Medical Waste Regulations in Michigan (2026)
Generator registration, storage limits, approved treatment, transport rules, and penalties under Michigan Dept of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), Medical Waste Regulatory Program, with the primary statute behind every line.
Michigan medical waste rules at a glance
| Governing agency | Michigan Dept of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), Medical Waste Regulatory Program |
|---|---|
| Primary statute / rule |
|
| Generator registration | Every producing facility in Michigan that generates, stores, decontaminates, or incinerates medical waste must register with the department on a prescribed form, and within 90 days after registration must have a written medical waste management plan on file at the premises (MCL 333.13813). The certificate of registration is valid for three years. [source] |
| On-site storage time limit | A producing facility may not store medical waste on the premises for more than 90 days, except that sharps in a sharps container may be stored until the container is no more than three-quarters full, but for no more than 18 months from the date the first sharps is deposited. The statute sets no temperature or refrigeration condition, but requires storage in a manner that prevents putrefaction (MCL 333.13809, 333.13810). [source] |
| Approved treatment methods |
|
| Transport / manifest rules | Part 138 does not impose a state medical-waste manifest. A producing facility that transports medical waste off-site must package it per MCL 333.13821 (leakproof, rigid, puncture-resistant labeled containers for sharps; moisture-impervious, tear-resistant, secured bags or containers for other medical waste), and once properly contained the waste may be disposed of as solid waste under Part 115 of NREPA, 1994 PA 451. [source] |
| On-site treatment allowed? | Yes. The Act expressly contemplates on-site decontamination and on-site incineration. A producing facility that incinerates on site must meet the containment requirements of MCL 333.13810, and one that does not incinerate on site must meet MCL 333.13809. On-site or off-site storage, decontamination, and incineration must be described in the facility's medical waste management plan (MCL 333.13817). [source] |
| Penalty range | A person who violates Part 138 or a rule under it is subject to an administrative fine of up to $2,500 per violation, plus up to $1,000 for each day the violation continues. Failing to register or to have a medical waste management plan available for inspection carries a $500 administrative fine, and a court may enjoin continuing violations (MCL 333.13831). [source] |
What is unique about Michigan
Michigan regulates medical waste through its Public Health Code rather than a freestanding hazardous-waste statute. Part 138 (the Medical Waste Regulatory Act, 1978 PA 368) makes registration turn on the facility, not the volume, so any office that generates, stores, decontaminates, or incinerates medical waste must register as a producing facility, and the certificate is valid for three years (MCL 333.13813). A 2024 amendment (2024 PA 105) kept the 90-day general storage cap while allowing sharps containers to stay on site up to 18 months until three-quarters full. EGLE's Medical Waste Regulatory Program administers the Act and handles registration through the MiEnviro Portal.
Frequently asked questions
Who regulates medical waste in Michigan?
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), through its Materials Management Division's Medical Waste Regulatory Program, administers and enforces the Medical Waste Regulatory Act, Part 138 of the Public Health Code (1978 PA 368), and Administrative Rules R 325.1541 to 325.1549.
Do I have to register if I generate medical waste in Michigan?
Yes. Under MCL 333.13813, every producing facility (any facility that generates, stores, decontaminates, or incinerates medical waste) must register with the department, and within 90 days of registration must keep a written medical waste management plan on file at the premises. The certificate of registration is valid for three years.
How long can medical waste be stored on site in Michigan?
No more than 90 days for medical waste generally (MCL 333.13809 and 333.13810). Sharps in a sharps container are an exception: they may be stored until the container is no more than three-quarters full, but for no longer than 18 months from when the first sharps is placed in it.
What are the penalties for violating Michigan's medical waste law?
Under MCL 333.13831, most violations carry an administrative fine of up to $2,500 per violation plus up to $1,000 for each day the violation continues. Failing to register or to have a management plan available for inspection carries a $500 fine, and a court may also enjoin continuing violations.
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