Medical waste is defined as any item that comes into contact with body fluids. More specifically, it is any solid waste that is generated in the diagnosis, treatment, or immunization of humans.
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Definition of Medical Waste
Medical waste can be identified by one of the four different categories: Infectious, hazardous, radioactive, and general.
Infectious Waste
This type of waste is described as any waste that has the possibility of causing infections to humans. This type of waste can include animal or human tissue, bandages caked with blood, discarded surgical gloves, and or pathological waste. All of these examples of infectious waste require specific treatment methods for the disposal process.
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Hazardous Waste
This type of waste is defined as any solid or liquid waste that is considered toxic, chemically reactive, and flammable. Some examples include: some paints, batteries, solvents cleaning agents and pesticides.
Radioactive Waste
This is defined as any type of waste that contains radioactive materials. Usually, this is a by-products of nuclear power generation and other applications of nuclear technology. Some examples include: nuclear reactor waste, fission products
General Waste
This type of waste makes up the vast majority of the medical waste. If facilities employees are not careful, one of these three other types can get mixed up with General Waste.
Common Questions
- What counts as medical waste?
- Medical waste is any waste generated during the diagnosis, treatment, or immunization of humans or animals that may be contaminated with blood, body fluids, or other infectious material — including sharps, blood-soaked dressings, cultures, and pathological tissue. Non-contaminated items like standard packaging are not regulated medical waste.
- How much does medical waste disposal cost?
- Cost depends on waste volume, pickup frequency, container size, waste type, and location. Most practices pay a flat monthly or per-pickup rate rather than being billed per pound. Typical monthly costs range from about $50-$200 for small practices and dental offices up to $1,000+ for long-term care facilities, with hospitals and large health systems running $1,000-$50,000+ per month — see our full pricing breakdown by facility type. MedPro customers also save an average of 30% by switching from their previous provider.
- Is medical waste disposal legally required?
- Yes. Any facility generating regulated medical waste must comply with OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, applicable EPA/DOT rules, and their state's specific medical waste regulations, which vary by state.
- What's the difference between medical waste and biohazard waste?
- Biohazard waste is a subset of medical waste. Medical waste is the broad category (including sharps and pharmaceuticals); biohazard waste specifically refers to material containing or potentially containing infectious agents.
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