Medical Waste Regulations by State (2026)
All 50 states and DC, one identical schema each. Compare governing agency, storage limits, registration, and on-site treatment. Every cell links to the source on the state page.
| Jurisdiction | Agency | Storage limit | Registration | On-site treatment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | ADEM | A generator may store untreated medical… | Register with ADEM, written plan | Yes. Medical waste inte… |
| Alaska | Alaska DEC | No fixed storage-day limit is set in st… | No state medical-waste registration | Yes. A generator may tr… |
| Arizona | ADEQ | A generator must store biohazardous med… | No state generator registration | Yes. A generator may tr… |
| Arkansas | ADH | Storage within the generating facility… | No generator registration required | Yes. Generators and hea… |
| California | CDPH MWMP | Biohazardous waste may not be stored ab… | Required; LQG at 200+ lbs/month | Yes, with approval. A g… |
| Colorado | CDPHE HMWMD | Putrescible medical waste may be stored… | No registration; notify for onsite… | Yes. On-site treatment… |
| Connecticut | CT DEEP | Connecticut sets no fixed maximum numbe… | No separate generator registration | Yes. A generator that t… |
| Delaware | DNREC | Infectious waste may be stored up to 14… | Yes, DNREC Infectious Waste ID No. | Yes. A generator may tr… |
| District of Columbia | DOEE | No fixed on-site storage time limit for… | Only if waste is RCRA hazardous | No separate DC requirem… |
| Florida | FDOH | Storage at the generating facility may… | Required unless under 25 lb/30 days | Yes. On-site treatment… |
| Georgia | Georgia EPD | Rule 391-3-4-.15 sets no maximum on-sit… | No generator registration required | Yes. On-site biomedical… |
| Hawaii | HI DOH SHWB | No fixed storage time limit or refriger… | No registration; proof on request | Yes. Under HAR 11-104.1… |
| Idaho | Idaho DHW | For hospitals, storage of infectious wa… | No state registration required | Yes. Hospitals must tre… |
| Illinois | Illinois EPA | PIMW must not be stored for more than 7… | No separate PIMW generator license | Yes. A person conductin… |
| Indiana | IDOH / IDEM | Indiana sets no fixed maximum number of… | No generator registration required | Yes. A facility may eit… |
| Iowa | Iowa DNR | No fixed on-site storage time limit is… | No state generator registration | Yes. Iowa Admin Code 56… |
| Kansas | KDHE BWM | K.A.R. 28-29-27 sets no fixed number of… | No medical-waste generator registra… | Yes. K.A.R. 28-29-27 ex… |
| Kentucky | KY EEC DWM | Kentucky does not publish a codified ma… | No separate generator registration | Yes, conditionally. Hos… |
| Louisiana | LDH OPH | The Sanitary Code sets no numeric maxim… | No reg ID; sized by lbs per month | Yes. Generators may sto… |
| Maine | Maine DEP | Pathological waste, cultures, and disca… | Register with DEP; $50 fee | Yes, but it is not exem… |
| Maryland | MDE / MDH | No maximum on-site storage time or refr… | Maryland ID number required | Yes. A generator may tr… |
| Massachusetts | DPH; MassDEP | All medical or biological waste, except… | No DPH generator registration | Yes. On-site treatment… |
| Michigan | EGLE | A producing facility may not store medi… | Producing facility must register | Yes. The Act expressly… |
| Minnesota | MPCA | Minnesota statute and rule set no fixed… | No registration; on-site plan only | Yes. On-site treatment… |
| Mississippi | MSDH / MDEQ | Untreated infectious medical waste (exc… | No registry; written mgmt plan requ… | Yes. Processing of soli… |
| Missouri | MoDNR SWMP | At permitted infectious waste processin… | No SQG registration; permit to treat | Yes. Any person who tre… |
| Montana | Montana DEQ | Montana sets storage limits by temperat… | No DEQ generator reg; via facility… | Yes. Generators may tre… |
| Nebraska | DWEE | No fixed storage time limit is set in N… | No state infectious-waste registry | Yes. A generator (for e… |
| Nevada | NDEP/BWM | Solid waste, which includes medical was… | No statewide registration required | Yes. On-site treatment… |
| New Hampshire | NHDES | Infectious waste may not be stored at r… | No separate generator registration | Yes. Env-Sw 904.07 expr… |
| New Jersey | NJDEP/NJDOH | All regulated medical waste must be dis… | Every generator must register | Yes. A generator may tr… |
| New Mexico | NMED SWB | Under 20.9.8.10.B NMAC no person may st… | No registration; keep mgmt plan on… | Yes. A generator may tr… |
| New York | NYSDEC/DOH | Regulated medical waste may not be stor… | No reg number; records + annual rep… | Yes. On-site treatment… |
| North Carolina | NCDEQ | Unrefrigerated regulated medical waste… | No generator registration required | Yes. On-site treatment… |
| North Dakota | ND DEQ | There is no maximum time limit on how l… | No generator permit; handlers permi… | Yes. NDAC 33.1-20-12-02… |
| Ohio | Ohio EPA | Ohio sets no fixed day limit on how lon… | Register if 50+ lbs/month; $140 | Yes. A generator may tr… |
| Oklahoma | Oklahoma DEQ | OAC 252:515-23 does not set an express… | No state generator registration | Yes. A generator may tr… |
| Oregon | OHA / DEQ | Infectious waste must be treated or dis… | No registration; under 50 lb/mo exe… | Yes. On-site treatment… |
| Pennsylvania | PA DEP | Under 25 Pa. Code section 284.415, a ge… | No permit; PBR under 220 lb/mo | Yes. A generator may pr… |
| Rhode Island | RI DEM | Total on-site storage of regulated medi… | Yes, annual DEM registration + ID | Yes. Generators may tre… |
| South Carolina | SCDES | Generator on-site storage may not excee… | Yes, register with SCDES; annual fee | Yes, conditional. Small… |
| South Dakota | SD DANR | No fixed on-site storage time limit is… | No separate state generator registry | Yes. On-site treatment… |
| Tennessee | TDEC DLP | No fixed on-site medical waste storage… | Special waste approval (untreated) | Yes. The Division recom… |
| Texas | TCEQ + DSHS | No fixed maximum number of days for a g… | Tiered at 50 lbs/mo (SQG exempt) | Yes. On-site treatment… |
| Utah | Utah DEQ | Infectious waste may under no condition… | Written management plan on file | Yes. On-site steam ster… |
| Vermont | VT DEC | Untreated RMW held at consolidating poi… | No generator registration required | Yes. Generators, except… |
| Virginia | Virginia DEQ | A generator producing less than 250 gal… | No DEQ registration or permit needed | Yes. A generator may tr… |
| Washington | DOH + LHJs | Chapter 70A.228 RCW sets no statewide s… | Set by local health jurisdiction | Yes. On-site treatment… |
| West Virginia | WV BPH OEHS | Infectious medical waste other than sha… | Permit if over 50 lbs/month | Yes. On-site treatment… |
| Wisconsin | WI DNR | Wisconsin sets no fixed maximum number… | No routine registration; annual rep… | Yes. Generators may tre… |
| Wyoming | WDEQ SHWD | No general medical or infectious waste… | No state generator registration | Yes, by default. No sta… |