In 2024, Regions Hospital improperly disposed of infectious waste multiple times at a waste-to-energy facility, according to a Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) investigation. The waste included liquid blood and liquids contaminated with liquid blood in syringes, tubing, plastic bags, suction canisters, and laboratory collection tubes. The facility that received the waste from Regions Hospital notified the MPCA that it was infectious waste and brought in a contractor to help segregate the waste. The infectious waste was then sent to a properly permitted facility for disposal.
In addition to paying the $100,000 civil penalty, Regions Hospital has completed a series of corrective actions. It stopped disposing of infectious waste with mixed municipal solid waste. Regions Hospital has reviewed its infectious waste management procedures and revised its infectious waste management plan to ensure proper collection and shipping of infectious waste off-site to an authorized facility.
MPCA rules and regulations are designed to protect human health and the environment by limiting pollution emissions and discharges from facilities. When companies do not fully comply with regulatory requirements, the resulting pollution can be harmful to people and the environment.
When calculating penalties, the MPCA considers how seriously the violations affected or could have affected the environment, and whether they were first-time or repeat violations. The agency also attempts to recover the economic benefit the company gained by failing to comply with environmental laws in a timely manner.