Medical Waste Regulations in South Carolina (2026)
Generator registration, storage limits, approved treatment, transport rules, and penalties under South Carolina Department of Environmental Services, with the primary statute behind every line.
South Carolina medical waste rules at a glance
| Governing agency | South Carolina Department of Environmental Services |
|---|---|
| Primary statute / rule |
|
| Generator registration | All in-state generators of infectious waste must register with SCDES in writing on a Department-approved form, with registration fees due at initial registration and annually thereafter, and full renewal of registration required every three years (R.61-105 Sections N(1), N(3), N(4)). [source] |
| On-site storage time limit | Generator on-site storage may not exceed 14 days without refrigeration, or 30 days if the waste is maintained at or below 42 degrees Fahrenheit (R.61-105 Section K(5)(a)). Waste must also be kept nonputrescent, using refrigeration when necessary. [source] |
| Approved treatment methods |
|
| Transport / manifest rules | A generator offering infectious waste for off-site treatment, storage, or disposal must prepare a manifest using SCDES Form 2116 or another Department-approved form, and the manifest must accompany the waste at all times after it leaves the generator's facility. The transporter must be currently registered with SCDES (R.61-105 Sections M and N). [source] |
| On-site treatment allowed? | Yes, conditional. Small quantity generators that treat infectious waste they generate on site by an approved method are not required to be permitted as a treatment facility (R.61-105 Section T(7)). All infectious waste must still be treated by an approved method prior to disposal, and treatment must be monitored using biological indicators or laboratory culture of the residue (Section T). [source] |
| Penalty range | Civil penalty up to $10,000 per day of violation; criminal first offense up to $10,000 per day or imprisonment up to one year, or both; subsequent offenses up to $25,000 per day or imprisonment up to two years, or both. Each day of noncompliance is a separate offense (S.C. Code Ann. Section 44-93-150). [source] |
What is unique about South Carolina
South Carolina ties its storage clock directly to refrigeration: generators get 14 days without refrigeration but 30 days if waste is held at or below 42 degrees Fahrenheit (R.61-105 Section K(5)). The state also recognizes embalming fluid containing at least 2 percent formaldehyde as an approved treatment method, and lets small quantity generators treat their own on-site waste without a treatment facility permit (Section T). Note the agency change: environmental programs formerly run by SC DHEC moved to the new South Carolina Department of Environmental Services in the 2024 restructuring.
Frequently asked questions
Which agency regulates infectious waste in South Carolina?
The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) administers the Infectious Waste Management Regulations, R.61-105. Environmental programs formerly run by SC DHEC moved to SCDES in the 2024 state restructuring, and SCDES now publishes and enforces R.61-105.
Do South Carolina healthcare facilities have to register as infectious waste generators?
Yes. R.61-105 Section N(1) requires all in-state generators to register with SCDES in writing on a Department-approved form. Fees are due at initial registration and annually thereafter (Section N(4)), and full registration renewal is required every three years (Section N(3)).
How long can infectious waste be stored on site in South Carolina?
Generator on-site storage cannot exceed 14 days without refrigeration, or 30 days if the waste is maintained at or below 42 degrees Fahrenheit (R.61-105 Section K(5)(a)). Waste must also be kept nonputrescent, using refrigeration when necessary.
Is a manifest required to ship infectious waste in South Carolina?
Yes. A generator shipping waste off site must prepare a manifest on SCDES Form 2116 or another Department-approved form, and it must accompany the waste at all times after leaving the facility (R.61-105 Section M). The waste may only be given to a transporter currently registered with SCDES.
Can a South Carolina generator treat infectious waste on site, and what are the penalties for violations?
Small quantity generators that treat the infectious waste they generate on site by an approved method are not required to be permitted as a treatment facility (R.61-105 Section T(7)), but all infectious waste must be treated by an approved method before disposal, and treatment must be monitored using biological indicators or laboratory culture of the residue. Violations of the Infectious Waste Management Act carry civil penalties of up to $10,000 per day, and criminal fines up to $10,000 for a first offense or $25,000 for subsequent offenses, with each day a separate offense (S.C. Code Section 44-93-150).
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