Medical Waste Disposal in Georgia
MedPro Disposal provides regulated medical waste, sharps and pharmaceutical waste pickup and disposal for healthcare facilities everywhere in Georgia — from the North Georgia mountains to Savannah and the southwest corner — on a schedule built around how much waste you generate.
How is medical waste disposal regulated in Georgia?
Georgia calls regulated medical waste “biomedical waste” and regulates it through the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD), under the Georgia Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Act and Rule 391-3-4-.15 of the Rules for Solid Waste Management. Biomedical waste must be segregated at the point of origin, packed in moisture-proof containers (rigid, puncture-resistant ones for sharps), and marked red or orange or with the biohazard symbol or the word “Biohazard.” Facilities generating 100 pounds or more a month must hand their waste only to a collector operating under EPD’s rules and may not landfill it untreated.
- State term
- Biomedical waste
- Rule
- Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 391-3-4-.15
- Regulated by
- Georgia EPD, Land Protection Branch
- Full rules apply at
- 100 lb or more a month
Key takeaways
- Georgia regulates medical waste as “biomedical waste” under Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 391-3-4-.15, issued under the Georgia Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Act (O.C.G.A. §12-8-20 et seq.).
- Georgia’s biomedical waste rule applies in full to facilities generating 100 pounds or more of biomedical waste a month; smaller generators must still meet its segregation, containment and labeling rules.
- Georgia requires sharps to be kept in leakproof, rigid, puncture-resistant containers that are taped closed or tightly lidded.
- Georgia’s biomedical waste rule sets no fixed storage time limit for generators, but stored waste must be protected from animals, rain and wind, insects and rodents, and public exposure.
- In Georgia, biomedical waste collectors operate under an EPD permit-by-rule, which requires notifying EPD within 30 days of starting collection.
Georgia Biomedical Waste Rules
Medical waste is regulated mainly by each state, with a few federal rules on top. In Georgia it’s called biomedical waste and is governed by the Georgia Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Act and Rule 391-3-4-.15 of the Rules for Solid Waste Management, administered by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division. Here’s what they require of a practice, clinic or other healthcare facility.
What Georgia regulates
Biomedical Waste
Any solid waste which contains pathological waste, biological waste, cultures and stocks of infectious agents and associated biologicals, contaminated animal carcasses (body parts, their bedding and other waste from such animals), chemotherapy waste, and discarded medical equipment and parts, not including expendable supplies and materials, which have not been decontaminated. Waste from a single-family home, generated in the self-care of family members and disposed of as household trash, is exempt — but home health care organizations and physicians treating patients in a home are not.
- Pathological waste (recognizable human tissues and body parts, except teeth)
- Biological waste (blood, blood products and body fluids with free liquids)
- Cultures and stocks of infectious agents, including discarded live and attenuated vaccines
- Contaminated animal carcasses, body parts and bedding
- Sharps (needles, syringes with needles attached, IV tubing, scalpel blades)
- Chemotherapy waste (“empty” materials that contacted cytotoxic or antineoplastic agents)
- Discarded medical equipment and parts in contact with infectious agents and not decontaminated
Who regulates medical waste in Georgia
Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) — Land Protection Branch, Solid Waste Management Program
Administers Georgia’s biomedical waste rule: acknowledges permit-by-rule collection and on-site treatment operations, permits and approves biomedical waste treatment facilities, and inspects and enforces the Rules for Solid Waste Management.
Federal OSHA — Georgia Area Offices
Georgia has no OSHA State Plan, so federal OSHA enforces the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard for private employers, through Area Offices in Atlanta (East and West) and Savannah.
