Health Care Industry

Pharmaceuticals are a waste stream common to all health care facilities.

Health care providers are subject to federal, state, and sometimes county hazardous waste regulations because they generate waste that, if mismanaged, can harm human health and the environment. The requirements of these regulations include, but are not limited to:

Evaluate all waste to determine whether it is hazardous; assume that all waste that has not been evaluated is hazardous
Store hazardous waste in closed and labeled containers
Transport hazardous waste using only licensed hazardous waste haulers, except for very small quantity generators transporting their own waste to approved collection programs
Discharge appropriate hazardous waste to the sanitary sewer (not septic systems) only after prior notice to the local wastewater treatment authority
- Note: the MPCA strongly discourages sewering pharmaceutical waste

MPCA Health Care Initiatives

Nonhospital Health Care Initiative. (Posted August 31, 2009)
The MPCA and the Minnesota Technical Assistance Program (MnTAP), a non-regulatory pollution prevention program at the University of Minnesota, are conducting an initiative to assist clinics, dentists, long term care, pharmacies and veterinarians with compliance and waste reduction. Learn more about the Initiative
Surgery Center Initiative. (Posted August 31, 2009)
The MPCA will be conducting multimedia inspections of all greater Minnesota surgery centers from October 1, 2009 to September 30, 2010. These inspections are a continuation of the focus the MPCA hazardous waste program has placed on the health care industry, beginning with hospitals nearly five years ago.

Health Care Spotlight

Healthcare Environmental Awareness and Resource Reduction Team (HEARRT)
HEARRT is a group of health care facilities, state and county hazardous waste staff and vendors that meets quarterly to address environmental issues within Minnesota's health care industry. If you are interested in attending, contact Amanda Baribeau at 651-757-2211 or amanda.baribeau@state.mn.us. Learn more about HEARRT
Universal Waste Rule – Pharmaceuticals
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed a rule to add hazardous pharmaceutical waste to the Universal Waste Rule. The proposed rule was published on December 2, 2008. Learn more about the proposed rule.
Household Pharmaceuticals and Sharps
The MPCA Household Hazardous Waste Program provides guidance for residential (non-commercial) disposal of pharmaceuticals and sharps.
- Household Pharmaceutical Disposal
- Household Sharp Disposal

Guidance Documents

Sterile indicators may contain toxic amounts of lead.

Hazardous Waste Guidance for Health Care Providers

Managing Waste from Health Care Providers (overview)
Table of Common Wastes in the Health Care Industry
Regulatory Consensus on Health Care Issues [#3.35] (11/09)
Evaluating Pharmaceutical Wastes [#4.45a] (8/04)
The Lethality Characteristic [#2.05] (5/09)
Alternate Method to Evaluate Pharmaceutical Waste for the Lethality Characteristic [#4.45b] (6/05)
Reverse Distribution of Non-controlled Pharmaceutical Products [#3.36b] (6/09)

Hazardous Waste Guidance for Environmental Services

Managing Waste Aerosols [#4.00] (rev. 3/99)
Managing Dry-Cell Batteries [#4.05] (rev. 6/02)
Managing Universal Wastes [#4.62] (2/07)
Managing Electronic Wastes from Business Sources [#4.15] (rev. 11/04)
Paint and Ink Wastes [#4.40] (rev. 5/04)
Oil, Used, and Related Wastes: Management for Generators [#4.30] (rev. 1/04)
Managing Towels, Wipes, and Sorbents [#4.61] (rev. 2/01)
Managing Photographic and X-ray Waste
Air Emission Control Requirements for Health Care Facilities
Sewered Waste Notification Form and Instructions [#7.11] (rev. 8/09)

General Hazardous Waste Requirements

Pollution Prevention

Pollution Prevention/Waste Minimization

Partners and Resources

Metro County Hazardous Waste Offices

Anoka County 763-422-7093
Carver County 952-361-1800
Dakota County 952-891-7557
Hennepin County 612-348-3777
Ramsey County 651-266-1199
Scott County 952-496-8475
Washington County 651-430-6655

Solid Waste Management Coordination Board (SWMCB)
- A joint powers board that coordinates regional initiatives of the solid and hazardous waste programs in Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, and Washington counties.
- Web Site: http://www.swmcb.org
Sewering - Metropolitan Council Environmental Services (MCES)

Minneapolis – St. Paul metropolitan area 651-602-4703
Web Site: http://www.metrocouncil.org/environment/environment.htm

Sewering - Greater Minnesota Delegated Programs

Albert Lea 507-373-9159
Mankato 507-387-8665
Owatonna 507-444-2452
Red Wing 651-385-3641
Rochester 507-281-6190 x 3006
St. Cloud 320-255-7225
WLSSD (Duluth area) 218-740-4815
Winona 507-457-8207

Minnesota Technical Assistance Program (MnTAP)

Toll free 800-247-0015
Metro 612-624-1300
Web Site: http://www.mntap.umn.edu

Minnesota Department of Health

Radioactive waste 651-642-0492
Web Site: http://www.health.state.mn.us

Additional Internet Resources

Contact MPCA

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Toll free (all locations) 800-657-3864
Brainerd 218-828-2492
Detroit Lakes 218-847-1519
Duluth 218-723-4660
Marshall 507-537-7146
Rochester 507-206-2631
St. Paul 651-296-6300
Willmar 320-214-3786
MPCA Visitor Center

This page was last updated December 17, 2009

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Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, 520 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155-4194
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