Medical waste is a large concept on its own and trying to remember all the materials that falls into it can be a daunting task. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), medical waste is defined as:
In This Article
Liquids or infectious materials that have the potential to release contaminants, items that have dried hazardous materials that could be dangerous when handling, or any pathological and microbiological wastes containing hazardous materials or blood.
That definition alone has multiple parts, let us break it down.
Liquid or Infectious Materials
Infectious waste can release harmful materials into the air or by skin exposure. You should avoid any infectious waste that can release contaminants unless you are specially trained on how to properly handle it.
Dried Hazardous Materials
All contaminated materials that
were
in contact with hazardous waste. Dried hazardous materials have
an elevated risk
of releasing contamination and spreading diseases. You should always avoid
encountering
any dried hazardous materials.
Pathological or Microbiological Waste
Pathological waste includes waste materials and body parts that were removed from humans or animals. Infectious organisms, microorganisms, and biologicals are categories of microbiological. These wastes are dangerous! You should always assume they are capable of carrying dangerous deceases and infections. Leave the handling to specially trained professionals.
All in all, that is the definition that encompasses medical waste. Knowing everything that falls under it can be an overwhelming task. Sometimes, it is easier to remember what is not considered medical waste.
What Is Not Considered Medical Waste
It may surprise you that some substances do not fall under this definition. Below are some substances that OSHA does not define as part of medical waste:
- Urine
- Feces
- Vomit
- Nasal discharge
- Mucus
- Saliva
- Sweat
These bodily fluids aren't deemed medical waste unless they contain blood or other infectious agents.
There's a lot that is considered about medical waste. Let this blog help you save time, money, and energy, and you can be certain you're properly separating your medical waste.
Contact MedPro Disposal at 888-641-6131 to request your free quote!
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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