Key Georgia requirements
| Topic | Requirement | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Who the rule covers | Everyone generating or handling biomedical waste — including hospitals, clinics, physician and dental offices, labs, blood banks, nursing homes, veterinary offices, funeral homes and county health departments. Facilities generating less than 100 lb a month are exempt from most of the rule but must still meet its containment, segregation and labeling provisions, (6)(c) and (7)(b). Practices that share waste services, such as bulk storage containers, count as one facility. | Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 391-3-4-.15(3) |
| Segregation and containers | Separate biomedical waste from other waste at the point of origin. Non-sharps go in containers impervious to moisture and strong enough not to rip, tear or burst, securely closed so nothing leaks during storage, handling or transport. | Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 391-3-4-.15(4)(b)1. |
| Sharps | Sharps must be kept, for storage, transport, treatment and disposal, in leakproof, rigid, puncture-resistant containers that are taped closed or tightly lidded. | Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 391-3-4-.15(4)(b)2. |
| Color and labeling | Sharps containers and disposable containers for biological waste must be red or orange, or carry the universal biohazard symbol or the word “Biohazard.” Outer pails, boxes, drums or bins need a tight-fitting cover and the biohazard symbol and the word “Biohazard” on the sides, visible from any direction when upright. Reusable containers must be washed and decontaminated each time they’re emptied. | Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 391-3-4-.15(4)(c)–(d) |
| Storage | Store biomedical waste where it’s protected from animals, rain and wind, isn’t a breeding place or food source for insects and rodents, and minimizes public exposure. The rule sets no fixed time limit for how long a generator may store it. | Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 391-3-4-.15(4)(a) |
| Transport | Generators of 100 lb or more a month may transfer custody only to a collector operating under EPD’s rules. Collectors operate under a permit-by-rule and must notify EPD within 30 days of starting. Biomedical waste can’t share a vehicle with other solid waste unless it’s in a separate, fully enclosed leakproof container, vehicles can’t carry food, and waste may go only to a validly permitted storage or treatment facility. | Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 391-3-4-.15(5); 391-3-4-.06(1)–(2), (3)(a) |
| Treatment and disposal | Biomedical waste must be treated before disposal — by incineration, by autoclave at 250°F (121°C) for at least 30 minutes with a recording thermometer and monitoring, or by another EPD-approved method. Chemotherapy waste must be thermally treated, not steam-treated. Recognizable human anatomical remains may never be landfilled, and untreated waste from generators of more than 100 lb a month may not be landfilled. | Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 391-3-4-.15(6)–(7) |
| Records | Rule 391-3-4-.15 has no state manifest system and sets no record-retention period for generators. Facilities treating waste by autoclave must use a recording thermometer on every cycle. OSHA bloodborne pathogens training records must be kept for three years. | Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 391-3-4-.15(6)(a)2.; 29 CFR 1910.1030(h)(2) |
- O.C.G.A. §12-8-20 et seq.
Georgia Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Act of 1990
The state law under which EPD’s Rules for Solid Waste Management, including the biomedical waste rule, are issued.
- Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 391-3-4-.15
Biomedical Waste
Defines biomedical waste and sets the rules for generators, containment and labeling, transfer to collectors, treatment and disposal, including the 100-lb-a-month threshold.
- Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 391-3-4-.06
Permit by Rule for Collection, Transportation, Processing, and Disposal
Collection operations and on-site treatment facilities are deemed permitted if they notify EPD within 30 days of starting and meet the operating conditions.
- Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. Chapter 391-3-4
Rules for Solid Waste Management
The full chapter, including definitions (391-3-4-.01), which biomedical waste handlers must also follow.
Federal rules that also apply
| Topic | Requirement | Source |
|---|---|---|
| OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens | Sharps containers must be closable, puncture-resistant, leakproof on the sides and bottom, labeled or color-coded, and kept upright and within easy reach. Other regulated-waste containers must be closable, leak-proof and labeled with the biohazard symbol (or red). Georgia has no OSHA State Plan: federal OSHA covers private employers, and state and local government workers aren’t covered by federal OSHA. | 29 CFR 1910.1030(d)(4)(iii), (g)(1) |
| 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. | 49 CFR 173.134, 173.197 |
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.
Georgia biomedical waste compliance checklist
Use this to check your facility against Georgia EPD’s biomedical waste rule and the federal OSHA standard. MedPro handles the pickup, transport and treatment — the rest happens in your facility.
Get Compliant Pickup- 1
Biomedical waste is separated where it’s generated
Kept in its own containers from the point of origin, never mixed with regular trash.
- 2
Sharps go into rigid, puncture-resistant containers
Leakproof and taped closed or tightly lidded so nothing can fall out, from storage through disposal.
- 3
Other biomedical waste is in strong, moisture-proof containers
Impervious to moisture, strong enough not to rip, tear or burst, and securely closed so nothing leaks.
- 4
Inner containers are red or orange, or marked
Sharps containers and disposable containers for biological waste are red or orange, or carry the biohazard symbol or the word “Biohazard.”
- 5
Outer containers are labeled on the sides
Tight-fitting covers, clean and in good repair, with the biohazard symbol and the word “Biohazard” visible from any side when upright.
- 6
Your storage area keeps waste protected
Sheltered from animals, rain and wind, not a food source or breeding place for insects and rodents, and away from public exposure.
- 7
Your waste goes only to an authorized collector
If you generate 100 lb or more a month, hand biomedical waste only to a collector operating under EPD’s rules.
- 8
Staff are trained on bloodborne pathogens
OSHA requires bloodborne pathogens training for employees with occupational exposure, with training records kept for three years.
