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.
Biohazardous Medical Waste Disposal
Stericycle specializes in the end to end disposal of all wastes that may be described as regulated medical waste, biohazardous medical waste, and other potentially infectious materials (OPIM) for facilities of all sizes.
Partner with the Biohazardous Medical Waste Disposal Industry Leader
Expertise You Can Trust
With over 30 years of experience, we continue to serve facilities of all sizes; no matter how large or small and specialize in the compliant collection, transportation, treatment, and disposal of medical waste.
Healthcare Crisis Response
Over the years Stericycle has served our customers during times of significant outbreaks, epidemics and/or pandemics of contagious diseases in the United States. This includes the outbreaks in 2003 of SARS, 2009 of H1N1, 2014 of Ebola, and 2020 of COVID-19.
We work with regulators, including the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to help ensure that Stericycle and its partners have the appropriate authority and guidance necessary to help our customers properly store, transport, treat and dispose of waste generated during the treatment of contagious diseases in these circumstances.
Easy, Online Account Management
Our Regulated Medical Waste (RMW) service provides 24/7 access to our Mystericycle.com Customer Portal where you can easily manage your pickup schedule, make payments, and access shipping documents and invoices.
Online Training and Compliance Resources
Our Mystericycle.com Customer Portal includes access to Biohazardous Waste Segregation and Hazardous Materials trainings in addition to resources related to various federal and state-specific regulations. You can also access OSHA and HIPAA compliance tools and resources as part of our Steri-Safe Solutions.
Flexible Scheduling and Tracking Infrastructure to Give You Peace of Mind
Our operations with 97% on time service1 are designed to deliver convenience, with minimal intrusion into your busy schedule. With more than 396 locations and 5,200 Stericycle trucks, we can meet your business needs no matter where you are.
Source: Stericycle data, 2021
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7 Step Regulated Medical Waste Disposal with Stericycle
Stericycle provides regulatory expertise throughout the RMW lifecycle, and partners with you to help manage the safe and responsible packaging, transportation, treatment, and medical waste disposal.
Step 1 - Segregation
Step 2 - Packaging & Labeling
Step 3 - Storage
Step 4 - Pickup & Documentation
Step 5 - Transportation
Step 6 - Treatment & Disposal
Step 7 - Records Retention
Medical Waste Disposal for Different Types of Waste
As an industry leader, Stericycle understands the importance of compliantly managing the collection, transportation, treatment, and appropriate disposal of various types of waste as required by regulations in your area.
Regulated Medical Waste (RMW)
Medical waste generated from procedures including any items saturated with human blood or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM), such as bandages, gauze, or PPE, are considered RMW or red bag waste. They should be disposed of safely in marked hazardous waste disposal containers that are stored for biohazard pickup.
Trace Chemotherapy Waste
Trace Chemotherapy Waste is any waste contaminated through contact with, or having previously contained, chemotherapeutic agents, such as PPE that is not saturated with hazardous drug waste as well as fully administered syringes and I.V. bags. It must be properly segregated, packaged, and labeled in order to comply with certain regulatory requirements as well as Stericycle's waste acceptance policy.
Pathological Waste
Pathological waste such as human or animal body parts, organs, tissues, and surgical specimens (decanted of formaldehyde, formalin, or other preservatives) are packaged separately for pickup in containers marked for incineration only. We can help you and your staff safely segregate, package, and dispose of pathological waste generated from your facility.
Sharps Waste
Sharps waste such as needles, scalpels, blades, and pipettes that have come in contact with blood, body fluids, or microorganisms should be disposed of in a designated disposable sharps container. This can be added to your biohazardous or red bag waste to reduce needlestick injuries and keep employees safe.
SafeShield™ Antimicrobial Medical Waste Containers
Stericycle continually makes significant investments to bring our customers service and product innovations that help drive their healthcare missions. Our SafeShield Medical Waste Containers are equipped with Cupron®, a copper-based antimicrobial protectant.
An Innovation to Improve Your Biohazardous Waste Management:
- Antimicrobial properties embedded in waste container and lid
- Smooth interior finish and drainage channels greatly reduces or eliminates odor
- Nestable design and ergonomic handles make stacking and moving safe and efficient
- Integrated lid closes securely and avoids lid misplacement
- HDPE material and PGII rated
Why Stericycle?
Your Single Nationwide Partners
We manage all healthcare regulated waste streams, and offer related compliance support such as training and educational materials. Our network of localized team members across the country maintain a 97% on-time pickup rate.1
Your Risk Reduction Experts
Our Regulatory Affairs team under Environmental Health & Safety keeps up to date with regulatory changes and engages with federal, state, and local agencies as needed to help keep our customers informed and compliant.
Your Sustainability Champion
In 2023, Stericycle recycled 906 million pounds of paper, incinerated 55 million pounds of pharmaceutical waste, and helped our customers divert 101 million pounds of plastic from landfills by using reusable sharps and pharmaceutical waste containers rather than single-use containers.1
1. Source: Stericycle data, 2023
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Medical Waste Disposal Frequently Asked Questions
Biohazardous waste types include red bag waste, sharps waste, pathological waste and trace chemo therapy. For more information please see our What Is Regulated Medical Waste article.
While there are a variety of treatment methods for biohazardous waste the two most common methods are autoclaving and incineration. For more information, see our What Is Regulated Medical Waste article.
