Medical Waste Disposal in Arkansas
MedPro Disposal provides regulated medical waste, sharps and pharmaceutical waste pickup and disposal for healthcare facilities everywhere in Arkansas — from Northwest Arkansas to the Delta — with the manifests and paperwork the state requires handled for you.
How is medical waste disposal regulated in Arkansas?
Arkansas regulates medical waste through the Arkansas Department of Health, under Ark. Code Ann. §§ 20-32-101 to -112 and the Department’s rules in 20 CAR Part 53. The rules apply to every generator regardless of how much waste it produces. Practices must segregate medical waste at the point of generation, package and label it (fluorescent orange or orange-red with the biohazard symbol), store it no more than 30 days once a container is filled and closed, and hand it only to an ADH-permitted transporter. Manifests and waste logs must be kept for three years.
- State term
- Medical waste
- Rules
- 20 CAR Part 53
- Regulated by
- Arkansas Dept. of Health
- On-site storage
- 30 days max, 72°F or below
Key takeaways
- Arkansas regulates medical waste under the Arkansas Department of Health’s rules in 20 CAR Part 53, with no small-generator exemption.
- Arkansas generators may store filled, closed containers of medical waste for no more than 30 days, at 72°F or below, unless the Department of Health approves longer.
- Only a transporter holding an Arkansas Department of Health commercial medical waste transportation permit may pick up a generator’s untreated medical waste.
- Arkansas medical waste labels must be fluorescent orange or orange-red with the universal biohazard symbol, and the generator’s name and address must be on any container that leaves the facility.
- Arkansas generators must keep medical waste manifests and transfer logs on file for three years from the date of shipment.
Arkansas Medical Waste Rules
Medical waste is regulated mainly by each state, with a few federal rules on top. In Arkansas it’s governed by the commercial medical waste law (Ark. Code Ann. §§ 20-32-101 to -112) and the Department of Health’s Rules Pertaining to the Management of Medical Waste from Generators and Health Care Related Facilities, now codified at 20 CAR Part 53. They apply to any generator, whatever its volume — offices of physicians, dentists and veterinarians, clinics, labs, funeral homes, tattoo parlors and more. Here’s what they require.
What Arkansas regulates
Medical Waste
A waste from a generator or a healthcare-related facility which, if improperly treated, handled or disposed of, may serve to transmit an infectious disease as established by the Arkansas Department of Health. Chemical, pharmaceutical and radioactive wastes are not covered by these rules — they fall under other regulations. Household waste is exempt.
- Pathological waste
- Liquid or semi-liquid blood and body fluids
- Contaminated items
- Microbiological waste
- Contaminated sharps
- Veterinary waste
- Trace-contaminated chemotherapy waste
- Spill and clean-up material
- Crime scene, accident and trauma clean-up waste
Who regulates medical waste in Arkansas
Arkansas Department of Health — Medical Waste Program
Writes and enforces Arkansas’s medical waste rules: permits commercial medical waste transporters and treatment, storage and disposal facilities, approves treatment technologies, inspects, and takes reports of medical waste releases.
Arkansas Division of Environmental Quality
Part of the Department of Energy and Environment. Permits medical waste incinerators and landfills, and regulates hazardous waste — including bulk chemotherapy drugs and medical waste mixed with hazardous waste.
