Medical Waste Disposal in Kansas
MedPro Disposal provides regulated medical waste, sharps and pharmaceutical waste pickup and disposal for healthcare facilities everywhere in Kansas — from the Kansas City metro and Topeka to Wichita and western Kansas — with the packaging, paperwork and training the state and federal rules require.
How is medical waste disposal regulated in Kansas?
Kansas regulates medical waste as “medical services waste” under a single solid waste regulation, K.A.R. 28-29-27, administered by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) Bureau of Waste Management. It requires facilities to segregate the waste where it’s generated, keep it in containers that prevent disease or injury (sharps in closed, rigid, puncture-resistant containers), label or color-code it to the OSHA standard before it goes off site, and dispose of it only by approved methods. Kansas sets no generator registration, onsite storage time limit, state transporter permit or state manifest, so federal OSHA and U.S. DOT rules fill in the rest.
- State term
- Medical services waste
- Rule
- K.A.R. 28-29-27
- Administered by
- KDHE Bureau of Waste Management
- Onsite storage
- No state time limit
Key takeaways
- Kansas regulates medical waste as “medical services waste” under K.A.R. 28-29-27, administered by the KDHE Bureau of Waste Management.
- K.A.R. 28-29-27 applies to hospitals, clinics, physician and other provider offices, and veterinary clinics that provide inpatient or outpatient care.
- Kansas sets no time limit for storing medical waste onsite; it requires only that the waste be stored in containers that prevent disease transmission or injury.
- Medical waste shipped off site in Kansas must be labeled or color-coded under OSHA’s 29 CFR 1910.1030(g)(1)(i), and the hauler must be told what types of waste it’s carrying.
- Kansas has no OSHA State Plan, so federal OSHA enforces the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030) for private employers in Kansas.
Kansas Medical Waste Rules
Medical waste is regulated mainly by each state, with federal rules on top. Kansas regulates it through one short regulation, K.A.R. 28-29-27 (Medical services waste), adopted by KDHE under the Kansas Solid Waste Management Act, K.S.A. 65-3401 et seq. It covers segregation, storage containers, labeling, processing and disposal. It doesn’t set up generator registration, storage time limits, a transporter permit or a state tracking form, so federal OSHA and DOT rules do much of the work. Here’s what applies to a practice, clinic or other healthcare facility.
What Kansas regulates
Medical Services Waste
Those solid waste materials which are potentially capable of causing disease or injury and which are generated in connection with human or animal care through inpatient and outpatient services. It does not include solid waste classified by KDHE as hazardous waste or radioactive treatment material licensed under state law. KDHE’s guidance adds that pharmaceutical waste isn’t medical waste, that for human healthcare facilities medical waste means red bag or biohazard waste (waste placed in containers labeled or color-coded under OSHA’s 29 CFR 1910.1030(g)(1)(i)), and that for animal care it means waste potentially capable of causing disease in, or injury to, humans. Kansas lists no categories: KDHE says deciding which items qualify is the generating facility’s responsibility.
- Waste potentially capable of causing disease (red bag or biohazard waste)
- Sharps — hypodermic needles and syringes, scalpel blades, suture needles and other sharp objects
- Waste from human inpatient and outpatient care (hospitals, clinics, physician and other provider offices)
- Waste from animal care (veterinary clinics) that could cause disease or injury in humans
Who regulates medical waste in Kansas
KDHE — Bureau of Waste Management
Administers K.A.R. 28-29-27 and the Kansas solid waste program, permits medical waste processing and other solid waste facilities, and issues the special waste disposal authorizations needed to landfill medical waste.
Federal OSHA — Wichita Area Office
Kansas has no OSHA State Plan, so federal OSHA enforces the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard for private employers in all 105 Kansas counties.
