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North Carolina Department of Environment Quality

NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Waste Management - SW - Medical Waste

Waste Management

Medical Waste in North Carolina

The North Carolina Medical Waste Rules cover all aspects of medical waste management including: packaging, storage, transportation, treatment and disposal.  The medical waste management regulations are found in 15A NCAC 13B. Medical waste is regulated as solid waste and not as hazardous waste.

Medical waste is also subject to all general requirements for solid waste found in the solid waste management regulations. The NC medical waste management regulations are administered by the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Division of Waste Management.

New!Medical Waste -FAQ- Maybe your question is answered here!

Have a question about medical waste in North Carolina that you do not see answered?

Contact: William.Patrakis@NCDENR.Gov (919-707-8290)

Links to Other Governmental Agencies

Disposers should be aware that other agencies have additional requirements for some aspects of medical waste management. These include:

  • USEPA- While medical waste disposal is not regulated by the EPA their web site has useful information and links.
  • OSHA- These regulations include information about labeling and packaging of medical waste.
  • DOT has regulations on medical waste transport.  Enter "regulated medical waste" in the search box to find the information.
  • N.C. Hazardous Waste Section - Administers the RCRA Subtitle C program which regulates some types of waste from medical facilities including some chemotherapy waste.
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Guidance and Interpretations

Pharmaceutical Waste

Medical Materials Recovery

Commercial Medical Waste Treatment Providers

Alternative (non-incineration) Technologies
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