Infectious waste means waste originating from the diagnosis, care, or treatment of a person or animal that has been or may have been exposed to a contagious or infectious disease. Unless the materials have been rendered noninfectious by procedures approved by the state commissioner of health, infectious waste includes: All wastes originating from persons or animals placed in isolation for control and treatment of an infectious disease; Bandages, dressings, casts, catheters, tubing, and similar disposable items which have been in contact with wounds, burns, anatomical tracts, or surgical incisions and which are suspect of being or have been medically verified as infectious; All infectious anatomical waste, including human and animal parts or tissues; Infectious sharps and needles; Laboratory and pathology waste of an infectious nature; or Any other waste, as defined by the state commissioner of health, which, because of its infectious nature, requires handling and disposal in a manner prescribed for other types of infectious waste.

Infectious waste is waste that has the potential to transmit disease – regulated body fluids (blood and blood products and amniotic, cerebrospinal, pericardial, peritoneal, pleural and synovial fluids) and items dripping with those fluids, laboratory waste (waste cultures and stocks), infected research animal waste, sharps and pathology waste. Infectious waste is also sometimes called biohazardous, red bag or regulated medical waste. Infectious waste is not the same as hazardous waste. Pharmaceutical waste includes expired drugs, medications left behind when a patient expires or leaves a health care facility, waste materials containing chemotherapy drug residues (syringes, IV bags, tubing, etc.) and drugs that are intended to be discarded.

Offsite facility owners and operators must store waste in accordance with the following requirements: Infectious or pathological waste must be segregated from other wastes in a storage area designed to prevent the entry of vermin. Storage areas for infectious or pathological waste must be secured to deny access by unauthorized persons and must be prominently marked with the international biohazard symbol and with the words “Infectious Waste” on or adjacent to the exterior of entry doors and access gates. Interior surfaces of storage areas must be constructed of materials that are easily cleaned. Offsite storage areas must be designed to contain spills. Infectious or pathological waste must not be allowed to become putrescent during storage or at any time. Storage facility owners and operators must comply with the spill response requirements in the regulations.