---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 6992a"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "6992a"
heading: "Listing of medical wastes"
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/6992a"
units:
  - "Chapter 82 — Solid Waste Disposal"
  - "Subchapter X — Demonstration Medical Waste Tracking Program"
---

# §6992a. Listing of medical wastes

- (a) **List—** Not later than 6 months after November 1, 1988, the [Administrator](/usc/42/6903.md?p=1) shall promulgate regulations listing the types of medical waste to be tracked under the [demonstration](/usc/42/6903.md?p=2A) [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4). Except as provided in [subsection (b)](#b), such list shall include, but need not be limited to, each of the following types of [solid waste](/usc/42/6903.md?p=27):
  - (1) Cultures and stocks of infectious agents and associated biologicals, including cultures from medical and pathological [laboratories](/usc/42/300jj.md?p=10), cultures and stocks of infectious agents from research and industrial [laboratories](/usc/42/300jj.md?p=10), 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](/usc/42/274b.md?p=d-2), 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](/usc/42/300jj.md?p=10), 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](/usc/42/300jj.md?p=10) wastes from medical, pathological, pharmaceutical, or other research, commercial, or industrial [laboratories](/usc/42/300jj.md?p=10) that were in contact with infectious agents, including slides and cover slips, disposable gloves, [laboratory](/usc/42/300jj.md?p=10) 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](/usc/42/300jj.md?p=10) 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.
  - (11) Such other waste material that results from the administration of medical care to a patient by a [health care provider](/usc/42/300jj.md?p=3) and is found by the [Administrator](/usc/42/6903.md?p=1) to pose a threat to human health or the environment.
- (b) **Exclusions from list—** The [Administrator](/usc/42/6903.md?p=1) may exclude from the list under this section any [categories](/usc/42/1395w–4.md?p=j-1) or items described in [paragraphs (6) through (10)](#a-6..a-10) of subsection (a) which he determines do not pose a substantial present or potential [hazard](/usc/42/5165f.md?p=a-3) to human health or the environment when improperly treated, stored, transported, disposed of, or otherwise managed.

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. Probably should be “exudates”.

## Source credit

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