Medical Waste Regulations in Alabama (2026)
Generator registration, storage limits, approved treatment, transport rules, and penalties under Alabama Department of Environmental Management, with the primary statute behind every line.
Alabama medical waste rules at a glance
| Governing agency | Alabama Department of Environmental Management |
|---|---|
| Primary statute / rule |
|
| Generator registration | A facility that generates medical waste must register with the Department before beginning operation and must operate under a written plan to ensure proper management of medical waste, made available to ADEM on request (ADEM Admin. Code Chapter 335-17-8). [source] |
| On-site storage time limit | A generator may store untreated medical waste for no more than seven calendar days from the date initial storage begins, unless the waste is refrigerated at a temperature less than 45 degrees Fahrenheit, in which case it may remain up to 30 days. This limit does not apply to generators producing less than 220 pounds per month (ADEM Admin. Code r. 335-17-4-.01). [source] |
| Approved treatment methods |
|
| Transport / manifest rules | Transporters may not deliver untreated medical waste to an unapproved storage, treatment, or disposal facility in Alabama, and must keep records for at least three years documenting the quantity transported per month from each generator or storage facility, the names and locations of any storage facilities used, and the dates waste was accepted and delivered to a treatment facility (ADEM Admin. Code r. 335-17-5-.01). [source] |
| On-site treatment allowed? | Yes. Medical waste intended for transport to a permitted municipal solid waste disposal facility must be treated on site or at a permitted alternative location prior to disposal, using approved treatment methods (ADEM Admin. Code r. 335-17-6-.01). [source] |
| Penalty range | Civil penalties up to $25,000 for each violation per day, with the total assessed in a single Department order not to exceed $250,000, under the Alabama Environmental Management Act (Code of Ala. 1975, Sec. 22-22A-5). [source] |
What is unique about Alabama
Alabama regulates medical waste through ADEM under its own Land Division program (ADEM Admin. Code Div. 335-17), enacted under the Alabama Solid Wastes and Recyclable Materials Management Act (Code of Ala. 1975, Sec. 22-27-1 et seq.), rather than under the state health department. The framework ties the headline seven-calendar-day storage limit to a specific refrigeration alternative (less than 45 degrees Fahrenheit extends storage to 30 days) and exempts very small generators producing under 220 pounds per month from several requirements, including transporter permitting if they haul their own waste.
Frequently asked questions
Which agency regulates medical waste in Alabama?
The Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) regulates medical waste through its Land Division under ADEM Administrative Code Division 335-17, authorized by the Alabama Solid Wastes and Recyclable Materials Management Act (Code of Ala. 1975, Sec. 22-27-1 et seq.).
How long can a generator store untreated medical waste in Alabama?
No more than seven calendar days from when storage begins, unless the waste is refrigerated at less than 45 degrees Fahrenheit, which extends storage to up to 30 days. Generators producing under 220 pounds per month are not subject to this limit (ADEM Admin. Code r. 335-17-4-.01).
What treatment methods are approved for medical waste in Alabama?
Incineration and steam sterilization (autoclaving at a minimum of 250 degrees Fahrenheit and at least 15 pounds of pressure for 30 minutes) are the explicitly approved methods. Other methods may be used only if approved by ADEM (ADEM Admin. Code r. 335-17-6-.01).
Do small-quantity medical waste generators have fewer requirements in Alabama?
Yes. Generators producing less than 220 pounds (100 kilograms) per month are exempt from the storage time limit, and if they haul their own waste to a permitted facility they are exempt from transporter permitting requirements (ADEM Admin. Code Div. 335-17).
Does a medical waste transporter need to follow special rules in Alabama?
Yes. A transporter may not deliver untreated medical waste to an unapproved storage, treatment, or disposal facility, and must keep records for at least three years documenting the quantity transported each month from each generator, the storage facilities used, and the dates waste was accepted and delivered to a treatment facility (ADEM Admin. Code r. 335-17-5-.01). A generator producing under 220 pounds per month that hauls only its own waste to a permitted facility is exempt from transporter permitting.
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