Medical Waste Disposal in Delaware
MedPro Disposal provides regulated medical waste, sharps and pharmaceutical waste pickup and disposal for healthcare facilities everywhere in Delaware — New Castle, Kent and Sussex counties — on a schedule that keeps you inside the state’s storage limits.
How is medical waste disposal regulated in Delaware?
Delaware regulates medical waste as “infectious waste” (the rules treat “regulated medical waste” as the same thing) under Section 11, Part 1 of its Regulations Governing Solid Waste, 7 DE Admin. Code 1301, enforced by the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC). Every generator needs a DNREC Infectious Waste Identification Number for each site, and infectious waste may be stored onsite for up to 14 days at room temperature, 45 days refrigerated or 90 days frozen. Waste leaving your site must be double red-bagged and boxed, travel with a DNREC-permitted transporter on a manifest, and the manifest must be kept for three years.
- State term
- Infectious waste
- Rules
- 7 DE Admin. Code 1301, §11
- Enforced by
- DNREC
- Onsite storage
- 14, 45 or 90 days
Key takeaways
- Delaware regulates medical waste as “infectious waste” under Section 11, Part 1 of 7 DE Admin. Code 1301, enforced by DNREC’s Division of Waste and Hazardous Substances.
- Every Delaware infectious waste generator must obtain a DNREC Infectious Waste Identification Number for each site that generates infectious waste.
- Delaware generators may store infectious waste onsite for up to 14 days at room temperature, 45 days refrigerated or 90 days frozen; sealed sharps containers are exempt from the time limit.
- Every off-site shipment of infectious waste in Delaware must go with a DNREC-permitted transporter on a manifest, and all parties must keep manifest copies for at least three years.
- Delaware generators of 50 pounds or more of infectious waste a month must file an annual report with DNREC within 90 days after the end of the calendar year.
Delaware Medical Waste Rules
Medical waste is regulated mainly by each state, with a few federal rules on top. In Delaware it’s governed by Section 11, Part 1 (Infectious Waste) of the Regulations Governing Solid Waste, 7 DE Admin. Code 1301, adopted by DNREC under the state’s environmental control law, 7 Del.C. Chapter 60. Here’s what they require of a practice, clinic or other healthcare facility.
What Delaware regulates
Infectious Waste
Solid wastes which may cause human disease and may reasonably be suspected of harboring human pathogenic organisms, or may pose a substantial present or potential hazard to human health or the environment when improperly treated, stored, transported, disposed of or otherwise managed. Delaware’s rules define “regulated medical waste” as infectious waste. Only sharps from human or animal health care, research or pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities are regulated as sharps. Household waste, soiled diapers and feminine hygiene items from people not known to have an infectious disease, and biological liquids discharged to a permitted wastewater system are excluded.
- Biological liquid wastes (blood, blood products and other body fluids, including renal dialysis liquids)
- Pathological wastes (human tissues and anatomical remains)
- Cultures and stocks of etiologic agents
- Laboratory wastes that contacted pathogens, blood or body fluids
- Infected animal tissue, bedding and waste
- Human dialysis waste materials
- Sharps
- Discarded biologicals (serums and vaccines)
- Isolation wastes
- Spill cleanup residue (“other infectious wastes”)
Who regulates medical waste in Delaware
DNREC — Division of Waste and Hazardous Substances
Regulates the treatment, packaging, storage, transportation and disposal of infectious waste in Delaware. Its Compliance and Permitting Section issues generator ID numbers and solid waste transporter permits and receives annual reports.
Federal OSHA — Wilmington Area Office
Delaware has no OSHA State Plan, so federal OSHA enforces the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard for private employers in the state.
