Subdivision 1. Segregation. All untreated infectious waste must be segregated from other waste material at its point of generation and maintained in separate packaging throughout collection, storage, and transport. Infectious waste must be packaged, contained, and transported in a manner that prevents release of the waste material.
Subd. 2. Labeling. All bags, boxes, and other containers used to collect, transport, or store infectious waste must be clearly labeled with a biohazard symbol or with the words "infectious waste" written in letters no less than one inch in height.
Subd. 3. Reusable containers. Containers which have been in direct contact with infectious waste must be disinfected prior to reuse.
Subd. 3a. Waste containers. Noninfectious mixed municipal solid waste generated by a facility must be placed for containment, collection, and processing or disposal in containers that are sufficiently transparent that the contents of the containers may be viewed from the exterior of the containers. The operator of a mixed municipal solid waste facility may not refuse to accept mixed municipal solid waste generated by a facility that complies with this subdivision, unless the operator observes that the waste contains sharps or other infectious waste.
Subd. 4. Sharps. (a) A person shall not place sharps with recyclable materials, as defined in section 115A.03.
(b) Sharps, except those generated from a household or from a farm operation or agricultural business:
(1) must be placed in puncture-resistant containers;
(2) may not be compacted or mixed with other waste material whether or not the sharps are decontaminated unless it is part of an infectious waste decontamination process approved by the commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency that will prevent exposure during transportation and disposal; and
(3) may not be disposed of at refuse-derived fuel facilities or at other facilities where waste is hand sorted.
Subd. 5. Pathological waste. Pathological waste must be managed according to sanitary standards established by state and federal laws or regulations for the disposal of the waste.
Subd. 6. Storage. Infectious and pathological waste must be stored in a specially designated area that is designed to prevent the entry of vermin and that prevents access by unauthorized persons.
Subd. 7. Compacting and mixing with other wastes. Infectious waste may not be compacted or mixed with other waste materials prior to incineration or disposal. Compaction is acceptable if it is part of an infectious waste system, approved by the commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency, that is designed to prevent exposure during storage, transportation, and disposal.
Subd. 8. Disposal. Except for disposal procedures specifically prescribed, this section and section 116.81 do not limit disposal methods for infectious and pathological waste.
Subd. 9. Disposal of infectious waste by ambulance services. Any infectious waste, as defined in section 116.76, subdivision 12, produced by an ambulance service in the transport or care of a patient must be properly packaged and disposed of at the destination hospital or at the nearest hospital if the patient is not transported. A hospital must accept the infectious waste if it is properly packaged according to the standards the hospital uses for packaging its own infectious wastes. The hospital may charge the ambulance service a reasonable fee for disposal of the infectious waste. Nothing in this subdivision shall require a hospital to accept infectious waste if the waste is of a type not generated by the hospital or if the hospital cannot safely store the waste. A hospital that accepts infectious waste under this subdivision is not subject to those provisions of section 116.79, subdivision 4, paragraph (a), that apply to the storage or decontamination of infectious or pathological waste generated at a site other than the hospital.
Subd. 10. Disposal of infectious waste by public health agencies and programs providing school health services. Any infectious waste, as defined in section 116.76, subdivision 12, produced by an eligible community health board, or public health nursing agency, or a program providing school health services under section 121A.21, must be properly packaged and may be disposed of at a hospital. For purposes of this subdivision, an "eligible community health board or public health nursing agency" is defined as a community health board or public health nursing agency located in a county with a population of less than 40,000. A hospital must accept the infectious waste if it is properly packaged according to the standards the hospital uses for packaging its own infectious wastes. The hospital may charge an eligible community health board or public health nursing agency or a program providing school health services a reasonable fee for disposal of the infectious waste. Nothing in this subdivision shall require a hospital to accept infectious waste if the waste is of a type not generated by the hospital or if the hospital cannot safely store the waste. A hospital that accepts infectious waste under this subdivision is not subject to those provisions of section 116.79, subdivision 4, paragraph (a), that apply to the storage or decontamination of infectious or pathological waste generated at a site other than the hospital.
1989 c 337 s 4; 1990 c 568 art 2 s 3,4; 1991 c 344 s 2,3; 1993 c 249 s 27; 1Sp1993 c 1 art 9 s 3,4; 1998 c 397 art 11 s 3; 2014 c 225 s 5; 2015 c 21 art 1 s 109
Structure Minnesota Statutes
Chapters 114C - 116I — Environmental Protection
Chapter 116 — Pollution Control Agency
Section 116.011 — Pollution Report.
Section 116.02 — Pollution Control Agency; Creation And Powers.
Section 116.03 — Commissioner.
Section 116.04 — Executive Secretary.
Section 116.061 — Air Pollution; Emissions And Abatement.
Section 116.07 — Powers And Duties.
Section 116.071 — Cause Of Action For Abandoning Hazardous Waste On Property Of Another.