Key Kansas requirements
| Topic | Requirement | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Segregation | All medical services waste must be segregated from other solid waste at the point of origin. Medical waste doesn’t include pharmaceutical waste, RCRA hazardous waste or radiological waste, which are managed under their own rules. | K.A.R. 28-29-27(a), (b); KDHE BWM guidance (rev. 7/11/22) |
| Containers and sharps | Medical waste must be stored in a manner and container that prevents disease transmission or injury, and containers must hold their contents, including fluids. Hypodermic needles and syringes, scalpel blades, suture needles and other sharps go only in a rigid, puncture-resistant container closed to prevent the escape of any material, including liquids or aerosols. Reusable containers must be cleaned and disinfected before each use. | K.A.R. 28-29-27(c) |
| Onsite collection and storage | Medical waste must be collected at least daily from where it’s generated and taken to a storage area, disposal area or processing facility, with precautions against accidental contact. Kansas sets no time or temperature limit on how long medical waste may be stored before it leaves the site. | K.A.R. 28-29-27(c), (d) |
| Labeling and transport | Medical waste leaving the site must be transported in a way that prevents the spread of disease or injury. Containers must be labeled or color-coded under OSHA’s 29 CFR 1910.1030(g)(1)(i), and the transporter or disposal firm must be told the types of waste. The rule creates no state medical waste transporter permit or state manifest. | K.A.R. 28-29-27(e) |
| Processing (treatment) | Where feasible, medical waste should be processed before it leaves the site — infectious waste sterilized by autoclaving or chemical treatment, and sharps ground, melted or pulverized. KDHE’s guidance says a healthcare facility doesn’t need a permit to process its own waste; processed waste that can no longer cause disease or injury may be managed as ordinary solid waste. Offsite medical waste processing facilities need a KDHE permit. | K.A.R. 28-29-27(f); K.S.A. 65-3407; KDHE BWM guidance (rev. 7/11/22) |
| Disposal | Acceptable disposal methods are discharge of liquids to a sanitary sewer connected to a secondary sewage treatment plant; incineration of combustible solids with the ash landfilled; a permitted hazardous waste disposal facility; or a permitted municipal solid waste landfill with a KDHE special waste disposal authorization. Many landfills also require one for processed medical waste. | K.A.R. 28-29-27(g), 28-29-1a(c), 28-29-109 |
- K.S.A. 65-3401 et seq.
Kansas Solid Waste Management Act
Directs the KDHE secretary to adopt solid waste rules (§ 65-3406), requires a permit to operate a solid waste processing facility or disposal area (§ 65-3407), and makes it unlawful to store, collect, transport, process or dispose of solid waste contrary to KDHE’s rules (§ 65-3409). The medical services waste rule is adopted under it.
- K.A.R. 28-29-27
Medical services waste
Defines medical services waste and sets its segregation, storage, collection, transportation, processing and disposal standards.
- K.A.R. 28-29-109
Special waste
Requires a KDHE special waste disposal authorization before special waste can go to a permitted municipal solid waste landfill. K.A.R. 28-29-27(g)(4) sends landfilled medical waste through this process.
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). Employers need an exposure control plan reviewed at least annually and must train staff at assignment and yearly, keeping training records for three years. Kansas 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(c)(1), (d)(4)(iii), (g)(1)–(2), (h)(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. The shipper keeps a copy of each shipping paper for two years after the carrier accepts the waste. | 49 CFR 173.134, 173.197, 172.201(e) |
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.
Kansas medical waste compliance checklist
Use this to check your facility against Kansas’s medical services waste rule (K.A.R. 28-29-27) and the federal OSHA and DOT requirements. MedPro handles the pickup, transport and treatment — the rest happens in your facility.
Get Compliant Pickup- 1
Medical waste is separated where it’s generated
Kansas requires medical services waste to be segregated from other solid waste at the point of origin — red bag or biohazard containers, never the regular trash.
- 2
Sharps go in closed, rigid, puncture-resistant containers
Needles, syringes, scalpel blades, suture needles and other sharps are stored only in rigid, puncture-resistant containers closed so nothing, including liquids or aerosols, can escape.
- 3
Waste is moved to storage at least daily
Kansas requires medical waste to be collected from where it’s generated at least daily and taken to a storage area, disposal area or processing facility.
- 4
Containers are labeled or red for pickup
Everything going off site is labeled with the biohazard symbol or color-coded red, as OSHA requires. Reusable containers are cleaned and disinfected before each use.
- 5
Your hauler knows what it’s carrying
Kansas requires the transporter or disposal firm to be told the types of waste. Pharmaceutical and hazardous waste are managed separately from medical waste.
- 6
You have an OSHA exposure control plan
Required for employers with occupational exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials, reviewed and updated at least annually.
- 7
Shipping papers are kept for two years
DOT requires the shipper to keep a copy of each shipping paper for two years after the hauler accepts the waste.
- 8
Staff are trained every year
OSHA bloodborne pathogens training at assignment and at least annually, with training records kept for three years.
Kansas Medical Waste Savings
Projected annual savings from quotes we’ve prepared for Kansas 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Long Term Care Facility | 67522 | $360 |
| Surgery Center | 66209 | $17,760 |
| Dentist | 66208 | $2,580 |
| Dermatology | 66211 | $4,104 |
| Nursing Home | 67880 | $5,040 |
| Orthopaedics | 67206 | $7,800 |
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 Kansas
MedPro Disposal provides regulated medical waste pickup and disposal to healthcare facilities in every part of Kansas — wherever your practice is. Local service pages include:
Near the state line? We serve the neighboring states too.