Georgia Medical Waste Savings
Projected annual savings from quotes we’ve prepared for Georgia 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Research Lab | 30004 | $16,800 |
| Surgery Center | 30004 | $10,188 |
| Podiatry | 30606 | $8,004 |
| Pediatrics | 30328 | $3,044 |
| Plastic Surgery | 30606 | $1,095 |
| Health Care Clinic | 30315 | $940 |
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 Georgia
MedPro Disposal provides regulated medical waste pickup and disposal to healthcare facilities in every part of Georgia — wherever your practice is. Local service pages include:
Near the state line? We serve the neighboring states too.
Georgia Medical Waste FAQs
What counts as biomedical waste in Georgia?
Georgia’s legal term is “biomedical waste.” It covers pathological waste, biological waste (blood, blood products and body fluids with free liquids), cultures and stocks of infectious agents, contaminated animal carcasses and bedding, sharps, “empty” chemotherapy waste, and discarded medical equipment that touched infectious agents and hasn’t been decontaminated (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 391-3-4-.15(2)). Waste from self-care in a single-family home is exempt; home health providers are not.
Who regulates medical waste disposal in Georgia?
The Georgia Environmental Protection Division, part of the Department of Natural Resources, through its Land Protection Branch’s Solid Waste Management Program — (404) 362-2692. Federal OSHA enforces the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard for private employers, and U.S. DOT rules govern shipping.
Does the 100-pound threshold matter for my practice?
Yes. Facilities generating 100 pounds or more of biomedical waste a month must follow all of Rule 391-3-4-.15. Smaller facilities are exempt from most of it, but must still segregate biomedical waste, use the required containers for sharps and other waste, color-code or mark them, never landfill recognizable human anatomical remains, and send their waste to a permitted landfill or treatment facility (391-3-4-.15(3)(b)). Practices that share waste services, such as a bulk container, count as one facility.
How long can a medical practice store biomedical waste in Georgia?
Georgia’s biomedical waste rule doesn’t set a fixed storage time limit for generators. It requires stored waste to be protected from animals, rain and wind, kept from becoming a food source or breeding place for insects and rodents, and kept away from public exposure, in securely closed containers (391-3-4-.15(4)). MedPro sets your pickup schedule around how much you generate so waste doesn’t build up.
What does Georgia require of medical waste haulers?
Facilities generating 100 pounds or more a month may hand biomedical waste only to a collector operating under EPD’s rules. Collectors operate under a permit-by-rule that requires notifying EPD within 30 days of starting, must keep biomedical waste separate from other solid waste in the vehicle, can’t use those vehicles for food, and may deliver only to a validly permitted storage or treatment facility (391-3-4-.15(5); 391-3-4-.06). Federal DOT hazardous materials rules also apply.
What records do I need to keep for medical waste in Georgia?
Georgia’s biomedical waste rule doesn’t use a state manifest or set a record-retention period for generators. Keep the documents you receive with each pickup on file. Separately, OSHA requires bloodborne pathogens training records to be kept for three years, and facilities that autoclave their own waste must run a recording thermometer on every cycle.
Where in Georgia does MedPro Disposal provide service?
Everywhere in Georgia — we serve healthcare facilities statewide, not just metro Atlanta. We also have local service pages for Albany, Athens, Atlanta, Columbus, Macon, Marietta, Roswell and Sandy Springs.
How much does medical waste disposal cost in Georgia?
It depends on how much waste you generate and how often it’s picked up — we charge only for the services you need. MedPro quotes in Georgia have projected annual savings from about $940 for a health care clinic to $16,800 for a research lab. Request a free, no-obligation quote for your facility.
Our services in Georgia
Industries we serve
Sources
- Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 391-3-4-.15 — Biomedical Waste — Georgia Secretary of State, Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia
- Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 391-3-4-.01 — Definitions — Georgia Secretary of State, Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia
- Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 391-3-4-.06 — Permit by Rule for Collection, Transportation, Processing, and Disposal — Georgia Secretary of State, Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia
- Chapter 391-3-4 — Rules for Solid Waste Management — Georgia Secretary of State, Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia
- Existing Rules and Corresponding Laws (O.C.G.A. §12-8-20, Georgia Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Act) — Georgia Environmental Protection Division
- Solid Waste (Land Protection Branch) — Georgia Environmental Protection Division
- Regulated Solid Waste Facilities — Georgia Environmental Protection Division
- Solid Waste & Recovered Materials Forms (Permit-by-Rule Notification) — Georgia Environmental Protection Division
- Contact Us — Georgia Environmental Protection Division
- Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, 29 CFR 1910.1030 — U.S. OSHA
- State Plans (Georgia is under federal OSHA) — U.S. OSHA
- Georgia OSHA Area Offices — U.S. OSHA
- Infectious substances, 49 CFR 173.134 — eCFR
- Regulated medical waste, 49 CFR 173.197 — eCFR
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