Biohazardous waste is any waste saturated with liquid or semi-liquid blood or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM). Often, biohazardous waste is used interchangeably with such terms as regulated medical waste, biomedical waste, clinical waste, infectious waste and may vary in local or state regulations.
Each of these waste streams is regulated and must be disposed of by specific means to mitigate their risk to environmental health and safety. Hazardous waste should not be mixed with biohazardous or medical waste, and each should be disposed of as separate streams. Hazardous waste should never be mixed with biohazardous or medical waste, and each should be disposed of as separate streams.