Kansas Medical Waste FAQs
What counts as medical waste in Kansas?
Kansas calls it “medical services waste”: solid waste potentially capable of causing disease or injury that is generated in human or animal care through inpatient and outpatient services (K.A.R. 28-29-27(a)). Hazardous waste and licensed radioactive material are excluded, and KDHE’s guidance says pharmaceutical waste isn’t medical waste either. For human healthcare, KDHE treats medical waste as red bag or biohazard waste; the facility decides which specific items qualify.
Who regulates medical waste disposal in Kansas?
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), through its Bureau of Waste Management, administers the medical services waste rule, permits solid waste processing and disposal facilities, and issues special waste disposal authorizations for landfilling medical waste. Federal OSHA enforces the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard for private employers, and U.S. DOT rules govern shipping.
How long can a medical practice store medical waste in Kansas?
Kansas sets no time or temperature limit for storing medical waste before it leaves your site. K.A.R. 28-29-27 requires that it be stored in containers that prevent disease transmission or injury, and that it be moved from where it’s generated to a storage area at least daily. MedPro sets a pickup schedule that fits how much waste you generate.
What does Kansas require of medical waste haulers?
Kansas’s rule doesn’t create a state medical waste transporter permit. It requires that medical waste be transported off site in a way that prevents disease or injury, that containers be labeled or color-coded under OSHA’s 29 CFR 1910.1030(g)(1)(i), and that the hauler be told the types of waste (K.A.R. 28-29-27(e)). Haulers must also follow U.S. DOT hazardous materials rules for regulated medical waste, and untreated waste must go to a KDHE-permitted processing facility or, with a special waste disposal authorization, a permitted landfill.
How long do I need to keep medical waste records in Kansas?
Kansas has no state manifest or medical waste record-retention rule. Federal rules still apply: DOT requires the shipper to keep a copy of each shipping paper for two years after the carrier accepts the waste (49 CFR 172.201(e)), and OSHA requires bloodborne pathogens training records to be kept for three years (29 CFR 1910.1030(h)(2)).
Can a Kansas facility treat its own medical waste?
Yes. KDHE’s guidance says a healthcare facility may autoclave, microwave, chemically treat or otherwise process its medical waste to accepted industry standards without a permit. Once it can no longer cause disease or injury it may be handled as ordinary solid waste, though many landfills require a special waste disposal authorization for processed medical waste. K.A.R. 28-29-27(f) says waste should be processed before it leaves the site where feasible.
Where in Kansas does MedPro Disposal provide service?
Everywhere in Kansas — we service facilities statewide, from the Kansas City metro to western Kansas. We also have local service pages for Kansas City, Lawrence, Leawood, Lenexa, Manhattan, Olathe, Overland Park, Shawnee, Topeka and Wichita.
How much does medical waste disposal cost in Kansas?
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 Kansas have projected annual savings of $17,760 for a surgery center, $7,800 for an orthopaedics practice and $5,040 for a nursing home. Request a free, no-obligation quote for your facility.
Our services in Kansas
Industries we serve
Sources
- Kansas Solid Waste Statutes (K.S.A. 65-3401 et seq.) and Regulations (K.A.R. 28-29), including K.A.R. 28-29-1a, 28-29-27 and 28-29-109 — Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Bureau of Waste Management
- Kansas Administrative Regulations, 2022 Volume, Book 2 (K.A.R. 28-29-27) — Kansas Secretary of State
- Medical Waste Management (guidance, revised 7/11/22) — Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Bureau of Waste Management
- Pharmaceuticals, Drugs & Medical Waste — Kansas Department of Health and Environment
- Bureau of Waste Management — Kansas Department of Health and Environment
- Solid Waste Program (permitted facility types) — Kansas Department of Health and Environment
- K.S.A. 65-3406 Duties and functions of secretary — Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes
- K.S.A. 65-3407 Permits for solid waste processing facilities and disposal areas — Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes
- K.S.A. 65-3409 Unlawful acts; penalties — Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes
- Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, 29 CFR 1910.1030 — U.S. OSHA
- State Plans (Kansas is under federal OSHA) — U.S. OSHA
- Kansas OSHA Area Office — U.S. OSHA
- Infectious substances, 49 CFR 173.134 — eCFR
- Regulated medical waste, 49 CFR 173.197 — eCFR
- Shipping paper retention, 49 CFR 172.201 — eCFR
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