Key Arkansas requirements
| Topic | Requirement | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Segregation | Separate medical waste from regular waste at the point of generation, into containers that meet the OSHA bloodborne pathogens standard. Non-sharps containers stay closed except when receiving waste. Solid waste contaminated with medical waste is managed as medical waste. | 20 CAR §§ 53-302, 53-303 |
| Packaging | Use collection containers that are impervious to moisture, leak-resistant and strong enough not to rip, tear or burst; close full containers securely. Sharps go in rigid, closable, puncture-resistant containers that are leak-resistant on the bottom and sides. Don’t compact medical waste before treatment. | 20 CAR § 53-304 |
| Labeling | Labels must be water-resistant, legible, fluorescent orange or orange-red with the universal biohazard symbol (red bags and containers are labeled the same way). Before waste leaves the facility, mark the generator’s name and address on the outside. DOT hazardous materials labeling may be used instead where it applies. | 20 CAR § 53-304 |
| Storage | Store medical waste protected from unauthorized entry, animals, weather, insects and rodents, in a secured area marked with biohazard signs. Filled, closed containers may be stored at the generating facility for no more than 30 days, at 72°F or below; longer storage needs Department approval, and the Department can require more frequent pickups if odor isn’t controlled. | 20 CAR § 53-305 |
| Transport | Hand untreated medical waste only to a transporter holding an ADH commercial medical waste transportation permit, and get a signed manifest for every shipment. Generators may haul their own waste to a permitted facility without a permit, but must keep a log (and sign a Department agreement if hauling 50 lb or more a month). | 20 CAR §§ 53-306, 53-401 |
| Treatment & disposal | Untreated medical waste can’t go to a landfill. It must be treated by an approved method — incineration, sterilization (such as autoclaving), disinfection, discharge to a sewer system (liquids), encapsulation or a Department-approved alternative technology. | 20 CAR §§ 53-307, 53-311 |
| Records | Keep a log of all untreated medical waste you hand off — quantity, how it was measured, date, and the transporter’s or facility’s name and permit number — or the manifests that carry the same information, for three years from the date of shipment. | 20 CAR § 53-306 |
| Spills & releases | Report any release of medical waste to the environment, or other incident that threatens public health, to the Department of Health verbally within 12 hours and in writing within five working days. | 20 CAR § 53-315 |
- Ark. Code Ann. §§ 20-32-101 – 20-32-112
Disposal of Commercial Medical Waste
The state medical waste law: definitions of medical waste and commercial medical waste, and the Department of Health’s authority over its transport, treatment and disposal.
- 20 CAR Part 53, Subpart 3
Generator requirements
Identification, segregation, packaging, labeling, storage, transport, treatment and disposal of medical waste by generators.
- 20 CAR Part 53, Subpart 4
Commercial medical waste transporters
Transporter permits, vehicles, manifests and logs, training, fees and storage at transfer facilities.
- 20 CAR Part 53
Rules Pertaining to the Management of Medical Waste from Generators and Health Care Related Facilities
The full Department of Health rule, including treatment, storage and disposal facility standards and inspections.
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). Arkansas has no OSHA state plan, so private employers in Arkansas are covered directly 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.
Arkansas medical waste compliance checklist
Use this to check your practice against the Arkansas Department of Health’s medical waste rules and the federal OSHA standard. MedPro handles the pickup, manifests and treatment — the rest happens in your facility.
Get Compliant Pickup- 1
Waste is segregated at the point of generation
Medical waste goes into its own containers where it’s produced; regular trash that becomes contaminated is managed as medical waste.
- 2
Sharps go in rigid, puncture-resistant containers
Closable, leak-resistant on the bottom and sides, and assembled and used as the manufacturer intends.
- 3
Other waste is in strong, leak-resistant containers
Impervious to moisture, closed except when receiving waste, and securely fastened when full.
- 4
Containers are labeled correctly
Fluorescent orange or orange-red labels (or red bags and containers) with the biohazard symbol, plus your facility’s name and address before the waste leaves.
- 5
Storage is secured, marked and cool
Protected from weather, pests and unauthorized entry, posted with biohazard signs, and kept at 72°F or below.
- 6
Filled containers leave within 30 days
Your pickup schedule should keep any filled, closed container from sitting longer than 30 days.
- 7
Your hauler holds an ADH transportation permit
And you get a signed manifest for every shipment. Keep manifests (or your transfer log) for three years.
- 8
Staff are trained on bloodborne pathogens
OSHA requires bloodborne pathogens training for employees with occupational exposure.
Arkansas Medical Waste Savings
Projected annual savings from quotes we’ve prepared for Arkansas 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Urgent Care | 72006 | $63,084 |
| Rehabilitation Facility | 71822 | $12,000 |
| Dental | 72422 | $4,230 |
| Funeral Home | 71822 | $1,500 |
| Dentist | 72712 | $798 |
| Endoscopy Center | 72034 | $372 |
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 Arkansas
MedPro Disposal provides regulated medical waste pickup and disposal to healthcare facilities in every part of Arkansas — wherever your practice is. Local service pages include:
- Bentonville
- Clarksville
- Conway
- Fayetteville
- Fort Smith
- Jonesboro
- Little Rock
- Pine Bluff
- Rogers
- Springdale
Near the state line? We serve the neighboring states too.
