an information document describing how they handle their waste, and register with CDPH or their local agency as it requires. | Cal. Health & Safety Code §§117925, 117935, 117945, 117950, 117960, 117970 |
| Segregation & bags | Keep medical waste separate from other waste at the point of origin. Biohazardous waste goes in red biohazard bags marked with the biohazard symbol (yellow bags may be used for trace chemo, white for pathology waste), tied to prevent leakage. | Cal. Health & Safety Code §§117630, 118275(a), 118280(a) |
| Containers & labels | Bagged biohazardous waste goes in rigid, leak-resistant containers with tight-fitting covers, labeled “Biohazardous Waste” or with the biohazard symbol and “BIOHAZARD” on the lid and sides. Sharps go in FDA-approved sharps containers labeled “sharps waste” or with the symbol and “BIOHAZARD.” Secondary containers are labeled “CHEMO,” “PATH,” or “HIGH HEAT”/“INCINERATION ONLY” for pharmaceutical waste. | Cal. Health & Safety Code §§118275, 118280(c), 118285 |
| Storage time | A site generating 20 lb or more of biohazardous waste a month may store it above 32°F for up to 7 days; under 20 lb, up to 30 days; at or below 32°F, up to 90 days. Full sharps containers: 30 days. Pharmaceutical waste: 90 days once the container is ready for disposal, and emptied at least yearly. Longer periods need the enforcement agency’s written approval. | Cal. Health & Safety Code §§118280(e)–(f), 118285(c) |
| Storage areas | The designated accumulation area must be secured against unauthorized access, protected from animals and the elements, and posted with an English and Spanish “CAUTION — BIOHAZARDOUS WASTE STORAGE AREA — UNAUTHORIZED PERSONS KEEP OUT” sign legible from 25 feet. | Cal. Health & Safety Code §§118307, 118310 |
| Transport & tracking | Medical waste may be hauled only by a registered hazardous waste hauler (or under the limited 35.2-lb self-transport exception), and only to a permitted treatment facility or transfer station. The hauler gives you a copy of the tracking document at pickup and keeps its own copy for three years. | Cal. Health & Safety Code §§117946, 118000, 118025, 118040 |
| Treatment | Medical waste must be treated before disposal — by incineration, steam sterilization or a CDPH-approved alternative technology. Pathology, trace chemotherapy and pharmaceutical waste must be incinerated or treated by an alternative technology approved for that waste. | Cal. Health & Safety Code §§118215, 118222 |
| Records | Registered small quantity generators and unregistered small generators keep tracking and shipping records for at least three years; registered large quantity generators keep treatment records and tracking documents for at least two years and must produce them within two business days of a request. | Cal. Health & Safety Code §§117943, 117945, 117975 |
- Cal. Health & Safety Code §§117600–118360
Medical Waste Management Act
California’s medical waste law: definitions, generator registration and plans, haulers and tracking, treatment, and containment and storage.
- Cal. Health & Safety Code §§117925–117995
Small and large quantity generator requirements
Registration, medical waste management plans, inspections and record keeping, split at 200 lb of medical waste a month.
- Cal. Health & Safety Code §§118000–118040
Medical waste haulers
Who may haul medical waste, where it may go, and the tracking document that follows each shipment.
- Cal. Health & Safety Code §§118275–118320
Containment and storage
Segregation, bags, containers, labels, storage time limits and storage areas.
- 8 CCR §5193
Cal/OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens
California’s workplace standard for occupational exposure to blood and other potentially infectious materials, including regulated waste handling.
Federal rules that also apply
| Topic | Requirement | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Cal/OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens | California runs its own OSHA State Plan, so most employers follow 8 CCR §5193 instead of federal 29 CFR 1910.1030. Sharps containers must be rigid, puncture-resistant, leakproof on the sides and bottom, labeled, and closed before removal; other regulated waste goes in closable, leak-proof, labeled containers handled under the Medical Waste Management Act. The standard also requires a Sharps Injury Log, an exposure control plan reviewed at least annually, and training at assignment and yearly. | 8 CCR §5193(c)(1)–(2), (d)(3)(D)–(E), (g)(2) |
| DOT shipping | Regulated medical waste ships as Division 6.2, UN3291, in rigid packaging that meets UN Packing Group II standards, with puncture-resistant containers for sharps. California’s Act requires DOT-compliant packaging whenever waste leaves your facility. | 49 CFR 173.134, 173.197; Cal. Health & Safety Code §118280(a) |
Reviewed September 2026. This is a plain-language summary to help you plan, not legal advice — rules change, so confirm details with the agencies above. MedPro handles transport, treatment and manifests for you and can help you understand what applies to your facility.
