
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 42USC6992a]

 
                 TITLE 42--THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE
 
                    CHAPTER 82--SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL
 
       SUBCHAPTER X--DEMONSTRATION MEDICAL WASTE TRACKING PROGRAM
 
Sec. 6992a. Listing of medical wastes


(a) List

    Not later than 6 months after November 1, 1988, the Administrator 
shall promulgate regulations listing the types of medical waste to be 
tracked under the demonstration program. Except as provided in 
subsection (b) of this section, such list shall include, but need not be 
limited to, each of the following types of solid waste:
        (1) Cultures and stocks of infectious agents and associated 
    biologicals, including cultures from medical and pathological 
    laboratories, cultures and stocks of infectious agents from research 
    and industrial laboratories, wastes from the production of 
    biologicals, discarded live and attenuated vaccines, and culture 
    dishes and devices used to transfer, inoculate, and mix cultures.
        (2) Pathological wastes, including tissues, organs, and body 
    parts that are removed during surgery or autopsy.
        (3) Waste human blood and products of blood, including serum, 
    plasma, and other blood components.
        (4) Sharps that have been used in patient care or in medical, 
    research, or industrial laboratories, including hypodermic needles, 
    syringes, pasteur pipettes, broken glass, and scalpel blades.
        (5) Contaminated animal carcasses, body parts, and bedding of 
    animals that were exposed to infectious agents during research, 
    production of biologicals, or testing of pharmaceuticals.
        (6) Wastes from surgery or autopsy that were in contact with 
    infectious agents, including soiled dressings, sponges, drapes, 
    lavage tubes, drainage sets, underpads, and surgical gloves.
        (7) Laboratory wastes from medical, pathological, 
    pharmaceutical, or other research, commercial, or industrial 
    laboratories that were in contact with infectious agents, including 
    slides and cover slips, disposable gloves, laboratory coats, and 
    aprons.
        (8) Dialysis wastes that were in contact with the blood of 
    patients undergoing hemodialysis, including contaminated disposable 
    equipment and supplies such as tubing, filters, disposable sheets, 
    towels, gloves, aprons, and laboratory coats.
        (9) Discarded medical equipment and parts that were in contact 
    with infectious agents.
        (10) Biological waste and discarded materials contaminated with 
    blood, excretion, excudates \1\ or secretion from human beings or 
    animals who are isolated to protect others from communicable 
    diseases.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\ So in original. Probably should be ``exudates''.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
        (11) Such other waste material that results from the 
    administration of medical care to a patient by a health care 
    provider and is found by the Administrator to pose a threat to human 
    health or the environment.

(b) Exclusions from list

    The Administrator may exclude from the list under this section any 
categories or items described in paragraphs (6) through (10) of 
subsection (a) of this section which he determines do not pose a 
substantial present or potential hazard to human health or the 
environment when improperly treated, stored, transported, disposed of, 
or otherwise managed.

(Pub. L. 89-272, title II, Sec. 11002, as added Pub. L. 100-582, 
Sec. 2(a), Nov. 1, 1988, 102 Stat. 2951.)

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in sections 6992b, 6992i of this title.
