New York Laws
Title 13 - Storage, Treatment and Disposal of Regulated Medical Waste
1389-CC - Storage and Containment of Regulated Medical Waste.

§ 1389-cc. Storage and containment of regulated medical waste. 1.
Containment of regulated medical waste shall be in a manner and location
which affords protection from the environment and limits exposure to the
public.

2. Regulated medical waste shall be separated from other waste as soon
as practicable in the generator's facility.

3. Unless otherwise approved by the department, regulated medical
waste shall be contained at the producing facility only for such periods
and under such conditions pursuant to rules and regulations adopted in
furtherance of this title.

4. Containment of regulated medical waste shall be separate from other
wastes. Containers used for the containment of regulated medical waste
shall be marked prominently on the containers with the universal warning
sign or the word "biohazard".

5. Regulated medical waste, except for discarded sharps, shall be
contained in bags which are impervious to moisture and have a strength
sufficient to resist ripping, tearing or bursting under normal
conditions of usage and of handling. The bags shall be secured so as to
prevent leakage during storage, handling or transport. All bags used for
containment and disposal of regulated medical wastes shall be red in
color.

6. All discarded sharps shall be contained for disposal in leakproof,
rigid, puncture-resistant containers which are secured to preclude loss
of the contents. Such containers shall be red in color or shall be
conspicuously labeled with the word "infectious" or the words "regulated
medical waste".

7. Before regulated medical waste is transported from the generating
facility, regulated medical waste contained in disposable containers
shall be placed for storage or handling in disposable or reusable pails,
cartons, drums, dumpsters or portable bins. The containment system shall
be leakproof, have tight-fitting covers and be kept clean and in good
repair. The containers may be of any color and shall be conspicuously
labeled with the word "infectious" or the words "regulated medical
waste".

8. Reusable containers for regulated medical waste shall be thoroughly
washed and decontaminated each time they are emptied unless the surfaces
of the containers have been completely protected from contamination by
disposable liners, bags or other devices removed with the waste.

9. Reusable pails, drums, dumpsters or bins used for containment of
regulated medical waste shall not be used for containment of waste to be
disposed of as other wastes or for other purposes except after being
decontaminated.

10. Trash chutes shall not be used to transfer regulated medical waste
between locations where it is contained.

Structure New York Laws