California medical waste compliance checklist
Use this to check your facility against the Medical Waste Management Act and Cal/OSHA’s bloodborne pathogens standard. MedPro handles the pickup, tracking documents and treatment — the rest happens in your facility.
Get Compliant Pickup- 1
You’re registered with your enforcement agency
CDPH or your county or city environmental health agency, depending on where you are. Large quantity generators renew every year.
- 2
Waste is separated at the point of origin
Medical waste is kept apart from other waste; trace chemo, pathology and pharmaceutical waste are each segregated for their required treatment.
- 3
Biohazardous waste goes in red biohazard bags
Tied closed, then placed in a rigid, leak-resistant container with a tight-fitting cover labeled “BIOHAZARD” (with the symbol) or “Biohazardous Waste” on the lid and sides.
- 4
Sharps go in FDA-approved sharps containers
Labeled “sharps waste” or with the biohazard symbol and “BIOHAZARD,” and taped or lidded shut when full.
- 5
Pickups keep you inside the storage limits
7 days (20 lb+ of biohazardous waste a month) or 30 days (less than 20 lb) above 32°F; 30 days for full sharps containers; 90 days for ready pharmaceutical containers.
- 6
The storage area is secured and signed
Locked or otherwise closed to unauthorized people, protected from animals and weather, with the English/Spanish “CAUTION — BIOHAZARDOUS WASTE STORAGE AREA” sign.
- 7
Your hauler is a registered hazardous waste hauler
Every pickup comes with a tracking document — keep your copies on file (three years covers every generator type).
- 8
Your Cal/OSHA bloodborne pathogens program is current
Written exposure control plan reviewed yearly, a Sharps Injury Log, and training at assignment and at least annually.
California Medical Waste Savings
Projected annual savings from quotes we’ve prepared for California practices. Every practice is different — we charge only for the services you need.
See What You Could Save| Practice Type | ZIP Code | Annual SavingsProjected Annual Savings |
|---|---|---|
| General Practice | 94577 | $84,000 |
| Ambulance Service | 94577 | $46,299 |
| Long Term Care Facility | 94502 | $10,061 |
| Surgery Center | 94044 | $7,638 |
| Endodontics | 95207 | $3,840 |
| Family Medicine | 91901 | $780 |
Hear from other practices in California
“We have not regretted it at all. It’s been a really good relationship, no complications whatsoever. The billing is direct, the salespeople are wonderful and the technicians who come out to collect our sharps are very professional.”
It’s Easy to Get Started With MedPro Disposal
- 01
Contact Us
Contact MedPro Disposal for a fast, free medical waste removal quote. We’ll get to know you, discuss your needs, and settle on a number.
- 02
Waste Pickup Date
Work with MedPro Disposal to determine your first pickup date. We’ll confirm your office hours and provide convenient options for medical waste and sharps pickup.
- 03
Compliance Survey
After we get to know your requirements, we’ll send you a survey to identify any areas that need to be brought up to OSHA standards. All three steps occur at no additional cost to your practice.
We service all of California
MedPro Disposal provides regulated medical waste pickup and disposal to healthcare facilities in every part of California — wherever your practice is. Local service pages include:
- Anaheim
- Bakersfield
- Chula Vista
- Elk Grove
- Fontana
- Fremont
- Fresno
- Garden Grove
- Irvine
- Long Beach
- Los Angeles
- Oakland
- Sacramento
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Santa Ana
Near the state line? We serve the neighboring states too.
California Medical Waste FAQs
What counts as medical waste in California?
Under the Medical Waste Management Act (Health and Safety Code §117690), medical waste includes biohazardous waste, pathology waste, pharmaceutical waste, sharps waste, trace chemotherapy waste and trauma scene waste — for example blood-soaked items, cultures and stocks, surgical specimens, needles and blades, and empty chemo gowns and IV bags. Waste regulated as hazardous waste under federal RCRA is excluded and handled under California’s hazardous waste laws instead.