Arkansas Medical Waste FAQs
What counts as medical waste in Arkansas?
Arkansas defines medical waste as waste from a generator or healthcare-related facility that could transmit an infectious disease if improperly treated, handled or disposed of. It covers nine categories: pathological waste, liquid or semi-liquid blood and body fluids, contaminated items, microbiological waste, contaminated sharps, veterinary waste, trace-contaminated chemotherapy waste, spill clean-up material, and crime scene or trauma clean-up waste (20 CAR § 53-102).
Who regulates medical waste disposal in Arkansas?
The Arkansas Department of Health’s Medical Waste Program writes and enforces the rules, permits commercial transporters and treatment facilities, and inspects. The Division of Environmental Quality permits incinerators and landfills and regulates hazardous waste. Federal OSHA and DOT rules apply too.
How long can a medical practice store medical waste in Arkansas?
No more than 30 days once a container has been filled and closed, and filled containers must be kept at room temperature (72°F) or below in a secure, limited-access area. Storing longer requires Department of Health approval, and the Department can require more frequent removal if odor isn’t controlled (20 CAR § 53-305). The 72-hour / 45°F and 10-day limits you may see elsewhere apply to transporters’ facilities, not practices. MedPro sets your pickup schedule so containers never sit too long.
Does a medical waste hauler need a permit in Arkansas?
Yes. Anyone transporting commercial medical waste for a generator needs a Commercial Medical Waste Transportation Permit from the Arkansas Department of Health — for waste moved within, into or out of the state. Permits run for one year. Generators hauling their own waste and the U.S. Postal Service don’t need one (20 CAR §§ 53-306, 53-401). The Department publishes a list of permitted transporters.
How long do I need to keep medical waste records in Arkansas?
Three years from the date of shipment. Keep the signed manifest from each pickup — or a log showing the quantity, how it was measured, the date, and the transporter’s name and permit number — on file at your facility (20 CAR § 53-306).
Are pharmaceuticals covered by Arkansas’s medical waste rules?
No. Arkansas’s medical waste rules exclude chemical, pharmaceutical and radioactive wastes, which are governed by other regulations. Bulk chemotherapy drugs, such as full expired vials, are managed as hazardous waste — only trace-contaminated chemotherapy waste can be handled as medical waste. MedPro can handle pharmaceutical waste pickup as a separate stream.
Where in Arkansas does MedPro Disposal provide service?
Everywhere in Arkansas — we service every city in the state. We also have local service pages for Bentonville, Clarksville, Conway, Fayetteville, Fort Smith, Jonesboro, Little Rock, Pine Bluff, Rogers and Springdale.
How much does medical waste disposal cost in Arkansas?
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 Arkansas have projected annual savings from a few hundred dollars for an endoscopy center to more than $63,000 for an urgent care. Request a free, no-obligation quote for your facility.
Our services in Arkansas
Industries we serve
Sources
- 20 CAR Part 53 — Rules Pertaining to the Management of Medical Waste from Generators and Health Care Related Facilities — Code of Arkansas Rules
- Definitions, 20 CAR § 53-102 — Code of Arkansas Rules
- Packaging and labeling, 20 CAR § 53-304 — Code of Arkansas Rules
- Storage, 20 CAR § 53-305 — Code of Arkansas Rules
- Transport, 20 CAR § 53-306 — Code of Arkansas Rules
- Medical waste treatment, 20 CAR § 53-307 — Code of Arkansas Rules
- Transporter permit, 20 CAR § 53-401 — Code of Arkansas Rules
- Transporter logs and manifests, 20 CAR § 53-411 — Code of Arkansas Rules
- Transporter storage, 20 CAR § 53-417 — Code of Arkansas Rules
- Medical Waste Rules (effective January 1, 2017) — Arkansas Department of Health
- Medical Waste Program — Arkansas Department of Health
- Disposal of Commercial Medical Waste, Ark. Code Ann. § 20-32-101 — Arkansas Code (via FindLaw)
- Division of Environmental Quality — Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment
- Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, 29 CFR 1910.1030 — U.S. OSHA
- State Plans — U.S. OSHA
- Regulated medical waste, 49 CFR 173.197 — eCFR
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