Key Delaware requirements
| Topic | Requirement | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Generator ID number | Every generator of infectious waste must register with DNREC and obtain an Infectious Waste Identification Number for each site or location that generates infectious waste. Separate businesses in the same building, such as separate physician practices, are separate generators. | 7 DE Admin. Code 1301, §11.1.1 |
| Packaging and labeling | Non-sharps infectious waste goes in two red bags (one inside the other), each sealed, then a double-walled corrugated box or equivalent rigid container before it leaves the site. Sharps go in leakproof, rigid, puncture-resistant, tightly lidded containers labeled “SHARPS” with the biohazard symbol from the first sharp. Each package needs a 3×5-inch label with the generator’s and hauler’s names, addresses and phone numbers and “Infectious” or “Regulated Medical Waste”, plus the biohazard symbol. The generator stays responsible even if a contractor packages the waste. | 7 DE Admin. Code 1301, §§11.8.1–11.8.4 |
| Onsite storage | Infectious waste must be kept separate from other waste from the point of origin, protected from vectors, rain and wind, and held in a secured, signed area. It may be stored at the generating facility for up to 14 days at room temperature (65–82°F), 45 days refrigerated (36–44°F) or 90 days in a freezer not used for food or patient items. Sealed sharps containers are exempt from the time limit, and small quantity generators (under 50 lb a month) are exempt while they store no more than 50 lb. | 7 DE Admin. Code 1301, §§11.8.5, 11.5.3 |
| Transport | Generators must use a DNREC-permitted transporter of infectious waste (or treat the waste onsite with a DNREC-approved process). The transporter must deliver the waste to a disposal facility within 15 days of pickup, in a non-compaction vehicle marked “INFECTIOUS WASTE”, and report spills to DNREC immediately. | 7 DE Admin. Code 1301, §§11.5.1, 11.14, 11.17.1 |
| Manifests | The generator must complete a manifest (DNREC’s form or an approved equivalent) before any infectious waste is shipped off site and keep a copy. If the signed copy from the treatment facility isn’t back within 15 days of shipment, contact the transporter and facility; if it isn’t back within 20 days, notify DNREC in writing. | 7 DE Admin. Code 1301, §11.16 |
| Treatment and disposal | Infectious waste must be rendered noninfectious by a method proven to achieve a 6-log reduction. It can go to a sanitary landfill only once noninfectious and nonrecognizable, can’t be sent for recycling, and can’t be compacted before treatment. Pathological waste must be incinerated, cremated or interred. | 7 DE Admin. Code 1301, §§11.7, 11.11, 11.13 |
| Records and annual report | All parties must keep manifest copies for at least three years, and generators must keep records of how their waste was treated plus receipts or manifests for three years. Generators of 50 lb or more a month must file an annual report with DNREC within 90 days after the end of the calendar year; small quantity generators are exempt from the report. | 7 DE Admin. Code 1301, §§11.5.4, 11.16.5, 11.17.3–11.17.4 |
- 7 Del.C. Ch. 60
Environmental Control
Directs DNREC to run a permit-based program for solid waste storage, collection, transportation and disposal, and requires a permit to collect, transport, store or dispose of solid waste (§ 6003). The infectious waste rules are adopted under it.
- 7 DE Admin. Code 1301, Section 11, Part 1
Special Wastes Management — Infectious Waste
Definitions, generator ID numbers, packaging, labeling and storage limits, treatment standards, transporter requirements, manifests, annual reports and recordkeeping.
- 7 DE Admin. Code 1301, Section 7
Transporters
Solid waste transporter permits, driver training, vehicle markings, insurance, spill plans and transporter records — applied to infectious waste haulers by §11.14.
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). Delaware 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. Delaware requires this packaging even for shipments that never leave the state. | 49 CFR 173.134, 173.197; 7 DE Admin. Code 1301, §11.8.4 |
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.
Delaware infectious waste compliance checklist
Use this to check your facility against Delaware’s infectious waste rules (7 DE Admin. Code 1301, Section 11 Part 1) and the federal OSHA standard. MedPro handles the pickup, transport and treatment — the rest happens in your facility.
Get Compliant Pickup- 1
You have a DNREC Infectious Waste Identification Number
One for each site that generates infectious waste. Separate practices sharing a building each need their own.
- 2
Infectious waste is separated where it’s generated
It goes into its own containers at the point of origin, never mixed with regular trash.
- 3
Non-sharps waste is double red-bagged
Two 3-mil red bags, one inside the other, each tied or taped shut, then a double-walled corrugated box or rigid container before it leaves your site.
- 4
Sharps containers are labeled from the first sharp
Leakproof, rigid, puncture-resistant and tightly lidded, marked “SHARPS” with the biohazard symbol as soon as the first sharp goes in.
- 5
Every package carries both labels
Your name, address and phone, “Infectious” or “Regulated Medical Waste”, “Pathological Waste” if included, and your hauler’s details — plus the biohazard symbol.
- 6
Nothing sits past Delaware’s limits
14 days at room temperature, 45 days refrigerated (36–44°F) or 90 days frozen. Sealed sharps containers are exempt.