Section 116.0711 — Feedlot Permits; Conditions; County Grants.
Section 116.0712 — Modified Level One Feedlot Inventory.
Section 116.0713 — Livestock Odor.
Section 116.0715 — Limit On Basis For Action.
Section 116.0716 — Rule Variance.
Section 116.0717 — Minerals Deposition.
Section 116.072 — Administrative Penalties.
Section 116.073 — Field Citations.
Section 116.074 — Notice Of Permit Conditions To Local Governments.
Section 116.075 — Hearings And Records Public.
Section 116.081 — Prohibitions; Air Contaminant And Waste Facilities And Systems.
Section 116.082 — Burning Leaves; Local Ordinances.
Section 116.091 — Systems And Facilities.
Section 116.10 — Policy; Long-range Plan; Purpose.
Section 116.101 — Hazardous Waste; Control And Spill Contingency Plan.
Section 116.11 — Emergency Powers.
Section 116.12 — Hazardous Waste Administration Fees.
Section 116.125 — Notification Of Fee Increases.
Section 116.14 — Hazardous Waste Facilities; Liability Of Guarantor.
Section 116.155 — Remediation Fund.
Section 116.16 — Minnesota State Water Pollution Control Program.
Section 116.163 — Agency Review; Financial Assistance And Bids.
Section 116.165 — Inspection Responsibility.
Section 116.17 — Minnesota State Water Pollution Control Bonds.
Section 116.18 — Water Pollution Control Funds; Appropriations And Bonds.
Section 116.182 — Financial Assistance Program.
Section 116.202 — Coal Tar Sealant; Use And Sale Prohibited.
Section 116.21 — Nutrients In Cleaning Agents And Water Conditioners; Control; Statement Of Policy.
Section 116.23 — Prohibition And Restrictions.
Section 116.26 — Restoring Seized Items.
Section 116.27 — Additional Prohibition.
Section 116.28 — Lists Required.
Section 116.32 — Order To Refrain.
Section 116.33 — Proof Of Offense.
Section 116.34 — Time Limited For Proceedings.
Section 116.35 — Trial Of Offenses.
Section 116.37 — Pcb; Prohibited Use.
Section 116.385 — Trichloroethylene; Ban.
Section 116.39 — Ozone Layer; Preservation.
Section 116.41 — Waste And Waste Facilities Training And Certification.
Section 116.42 — Acid Deposition; Legislative Intent.
Section 116.43 — Acid Deposition Defined.
Section 116.44 — Sensitive Areas; Standards.
Section 116.454 — Monitoring Program.
Section 116.48 — Notification Requirements.
Section 116.482 — Petroleum Release; Notification.
Section 116.49 — Environmental Protection Requirements.
Section 116.491 — Tank Installers; Training And Certification.
Section 116.492 — Basement Storage Tanks; Removal.
Section 116.731 — Requirements To Recycle Cfc's.
Section 116.732 — Requirement To Recycle Fire Extinguisher Halons.
Section 116.733 — Medical Device Exemption.
Section 116.734 — Uniform Cfc Regulation.
Section 116.735 — Training And Certification.
Section 116.78 — Waste Management.
Section 116.79 — Management Plans.
Section 116.80 — Transporting Infectious Waste.
Section 116.801 — Incinerating Infectious Waste; Permit Required.
Section 116.802 — Incinerating Infectious Waste; Environmental Impact.
Section 116.82 — Authority Of Local Government.
Section 116.835 — Safe Sharps Management.
Section 116.84 — Monitors Required For Pcb Incinerators.
Section 116.85 — Monitors Required For Other Incinerators.
Section 116.875 — Authorized Management Methods.
Section 116.88 — Prohibited Methods Of Management.
Section 116.885 — Recycling And Treatment.
Section 116.91 — Citizen Reports Of Environmental Violations.
Section 116.915 — Mercury Reduction.
Section 116.92 — Mercury Emissions; Reduction.
Section 116.921 — Multistate Clearinghouse.
Section 116.925 — Electric Energy; Mercury Emissions Report.
Section 116.93 — Lamp Recycling Facilities.
Section 116.931 — Wheel Weights And Balancing Products; Lead And Mercury Prohibition.
Section 116.9401 — Definitions.
Section 116.9402 — Identifying Chemicals Of High Concern.
Section 116.9403 — Identifying Priority Chemicals.
Section 116.9405 — Applicability.
Section 116.9406 — Donations To The State.
Section 116.9407 — Participating In Interstate Chemicals Clearinghouse.
Section 116.97 — Small Business Air-quality Compliance Assistance Program.
Section 116.98 — Ombudsman For Small Business Air-quality Compliance Assistance Program.
Section 116.99 — Small Business Air-quality Compliance Advisory Council.
Section 116.993 — Small Business Environmental-improvement Loan Program.
Section 116.994 — Small Business Environmental-improvement Loan Accounting.