Biohazard Disposal Timeline
Generally, you should dispose of biohazard waste within 7-30 days of generation. The exact time frame depends on the amount of waste your facility generates monthly and how the waste is stored.
If your facility generates less than 20 pounds of biohazardous waste per month, you must dispose of biohazardous waste within 30 days.
If your facility generates more than 20 pounds of biohazard waste monthly, you must dispose of it within 7 days.
However, if you store the biohazard waste at or below 32 degrees Fahrenheit or get written approval from the local enforcement agency, you can wait longer for medical waste disposal pickups.
Factors affecting biohazard disposal or pickup frequency:
While you generally must dispose of any biohazard waste generated within 7-30 days, this ultimately depends on how much biohazard waste is generated by your facility, how much storage space you have, the temperature the waste is stored in, and if you have been approved for a different disposal frequency from your enforcement agency.
Amount of biohazard waste your facility generates
The benchmark is 20 pounds of biohazard waste monthly. If your facility generates more than this, regulations require disposal within 7 days.
Storage
Although regulations might allow your facility to store biohazard waste for longer, the amount of space you have within your designated storage area may not be enough.
Temperature
If your biohazard waste is stored at or below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, you may be able to store biohazard waste for up to 90 days. Many laboratories keep their medical waste inside of freezers to stay compliant or just avoid the smell associated with some biohazards.
Enforcement Agency
You may be able to get written approval from your local enforcement agency that will allow you to store your medical waste past the general guidelines.