- 7
Your storage area is secured and signed
Locked to unauthorized people, with the biohazard symbol and “CAUTION INFECTIOUS WASTE STORAGE AREA UNAUTHORIZED PERSONS KEEP OUT” readable from 25 feet.
- 8
Manifests and records are kept for three years
Keep your manifest copies and receipts, follow up if a signed copy isn’t back within 15 days, and file DNREC’s annual report if you generate 50 lb or more a month.
Delaware Medical Waste Savings
Projected annual savings from quotes we’ve prepared for Delaware 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Family Practice | 19958 | $3,870 |
| Oncology | 19713 | $2,220 |
| Family Practice | 19806 | $126 |
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 Delaware
MedPro Disposal provides regulated medical waste pickup and disposal to healthcare facilities in every part of Delaware — wherever your practice is. Local service pages include:
Near the state line? We serve the neighboring states too.
Delaware Medical Waste FAQs
What counts as medical waste in Delaware?
Delaware calls it infectious waste, and its rules define “regulated medical waste” as the same thing. It includes biological wastes (blood and body fluids, pathological waste, cultures and stocks, contaminated lab waste, infected animal waste and dialysis waste), sharps, discarded biologicals such as vaccines, isolation wastes and spill cleanup residue (7 DE Admin. Code 1301, §11.3). Household waste is exempt.
Who regulates medical waste disposal in Delaware?
The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), through its Division of Waste and Hazardous Substances, regulates the treatment, packaging, storage, transport and disposal of infectious waste. Federal OSHA enforces the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard for private employers, and U.S. DOT rules govern shipping.
Do Delaware medical practices need to register with the state?
Yes. Every generator of infectious waste must obtain a DNREC Infectious Waste Identification Number for each site that generates it, using DNREC’s registration form. Separate practices in the same building each register as their own generator (7 DE Admin. Code 1301, §11.1.1).
How long can a medical practice store medical waste in Delaware?
Up to 14 days at room temperature, 45 days in a refrigerator (36–44°F) or 90 days in a freezer not used for food or patient items. Sharps in a sealed sharps container are exempt from the time limit, and small quantity generators (under 50 lb a month) are exempt as long as they store no more than 50 lb and storage is protective (7 DE Admin. Code 1301, §§11.8.5.3, 11.5.3). MedPro sets your pickup schedule so you stay well inside these limits.
What does Delaware require of medical waste haulers?
Anyone transporting infectious waste in, out of or through Delaware needs a DNREC solid waste transporter permit. The hauler must sign your manifest at pickup, deliver the waste to a disposal facility within 15 days, use non-compaction vehicles marked as carrying infectious waste, carry a spill kit and approved spill plan, and report spills to DNREC immediately (7 DE Admin. Code 1301, §11.14 and Section 7).
How long do I need to keep medical waste records in Delaware?
Three years. Keep your copy of every manifest, the signed copy returned by the treatment facility, and receipts for waste handled by a permitted transporter for at least three years (7 DE Admin. Code 1301, §§11.16.5, 11.17.4). If you generate 50 lb or more a month, you also file an annual report with DNREC within 90 days after the end of each calendar year.
Where in Delaware does MedPro Disposal provide service?
Everywhere in Delaware — we service facilities statewide in New Castle, Kent and Sussex counties. We also have local service pages for Bear, Dover, Middletown, Milford, New Castle, Newark, Seaford, Smyrna and Wilmington.
How much does medical waste disposal cost in Delaware?
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 Delaware have projected annual savings of $3,870 for a family practice and $2,220 for an oncology practice. Request a free, no-obligation quote for your facility.
Our services in Delaware
Industries we serve
Sources
- 7 DE Admin. Code 1301 — Regulations Governing Solid Waste (Section 7 Transporters; Section 11 Part 1 Infectious Waste) — Delaware Office of the Registrar of Regulations
- Environmental Control, 7 Del.C. Ch. 60, Subchapter II (§ 6003 Permit required) — Delaware General Assembly, Delaware Code Online
- Infectious waste — Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control
- Solid waste transporter permits — Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control
- Division of Waste and Hazardous Substances contacts — Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control
- Infectious Waste Generator ID Request Form — Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control
- Infectious Waste Generator Annual Report Form — Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control
- Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, 29 CFR 1910.1030 — U.S. OSHA
- State Plans (Delaware is under federal OSHA) — U.S. OSHA
- Delaware OSHA Area Office — U.S. OSHA
- Infectious substances, 49 CFR 173.134 — eCFR
- Regulated medical waste, 49 CFR 173.197 — eCFR
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