Hazardous Waste Assistance for Non-Hospital Facilities

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is partnering with MnTAP to help dentists, long-term care facilities, medical clinics, pharmacies, and veterinarians comply with hazardous waste regulations and reduce the amount of hazardous waste these facilities generate.

Click on a link below to access information applicable to your facility. There you will find web-based guidance materials, and webcast presentations.

Hazardous Waste vs. Infectious Waste

• Hazardous waste includes items that due to their quantity, concentration or characteristics may cause or significantly contribute to increased mortality or an increase in serious, irreversible, or incapacitating reversible illness; or pose a substantial present or potential hazard to human health or the environment when improperly treated, stored, transported, disposed of, or otherwise managed. Examples include some cleaning and disinfecting chemicals, dental amalgam, disinfectants, fluorescent lamps, laboratory reagents, pharmaceuticals, and radiology/imaging chemicals.
  
• Infectious waste includes items that have the potential to transmit infectious disease. Examples include laboratory waste, blood, regulated body fluids, sharps, and research animal waste that have not been decontaminated.