Who regulates medical waste disposal in California?
The California Department of Public Health’s Medical Waste Management Program oversees the Act statewide and permits treatment facilities and transfer stations. Generators are registered and inspected by their enforcement agency — CDPH itself in 26 counties and one city (including most of Los Angeles County), or the county or city environmental health department where a local program exists, such as San Diego, Orange or Sacramento County. Cal/OSHA enforces the bloodborne pathogens standard.
Does my practice need to register as a medical waste generator in California?
Large quantity generators — 200 lb or more of medical waste in any month — must register with their enforcement agency before generating waste and renew every year, and small quantity generators that treat waste onsite must register too. Where CDPH is the enforcement agency, it also asks small quantity generators to file a registration and pay a small annual fee ($25 on its 2025 schedule). In counties with a local program, check with your county or city environmental health agency — requirements and fees vary.
How long can a medical practice store medical waste in California?
It depends on how much biohazardous waste you generate. At 20 lb or more a month, you may store it above 32°F for no more than 7 days; under 20 lb a month, up to 30 days; frozen at or below 32°F, up to 90 days (§118280). Full sharps containers must go within 30 days (§118285), and pharmaceutical waste within 90 days of the container being ready for disposal. Longer periods need written approval from your enforcement agency. MedPro sets your pickup schedule around these limits.
Who can transport medical waste in California?
Only a registered hazardous waste hauler — the registration comes from the Department of Toxic Substances Control, and haulers must also report to CDPH, which keeps the list of medical waste transporters. Waste may go only to a permitted treatment facility or transfer station. Generators may carry up to 35.2 lb of their own waste to a central accumulation point under a limited exception (§§117946, 117976, 118025).
What records do I need to keep for medical waste in California?
Keep the tracking document your hauler gives you at each pickup. Small quantity generators must keep tracking and shipping records for at least three years; registered large quantity generators must keep tracking documents and treatment records for at least two years and produce them within two business days of a request (§§117943, 117945, 117975). Large generators and those treating onsite also keep a current medical waste management plan.
Can sharps go in the trash in California?
No. Sharps from a healthcare facility are medical waste and must go in FDA-approved sharps containers picked up by a registered hauler. California law also bars putting home-generated sharps in any trash, recycling or green-waste container (§118286); residents take them to approved options such as household hazardous waste facilities and home-generated sharps consolidation points.
Where in California does MedPro Disposal provide service?
Everywhere in California — we serve healthcare facilities statewide, from San Diego to the Oregon border. We also have local service pages for Anaheim, Bakersfield, Chula Vista, Elk Grove, Fontana, Fremont, Fresno, Garden Grove, Irvine, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Oakland, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose and Santa Ana.
Our services in California
Industries we serve
Sources
- Medical Waste Management Act, Health & Safety Code §§117600–118360 (January 2025 compilation) — California Department of Public Health
- Definition of medical waste, H&S Code §117690 — California Legislative Information
- Large quantity generator registration, H&S Code §117950 — California Legislative Information
- Small quantity generator records, H&S Code §117945 — California Legislative Information
- Large quantity generator records, H&S Code §117975 — California Legislative Information
- Medical waste haulers, H&S Code §118025 — California Legislative Information
- Tracking documents, H&S Code §118040 — California Legislative Information
- Treatment methods, H&S Code §118215 — California Legislative Information
- Segregation and labeling, H&S Code §118275 — California Legislative Information
- Containment and storage time, H&S Code §118280 — California Legislative Information
- Sharps waste, H&S Code §118285 — California Legislative Information
- Home-generated sharps, H&S Code §118286 — California Legislative Information
- Storage areas, H&S Code §118310 — California Legislative Information
- Medical Waste Management Program — California Department of Public Health
- Medical Waste Generators — California Department of Public Health
- Medical Waste Transporters — California Department of Public Health
- Local Enforcement Agencies — California Department of Public Health
- Home-Generated Sharps Waste — California Department of Public Health
- Medical Waste Management Program Current Fees — California Department of Public Health
- Bloodborne Pathogens, 8 CCR §5193 — California Department of Industrial Relations (Cal/OSHA)
- California State Plan — U.S. OSHA
- Regulated medical waste, 49 CFR 173.197 — eCFR
- Infectious substances, 49 CFR 173.134 — eCFR
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